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  • Hardship: Fashola advises Lagos Govt to reduce levies, taxes

    Hardship: Fashola advises Lagos Govt to reduce levies, taxes

    A former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has advised the Lagos State Government to reduce levies and taxes as a measure to ease the current social economic challenges on the residents.

    Fashola said this at the Lagos State 18th Edition of the Executive and Legislative Parley held on Friday at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The annual parley is held to review the activities and mandates of each of the arms of government.

    It discusses the prevailing social-economic issues and develop a strategy for dealing with the potential areas of conflict in the overall interest of the state.

    This year’s theme is: “Engaging all for Inclusive Governance: Hands on for a Greater Lagos Rising.”

    It was attended by legislators in the Lagos House of Assembly, Representatives of the various constituencies of the state in the National Assembly, Governing Advisory Council members and other key stakeholders.

    Fashola, who was the immediate past minister of Works and Housing, applauded Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for rolling out other measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

    He said aside the school feeding initiative in schools and reducing the cost of transportation, the reduction of levies and taxes in other sectors would help a great deal.

    “The Lagos State government deserves to be commended for the feeding initiative and for also reducing the cost of transportation in the state; this is commendable and I applaud Gov. Sanwo-Olu.

    “I’d like to make additional suggestions. I’d like to advise that, in line with finding succour for residents of our great state with the current economic situation, I think reducing levies and taxes would help.

    “There must be a balance. I remember during the Ebola crisis, the Association of Tourism and Hotel Owners approached us (government) then that we should suspend the Consumption Tax, which we did.

    “These are some of the ways we can bring relief to the people of Lagos State.

    “It is important to increase the quantum of money for disposal. There must be a balance in governance,” Fashola said.

    Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the state government to find a way of redistributing wealth and give small businesses succour.

    “We must meet with small businesses across the senatorial districts, state legislature should hold town hall meetings to understand their needs and demands.

    “We have more money in the hands of the people; we need to roll out public works in construction, supply, etc. We need to find a way to redistribute wealth,” the former governor said.

    According to Fashola, representatives of the people at various levels must check themselves and see if they have represented the interest of the people they represent.

    He said representatives of the people should ask themselves if they had represented the people since they were appointed or elected.

    “They should ask, do I still live in the constituency I represent; do I truly represent them, do I know where it pinches and do I know where it hurts?” he said.

  • Lagos by-election: Babatunde Fashola absent at polling unit

    Lagos by-election: Babatunde Fashola absent at polling unit

    A former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), was inexplicably absent at his polling unit, to vote for his party’s (APC) candidate for the Surulere 1 House of Representatives.

    Fashola, who was expected at the polling unit with the wife, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, was not seen throughout the election.

    Journalists, who waited for the former Minister of Power, Works and Housing, from 8. a.m. when the election started,  left for other places after hours of waiting, while some stayed till the end on the possibility of him coming.

    One of the party members who pleaded anonymity said that the former governor was actually expected to come around to exercise his franchise.

    ”We actually expected him but along the line it was clear that he will not be coming again. I heard that he is not in town,” the party member said.

    Voting for the  Surulere Federal  Constituency 1  in Polling Unit 002, at State Junior Grammar School (Special), Itolo Street, Eric Moore, Surulere, started at 8.00 a.m., as INEC agents arrived on time to set up the unit.

    The unit, which is the venue where  Fashola was expected to cast his vote, saw voters trickling in.

    The unit which had 750 registered voters, recorded only 45 voters who came to exercise their franchise.

  • Political Crisis: President Tinubu’s intervention not needed – Babatunde Fashola

    Political Crisis: President Tinubu’s intervention not needed – Babatunde Fashola

    Former  Lagos state governor and Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, has posited that President Bola Tinubu’s intervention is not needed in the ongoing political crises in Ondo and Rivers states.

    The Lagos -born politician made this known over the weekend at the Nigerian Air Force Officers Mess’ Honorary Members Forum (HMF) 2023 Annual Lecture in Lagos, saying the constitution doesn’t give room for such.

    According to him, the Constitution clearly outlines the proper procedures and roles of officials in such situations.

    The former minister hailed the “blue blood Ondo indigenes” who pushed for law and constitutionality in their state’s recent crisis before the governor’s letter restored calm.

    “Happily, in our Ondo case, some blue-blood Ondo indigenes have stood up to be counted. But they are in an obvious minority,” he stated.

    The ex-Lagos governor noted that going forward, the “leadership in Rivers State” similarly needs to “do the needful.”

