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Tag: Sanwo-Olu

  • The Victor Olaiya that I know – Sanwo-Olu

    The Victor Olaiya that I know – Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the late Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya as a legendary entertainer and trumpeter who quit the stage after dominating the highlife genre of music for about seven decades.

    Sanwo-Olu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, averred that until Dr. Olaiya passed on Wednesday at 89 years, the love for his style cut across ages, with youths applauding the remix of his “Baby Jowo (Baby Mi Da)” album with songster 2Face Idibia.

    He described the music icon as a great Nigerian who has undoubtedly carved a niche for himself, having played alongside world-class musicians, such as the late Bobby Benson, Afrobeat Legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and jazz great Louis Armstrong.

    Commiserating with Nigerian artistes, entertainers and musicians who have continued to eulogise their hero, describing him as “The Evil Genius of Highlife” and “One of the Last Men Standing”, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the late Victor Olaiya left a legacy – The Stadium Hotel – which attests to his passion for music and business acumen.

    The Governor affirmed that the deceased octogenarian stood tall among equals and prayed God to be with his family. He urged his mourning fans to take heart because as an artiste of great repute, Olaiya will live on through his music.

  • Lagos Govt to put marathon on World Sports Calendar

    Lagos Govt to put marathon on World Sports Calendar

    The Lagos State Government says it will put the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on the World Marathon Calender.

    Gov. Babatunde Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State said this on Saturday, during the 5th edition of Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

    Sanwo-Olu said that the marathon had been able to boost the tourism potential of the state, hence, should be sustained.

    ”We want to put Lagos Access Bank marathon on the marathon calendar of the world and we are on our way there.

    ”Very soon, it will become a marathon that all the world will come and join us and this is the beginning of our tourism agenda.

    ”We want Lagos to remain on the tourism master plan of athletes worldwide, we want marathon to also become part of us because we all want to live a healthy life.

    ”We want it to be a work and play environment, we want to keep fit and we want to make healthy running, a way of life for all of us, so that we can reduce sicknesses amongst ourselves,” he said.

    The governor added that the marathon was also to ensure a communion where family members, both young and old, could come together, have fun, exercise, enjoy themselves and make money out of it.

    Sanwo-Olu, who joined the race at Marina to Eko Athlantic, said his administration would continue to intensify efforts to proffer ways of boosting sport, business activities and tourism in the state.

    Meanwhile, winners have emerged at the Lagos city marathon, as Kenya’s David Tumo came first after breaking the Marathon’s record with two hours, ten minutes and twenty three seconds (2:10:23).

    Also, Kenya’s Cherop Jemutai became the first female to cross to finish line while Kebele Chala came second.

    Another athlete, Emmanuel Gyan emerged as the first Nigerian male and Deborah Pam first Nigerian female.

  • Photo News: Sanwo-Olu completes 6km run in Lagos Marathon race

    Photo News: Sanwo-Olu completes 6km run in Lagos Marathon race

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu took part at the Lagos City Marathon held in Lagos on Saturday.

    Below are pictures from the event:

    Sanwo-Olu taking part in the Marathon

    Sanwo-Olu taking part in the Marathon

    Sanwo-Olu at the event

    Sanwo-Olu being interviewed

  • Fashola backs Sanwo-Olu on okada, tricycle ban

    The minister of works and housing, Raji Fashola, has expressed his support for the ban of commercial motorcycles and Tricycles in Lagos state.

    Speaking at the United Action for Change public lecture on Thursday, the Minister said motorcycles cannot be preferred choice of taxiing in Centre of Excellence.

    He also cited security concerns fuelled by criminals using motorcycles to deliver harsh drugs to children, attack banks and other facilities.

    Fashola called for the return residents and landlords associations, which according to him, could eliminate in our society.

  • Lawyer drags Sanwo-Olu, Obasa to court over Lagos Okada ban

    An activist and lawyer, Mr. Tope Akinyode, has sued Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for banning commercial motorcycles otherwise known as Okada, and commercial tricycles in six Local Government Areas and nine Local Council Development Areas.

    Akinyode also joined the Lagos State Government, the state Attorney-General, the Speaker and the House of Assembly in the suit.

    In the suit with number, TEMP/5013/2020, Akinyode, who is also the National President of Revolutionary Lawyer’s Forum, asked the Ikeja State High Court to declare that the restriction on Okada and Keke NAPEP was illegal and at variance with sections 41 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution.

    He is also seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents or their agents from enforcing the Transport Sector and Reform Law, 2017.

    The lawyer prayed the court to restrain the respondents and their agents perpetually from enforcing the Transport Sector and Reform Law, 2017.

