BREAKING: Buhari Arrives Imo to Commission Projects, Despite IPOB's Threat | AgegePulse Magazine

  

By Ayodele Ifasakin 

President Muhammadu Buhari arriving Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, Imo State

Buhari lands in Imo

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Owerri, the Imo State capital to commission yet to be ascertained a number of projects.

Buhari landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri and was received by dignitaries.

Governor Hope Uzodinma had earlier stated that the President is in the state to commission some projects through a Facebook post.

He wrote, “It is with a heart full of gratitude that I, on behalf of the good people of Imo State, welcome His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to the Eastern Heartland on a working visit to commission some of our completed people-oriented projects.

“Mr. President, we are delighted to have you in Imo State on this august occasion despite your tight schedules and it’s our pleasure that while in Imo State, you will enjoy the hospitality and conviviality of our people.”

AMBODE UNVEILS ULTRA MODERN FERRY TERMINAL, MULTI-LEVEL CAR PARK

…Says Water Transport Sector Reforms On Course


AgegePulse Magazine

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday commissioned an ultra modern Ferry Terminal and the Headquarters of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in Falomo area of the State, restating that no efforts would be spared to harness the potentials of water transport sector for the overall benefit of residents.

The Governor, who also commissioned a Multi-level Car Park within the same premises, said the unveiling of the edifice which was delivered through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with MTN Nigeria, signposts the readiness, willingness and ability of the State Government to take full control of its waterways and would continue to do so effectively.



Governor Ambode, who was represented by the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, said the completion of the project, which started seven years ago, was an eloquent demonstration of the appreciation and recognition of the efforts of the State Government toward the overall development of water transport sector in the State.



While alluding to the fact that water transportation had been proven worldwide to be an effective and efficient transport system, the Governor said despite its potentials, the sector had remained largely underdeveloped just accounting for less than one per cent of the overall traffic in the State, a development he said necessitated the massive investments and reforms of his administration in the sector.



“In furtherance of our commitment to develop the water transportation system which is an integral component of the Lagos State Multi-Modal Transport System, we have invested significantly in the provision of water transportation infrastructure especially the rehabilitation of existing and construction of new Jetties; purchase of two clearing machines with navigational equipment to tackle the challenges posed by water hyacinth and the ongoing installation of safety signs for routes demarcation, among others.



“In addition, we have concluded plans for the procurement of seven high-capacity passenger ferries to complement the existing ones, while we also plan to assist commercial ferry operators to acquire new standard boats.



“All of these are with the intent of encouraging more private sector investment in water transportation. The long term objective is to reduce the pressure on our roads as our people increasingly embrace water transportation system,” Governor Ambode said.



While reiterating the commitment of his administration to continue to protect the interest of those using the waterways especially in the area of providing the entire residents of the State with quality and affordable water transport services, the Governor also reinforced the determination of the State to ensure that waterways in the State were safe and secured.



Besides, Governor Ambode commended MTN Nigeria for partnering and contributing to the realization of the State Government's objectives in the water transport sector, just as he urged other private sector stakeholders to take advantage of the emerging investment opportunities in Lagos water transport sector.



In his opening remarks, General Manager of LASWA, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel commended Governor Ambode for his unparalleled commitment and support towards the upgrading, construction and equipping of waterways infrastructure in the State, saying that the new imposing edifice, among other ongoing projects on the waterways, aptly demonstrated such investments and reforms in the sector.



“This terminal is expected to attract new investors, boost water transportation and reduce vehicular traffic on Lagos roads and also complement the efforts of the Lagos State Government towards promoting Inter-Modal Transport System in the State thereby increasing the efficiency of government interventions in the sector.



“On our part, LASWA remains committed to delivering an enabling environment to all waterways users. We are deepening and broadening or capacities to surpass all expectations in this regard,” Emmanuel said, just as he solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders especially by strictly complying with all existing rules and regulations on water transportation.



Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mr Ferdi Moolman said his firm was delighted to partner with the State Government to deliver another milestone that would lead to a better transport system and improved quality of lives for millions of the State’s residents.



“Lagos is home to a visionary and dynamic government that believes in the power of Public-Private Sector Partnership and today’s event is a proof of that. I like to specially commend Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and his team for the transformation and innovative projects ongoing across the State,” Moolman said.



Facilities at the ferry terminal include a ticketing point, passenger lounge, VIP Lounge, elevator, standard conveniences, among others.