    Fashola explained that citizens must also be accountable, rather than improperly demanding presidential action.

    “We have amended the constitution, so what is left to amend, except ourselves?” he concluded.

  • I don’t need title to serve in Tinubu administration – Fashola

    I don’t need title to serve in Tinubu administration – Fashola

    Former Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) says he does not need a title to serve in the President Bola Tinubu-led administration, which in his view, is birthing the next generation of leaders.

    Fashola, a close aide of Tinubu, said this in an interview with NAN at the Lagos State University, Ojo, on Tuesday.

    He was at the University to deliver a keynote address at the institution’s fifth research and innovation fair.

    The former Lagos State Governor, who also served as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff when the President was governor of the state. was responding to a question on his role in the present administration at the federal level and possibility of an appointment.

    He said, “I do not need a title to serve: the president can only appoint at least one minister, for example, from each state which he has done that.

    “There are just enough places in parastatals, they are doing that; we are estimated to be 200 million, so there are not enough offices to take everybody.

    “All of us must play our roles as citizens, and a citizen does not need a title to serve.

    “The biggest title you need is that of being citizen and play our role; we are also talking about the next generation.

    ”If some do not move on, where is the place for the next batch?”

    He said there was the need to bring more outstanding public spirited people to occupy spaces as they evolve.

    Fashola said he looked forward to a lot  more youthful people being part of the administration.

  • [VIDEO] Fashola, Ambode, Uzodinma, Sanwo-Olu, others at LASG reception for Tinubu

    [VIDEO] Fashola, Ambode, Uzodinma, Sanwo-Olu, others at LASG reception for Tinubu

    Watch the moment former governors of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola, Ambode, current governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Hope Uzodinma at the Lagos government reception for President Bola Tinubu on Thursday.

    Watch:

     

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  • Fashola gives update on Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta projects

    Fashola gives update on Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta projects

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on Saturday expressed satisfaction at progress of work on all three sections of the ongoing Lagos-Badagry Expressway reconstruction and rehabilitation project.

    Fashola, during an inspection of the highway, said tremendous progress had been recorded beyond where the project was in 2015.

    He was accompanied on the inspection by the Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederick Oladeinde and other top engineers.

    “This is evidence of the commitment of the Buhari administration to our infrastructure,’’ he said.

    He said the project is part of the Lagos-Abidjan highway which serves over 40 million commuters travelling all the way to Ivory Coast.

    Fashola said that Nigeria had demonstrated leadership by starting construction of its own side of the project.

    He said that, construction had reached final layer on 22 kilometres stretch of section three.

    “We are in the last 22 kilometres section to Badagry roundabout, on one side, the Badagry bound side, our engineer’s representative said to me that except for the first three kilometres, work has been completed all the way to kilometre 22.

    “What is left is just the wearing course that you see is being installed at kilometer one plus 800.

    “So, it is just about 200 metres to kilometre 22. This is the part of the road that will be three lanes on a dual carriageway,’’ he said.

    He explained progress of work on various sections of the highway, disclosing that sections one and two had been completed.

    Fashola said financing for section three was sustainable because NNPC had taken over its funding.

    Three independent contractors are working on the highway under the supervision of Lagos State Government, FERMA and the Federal Ministry of Works.

    Section one of the project spans Eric Moore to Okokomaiko and is being supervised by the Lagos State Government.

    The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has jurisdiction over rehabilitation of section two which spans Igboelerin to Agbara while the Federal Ministry of Works is supervising section three, spanning Agbara to Seme Border.

    Fashola reeled out the economic benefits the project had brought on the Badagry corridor to small and big businesses.

    He said it was part of the Buhari-led administration’s programmes of bringing millions of people out of poverty.

    The minister said that travel time had also reduced on the highway.

    Oba Isreal Okoya, traditional ruler of Ibereko in Badagry,  thanked President Buhari for the project, confirming reduced travel time and enhanced quality of lives of residents.

    The traditional ruler, however, called for speedy completion of the project so that the communities could reap the full benefits.

    The expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, a major gateway connecting Nigeria and neighboring West African countries, was conceptualised in 2009 by Fashola’s administration when he was Lagos State governor.

    Speaking on the Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta project, the minister said it was being funded by SUKUK and work had begun from the Lagos end.

    He said that if people were patient, the work would be completed up to the Ogun State side.