    The activist said in a supporting affidavit in support of the motion on notice that the enforcement of the new law had caused serious traffic congestion and untold hardship to himself and the people of Lagos.

    He said the constitution guarantees freedom of movement and the right to own property and it would be wrong to criminalise the use of Okada and NAPEP.

    Recall that the state government had on February 1, commenced enforcement of the extant Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 banning operations of motorcycles and tricycles in some LGAs and LCDAs and restricted them from some highways, bridges, and roads.

    The move has been criticised by a large section of Lagosians who have had to trek for hours to get to their respective destinations.

  • Photo: Prince Edward visits Sanwo-Olu in Lagos

    Photo: Prince Edward visits Sanwo-Olu in Lagos

    Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, paid a courtesy call on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja.

    Prince Edward is in Nigeria to support the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, licenced in the Country as the International Award for Young People Nigeria.

    Accompanied by the British Deputy High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson and the Chairman of the Award’s board of trustees in the Country, Wale Edun, a Trustee, Doyin Abiola and the Award’s Regional Director Africa, Edwin Kimani, Prince Edward emphasised that the award is providing many opportunities for the youths in Nigeria and stated that government and employers of labour needed to recognise and encourage non-formal education.

    While introducing the Award to the Governor, Edun, who acknowledged the current administration’s investment in education and technology, explained that it is the premier platform globally for non-formal, co-curricular outside the classroom learning and that it hads been of tremendous value around the world and in Nigeria.

    Founded by The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, The Award is available to all young people aged fourteen to twenty-four years and equips them with life skills regardless of their background, culture and physical ability.

    He sought the support of the State Government in the provision of internet access for youths participating in the Award to enable them share their works with their International counterparts.

    Responding, Governor Sanwo-Olu who commended the Royal family for its many charitable organizations which are positively impacting many lives, stated that public schools in Lagos have started imparting similar knowledge.

    Sanwo-Olu extended an invitation to Prince Edward to visit Lagos again in the nearest future and sent his warm regards to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh.

  • Sanwo-Olu sacks Commissioner in Cabinet reshuffle

    Sanwo-Olu sacks Commissioner in Cabinet reshuffle

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has sacked Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Shulamite Olufunke Adebolu in a minor Cabinet reshuffle.

    Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, erstwhile Commissioner for Home Affairs has been redeployed to head the Tourism Ministry.

    Her sack was tactical as the governor omitted her name from the list of commissioners redeployed.

    Her portfolio had been given to another without her being redeployed to another ministry.

    According to reports, her sack might not be unconnected with the flop of the Greater Lagos event in December where artistes did not show and there was no crowd to the embarrassment of the governor.

    However, in the cabinet reshuffle, eight cabinet portfolios affected by the redeployment include ministries of Local Government, Special Duties, Wealth Creation and Employment, Tourism, Arts and Culture, Home Affairs as well as Waterfront Infrastructure. Others are the Central Business District and Urban Development.

    According to Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu has moved three commissioners around, while two Special Advisers have been assigned new roles as commissioners. Affected commissioners and their new portfolios are: Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wale Ahmed who has now been moved to Local Government and Community Affairs; Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke, formerly Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs has been moved to the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment.

    Also, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf has been moved from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture as Commissioner.

    Two former Special Advisers, Prince Anofiu Elegushi and Architect Kabiru Ahmed are now assigned to the Ministries of Home Affairs and Waterfront Infrastructure as Commissioners respectively.

    The Governor, according to Akosile also announced portfolios of the new cabinet members. They are Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, Commissioner-designate (Special Duties), Mr. Oyerinde Olugbenga Olanrewaju, Special Adviser-designate (Central Business District) and Hon. Ayuba Ganiu Adele, Special Adviser-designate (Urban Development).

    Sanwo-Olu thanked members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for believing in the Executive and carrying out the ratification of the cabinet nominees in a manner devoid of mere political considerations other than the interests of the electorate, assuring that his action is in line with his administration’s vision of delivering good governance to the residents of Lagos.

    The new appointments and redeployment, Sanwo-Olu said were intended to create a new energy and vivacity for continued delivery of values to the government of Lagos and provision of service to millions of Lagosians.

  • Lagos Assembly invites Sanwo-Olu’s nominees for final screening

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the 11 nominees for the State Executive Council, Civil Service Commission and the state House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM) for final screening on Jan. 16.

    The Assembly made the resolution after adopting the report of an eight-man ad-hoc committee on the screening of the nominees.

    It agreed that the final confirmation would be done after the final screening of the nominees on Thursday.

    The committee’s Chairman, Mr Rotimi Abiru, while submitting the report to the committee of the whole on Monday, said that all the nominees met the criteria of the committee.

    Abiru said that while three persons were nominated for the state executive council, three for LAHASCOM while five others were for the civil service commission.

    He said that all of them were screened by the committee on Dec. 13 and they all answered the questions put to them and provided all the necessary documents.

    However, some lawmakers, including Mr Tunde Braimoh, Mr Rotimi Olowo and Mr Gbolahan Yishawu, queried the criteria used by the committee in the nomination and sought to know the specific performances of the nominees.

    However, the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, said that there was no need to doubt the competence of the committee.

    “The nominees will still be invited by the Assembly to defend their nominations and this would give us an opportunity to know their ability and capability,” Obasa said.

    The report of the committee was then adopted as the resolution of the Assembly, while motion for its adoption was moved by Mr Abiodun Tobun and supported by Mr Victor Akande.

    NAN reports that three commissioner-nominees, including Mr Ganiyu Ayuba, Mr Olugbenga Oyerinde and Bamigbose Martins, were screened by the committee on Dec. 13, 2019.

    The Assembly had, on Aug. 16, 2019, rejected three of the cabinet nominees presented to it for approval by Sanwo-Olu, thus necessitating their replacements.

    Those rejected by the Assembly included Mr Ajayi Bembe, Mr George Obafemi and Mr Olanrewaju Sanusi.

    The eight other nominees screened by the committee included three for the state House of Assembly Service Commission and five for the state Civil Service Commission.

    Those screened for the Assembly Service Commission included Hon. Akeem Bello, a member of the Eighth Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Lawal, a member of the Assembly between 2007 and 2015 and Mr Richard Osungboye.

    The nominees screened for the state Civil Service Commission were Mr Babatunde Seriki, a former member of the Assembly, Hon. Avoseh Suuru, Mr Adesina Odeyemi, Mrs Olubunmi Fabanwo and Mr Kamalrudeen Olorunoje.

  • BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu signs 2020 budget into law

    Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday signed the 2020 budget of N1. 168trillion into law.

    The signing, which took place in the Governor’s office at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja had the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Speaker Mudashiru Obasa; Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning Hon. Gbolahan Yishau; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Mr. Sam Egube and others in attendance.

    Sanwo-Olu assured Lagosians that the budget will be implemented responsibly, transparently.

    Details to follow…

  • Sanwo-Olu frees 6 inmates, commuted 3 on death row to life

    Sanwo-Olu frees 6 inmates, commuted 3 on death row to life

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Christmas Day signed two Executive Orders, with one setting free six inmates at different prisons.

    Sanwo-Olu’s Media Aide, Gboyega Akosile, said in a statement that the governor also commuted death sentences of three convicted inmates to life imprisonment.

    The two Orders – Executive Commutation of Death Sentence Order and Executive Grant of Clemency Order – signed by the governor were both expected to take immediate effect.

    Speaking on the two orders at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said Nigerians should return to God with hearts of gratitude for His protection over the country and Lagos State.

    He said that in spite the numerous challenges facing the nation, it kept growing stronger.

    Sanwo-Olu said that the Christmas period was a season of reflection, blessings and gift.

    ”As a nation and as a state, it is only appropriate for us to count our blessings and reflect on those things that have happened to us in the course of the year and how we can improve them and be better citizens.

    ”For us as a state, it is also a season of giving back, so I have also signed a small release of some convicts that we have in the various prisons.

    ”People who have been given death sentences have been reduced to life sentences and some who have been jailed for minor offences have also been given warning and have asked for them to be pardoned,” he said.

    Sanwo-Olu urged Lagos residents to continue to be law abiding and do things in moderation.

    ”I want to send out a message to Lagosians that this is a season of peace. Let us live peacefully and do things in moderation.

    ”Let us understand that even while we are celebrating, we must do it with modesty and with a lot of decorum. Let us all remain peaceful, law abiding and humble,” he said.

    The Lagos State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy in the performance of its statutory functions, under the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy Law 2015, considered applications from convicted inmates.

    Upon due consideration of the applications, the Advisory Council recommended the commutation of death sentences to life imprisonment in respect of three convicted inmates.

    The affected inmates are Muhammed Abdulkadri, Moses Akpan and Sunday Okondo.

    The Order for Clemency affected six other inmates who had been set free from different correctional centres around the country.

    They are Bestman Dennar, Wasiu Jimoh, Augustine Opara, Folakemi Osin (Female), Rebecca Danladi (Female) and Nkechi Ogechi (Female).

    The Executive Orders have been delivered to the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), who would deliver them to the Prisons Service for immediate action.