    He said three projects, namely, Ikorodu-Sagamu, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Lagos-Badagry Expressway, that all linked Ogun were ongoing, hence the need for patience on the fourth link road which is the Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta.

    “Work is going on there (Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta project), if people are patient, we will finish it. Just be patient,’’ he said.

    Speaking on the proposed Glo Tax Credit for Lagos-Otta-Idiroko project, he promised to get the updates to ensure completion of negotiations for it to be awarded.

    He explained that every stage from design was important for effective procurement procedures.

    NAN

  • We’ve disbursed N15bn for Lagos-Badagry Expressway reconstruction – NNPC

    We’ve disbursed N15bn for Lagos-Badagry Expressway reconstruction – NNPC

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has disbursed N15 billion for the reconstruction of the Lagos Badagry Expressway under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Tax Credit (RITC) Scheme.

    The N15 billion represents a 100 per cent payment of the funding of the Lagos-Badagry road rehabilitation under the tax credit funding of the NNPC Ltd.

    The NNPC Group Chief Executive, Mr Mele Kyari, made this known on Thursday when he led NNPC’s management team with some top government officials to inspect the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Agbara Junction-Nigeria/Benin Border).

    The road under rehabilitation is being funded by the NNPC Ltd. under the Federal Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

    The execution of the scheme is being carried out in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as the supervisor and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for NNPC’s tax obligations deductions.

    This is in response to address the plight faced by petroleum products marketers in transportation which affects nationwide distribution.

    Kyari said the fund disbursed was part of the N621.24 billion earmarked for the reconstruction of 21 roads nationwide under the scheme.

    He expressed satisfaction over the stage of the road development.

    “We are covering 1,804.6mkm across the country and taking another set of over a trillion naira investment on infrastructure in Nigeria, believing that with the tax credit system which Mr President has put in place, very soon there will be massive change.

    “NNPC as the enabler will consider from its cash flow and fund whatever FIRS and Ministry of works approve for the company.

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, represented by the Director, Highways, Roads and Rehabilitation of the Ministry, Mr Folorunsho Esan, said the intervention of the NNPC speed up the reconstruction of the expressway.

    Esan said that the project was 40 per cent completed.

    “In the next 12 months we should be able to deliver this project because the drainages are in place, just for earth works and pavement works, it cannot take us more than 12 months,” he said.

    Speaking on the gridlock being caused by the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, he said the contractor would clear all impediments and move out of site by December 15 to make the highway free for Yuletide.

    Earlier, Mrs Olukorede Keisha, Federal Ministry of Works Engineer supervising the Lagos-Badagry Expressway project, gave a brief of the project, listing the drains, culverts and other construction works done on various stretches.

    Oba Israel Okoya, Oba of Ibereko in Badagry Royal Majesty, who lauded the Federal Government and NNPC for the intervention said before the reconstruction, the road was in terrible situation making traffic unbearable for motorists.

    As part of the inspection of the critical road infrastructure in key economic areas, the NNPC’s team had earlier inspected dualisation of Suleja- Minna Road Phase II and ongoing reconstruction of Bida- Lapai-Lambata road in Niger State.

    It could be recalled that on Jan. 25, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari, signed the Executive Order No 007 on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, which is for period of 10 years from its commencement date.

    NAN

  • Why Lagos-Ibadan expressway is suffering delay – Fashola

    Why Lagos-Ibadan expressway is suffering delay – Fashola

    The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola says the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is suffering delay because of the drainage channel being constructed across the road by the Oyo State Government in its Ibadan axis.

    The minister disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the inaugural edition of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration Scorecard 2015-2023 Series, organised by his Ministry of Information and Culture.

    The scorecard series which features ministers and top government officials is designed to showcase the achievements of the administration as it winds down.

    Fashola said the 127.6km expressway had recorded a lot of progress and appealed to motorists and commuters to endure the delays being encountered at the Ibadan and Lagos axis, respectively.

    “The Oyo State Government is building a drainage channel across the road, so we are having difficulties because the contractor has slowed down and we have to slow down too.

    “We do not want to finish the road and come back to destroy it for the drainage channel construction.

    “On the Lagos axis, we are working on the last six kilometres into Lagos; that is a very highly densely populated area.

    “We left it for the last because we knew it to be the most difficult.

    “We are appealing that you bear with us and we are hoping that very soon there will be relief there,’’ he said.

    The minister said the two axis were the last finishing touches to the completion of the project and it would be delivered soon.

    Speaking on Bodo-Bonny Island road project in Rivers State, the minister said for centuries, the island had not been accessible by road until Buhari’s administration.

    “This is the island where the famous King Jaja of Opobo used to dominate, centuries ago.

    “Bonny Island is one of the places where very vast resources are produced into the economy of Nigeria in terms of natural gas.

    “For the first time, this government is building a road and jetties of 39 kilometers combined into the island.

    Fashola assured timely completion of the project, which he said would offer neighboring communities reliable access to Bodo town, improve socio-economic connectivity and commerce in the area

    The Bodo-Bonny road will be the first to connect oil-rich Bonny Island to mainland Rivers State, a major landmark in the region’s history.

    “The construction of this road, runs through most difficult of terrains and other challenging environmental factors like a 7km low-lying marshy land with tidal movements,” he added.

  • Fashola discusses future of Nigeria’s democracy at 2022 TheNiche Lecture Thursday

    Fashola discusses future of Nigeria’s democracy at 2022 TheNiche Lecture Thursday

    Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, will, on Thursday, September 8, deliver the 2022 edition of TheNiche Annual Lecture.

    The lecture, an annual intellectual fiesta, which is aimed at proffering solutions to some of Nigeria’s most daunting problems is organized by TheNiche newspapers, an online media platform.

    The lecture will hold at the Agip Recital Hall of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

    Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State and a learned silk, will speak on the theme, “2023 elections and the future of Nigeria’s democracy” while Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, veteran First Republic politician, human rights activist, former Liaison Officer to late President Shehu Shagari and founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), will chair the event.

    Many high profile political and business leaders, including Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, as well as leading presidential candidates in the 2023 elections are expected to grace the occasion.

    A statement by Ikechukwu Amaechi, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of TheNiche, said this year’s lecture which holds exactly two weeks from the flag off of the campaigns for the 2023 elections was timed to sensitise Nigerians on the issues that should inform the leadership recruitment exercise next year.

    Amaechi, who said the “choice of both the lecturer and chairman was a product of painstaking deliberations,” also emphasised that, “beside the two tested democracy giants, a panel of five discussants drawn from the academia, media, civil society, political class and the INEC will interrogate Fashola’s lecture in real time.”

    The panelists include Prof. Victor Chukwuma, Fellow, Astronomical Society of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Physics, and Mr. Martins Oloja, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian newspaper.

    Others are Dr. Dakuku Peterside, former Director-General NIMASA; Mrs Ene Obi, Country Director ActionAid Nigeria, Convener Situation Room, and Mr. Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner, and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.

    The discussions would be moderated by erudite scholar, Mr. Anthony Kila, experienced lecturer and public speaker, Jean Monnet professor of Strategy and Development, Director at the Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS).

    This year’s lecture will be the third in the series which started in 2018 with Prof. Kingsley Moghalu speaking on “Development reporting and hysteria journalism in Nigeria,” and 2019 when Nigeria’s foremost interdisciplinary scholar, Prof. Anya O. Anya, a leading light of the intellectual community, statesman, scientist and boardroom guru, professor of Biology who is distinguished for his work in parasitology, Nigerian National Medal of Merit awardee, spoke on “Business and accountable governance: The obligations of leadership.”

    The lectures could not hold in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions on public gathering.

    Amaechi said Fashola had, beforehand, assured that this year’s lecture will be a rich intellectual harvest.

  • Electricity: National grid collapse again

    Electricity: National grid collapse again

    Head, Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric Plc, Felix Ofulue, has confirmed the system collapse of the National Grid on Tuesday, as the second in less than 48 hours.

    The national power grid earlier experienced system crash on Monday, causing a loss of 1,100 megawatts from a 3,700mw peak generation earlier recorded and throwing the country into nationwide power outage.

    Confirming the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday, Ofulue said that the collapse of the grid occured at 5.10 p.m.

    Accordingly, a text message sent out to residents read: “Dear esteemed customers, we would like to inform you of another system collapse on the national grid which occurred at 5:10 p.m today (Tuesday).

    “We are monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates. Once again we apologise for the inconvenience,” Eko DisCo said in a statement.

    The grid, which is being managed by government-owned Transmission Company of Nigeria, has continued to suffer system collapse over the years amid a lack of spinning reserve that is meant to forestall such occurrences.

    Spinning reserve is the generation capacity that is online but unloaded and that can respond within 10 minutes to compensate for generation or transmission outages.

    Many states across the country, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory have been thrown into darkness and residents have urged the government to ensure that power supply is restored soon.