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Lagos begins safety audit in schools - AgegePulse

...safety of school children is of great importance - Hon. Hakeem Dickson

The Lagos State Government, through the State Safety Commission, has commenced safety compliance audit/inspection of all public and private schools in line with the policy of the Ambode-led administration to entrench the culture of safety standard across the State.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony, the Director-General, of the Commission, Hon. Hakeem Dickson disclosed that the State Government will ensure that the environment where children spend a greater part of their day is free of hazards.

He reiterated that the safety of school children is of great importance to the state government most especially in the light of the activities of kidnappers in some quarters across Lagos hinterlands.

In his words, "The essence of the audit is to ascertain that safety measures are installed in these schools to safeguard the students and the teachers as well. This is because the present administration is concerned about the overall safety of school children in the state".

Some of the schools visited are Ipakodo Junior and Senior Grammar School, Majidun Junior and Senior, Goshen College, Government Junior and Senior College, Ikorodu, Yintab College, Ayangburen Junior and Senior College, Oriwu Senior College, United Junior High School, Oriwu Junior College, Oriwu Senior College, Maps College amongst others.

The safety audit team is expected to visit private and public schools across the state, without prior notice, to identify hazards in the schools and report to the appropriate quarters for prompt action.

Gov. Ambode Unveils Three Executive Boats, Four Jet Skis -AgegePulse

... Targets 2million passengers on water daily

...We‘ll Explore Tourism, Economic Potential Of Waterways, Says Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday inaugurated three newly acquired executive boats by the State Government, with a pledge to fully explore the tourism and economic potentials of the waterways in the State for the overall benefit of the people.

Speaking at the unveiling of the boats held at Caverton Jetty in Civic Centre area of Victoria Island, the Governor said the State Government was committed to the implementation of the integrated transport management system designed to scale up water, rail and land transportation, saying that the grand plan is to divert at least two million passengers on the waterways daily thereby reducing traffic on the road.

He said the boats and four Jet Skis recently acquired by the State Government to ensure safety and fight crime on the waterways were prelude to major plans to fully activate the potentials of water transportation, while in coming months, the State Government would take delivery of additional seven commercial ferries, among other plans for the sector.

According to him, “This is a significant day for Lagos State as we commission three boats belonging to the Lagos State Government. We discovered that sometimes, we do not have the ability for our officials to go on the waterways to address issues relating to people and citizens that live alongside the waterways.

“As you aware, twenty-five per cent of Lagos is water and it is important that we put in the right initiatives that can actually make activities on our waterways to thrive and the also people living along the waterways to bring them into proper perspective.

“Sometimes when dignitaries come from other States or countries, they are not able to see the true side of Lagos from waterways perspective and that is one of the reasons the State Government decided that we would procure the boats that would help us to promote tourism in the State so that people can see the great potentials of Lagos State,” he said.

Governor Ambode said as much was ongoing on road rehabilitation and construction, as well as the rail system, the water sector was also experiencing specific initiatives such as construction of terminals, channelization, construction of walkways, among others to encourage more people to key into the sector.

He said: “As people are well aware, we are committed to the integrated transport management system that we have promised Lagosians. As much as we are doing on the roads, we have decided that we would face the waterways. We have just ordered the procurement of seven ferries; we have also invited people from the private sector to take over terminals and also be able to procure their own boats and ferries.

“We are so particular about safety; we are so particular about the future of everyone and that is why we decided also that we would do a lot on channelization and dredging on waterways to make it motorable. People will begin to see all these at the end of the first quarter of 2018 and we believe strongly also that both the government boats and the ones from the private sector will start to berth the waterways of Lagos and we will use that to complement what it is that we have on our roads and also use it to complement the future of what we are trying to plan for the rail system.”

He added that over six million people walk every day on Lagos roads and that accounted for why walkways were being constructed across the State, while there are plans to create connectivity between water terminals and the roads, especially in Badore, Ajah, Mile 2, Badagry, Ikorodu and other places where there are terminals.

While stating that the maintenance and sustenance of the boats had been outsourced to specialists to ensure proper usage, Governor Ambode also invited more private sector stakeholders interested to invest in the waterways to partner with the State Government, saying his administration is liberal, transparent and willing to collaborate with interested investors.

In his opening remarks, Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr Adebowale Akinsanya said about thirty commercial routes on the State waterways have been identified for dredging and channelization, while ten jetties spread across the State were being constructed, among other ongoing plans for the sector.

He also said that the Ministry was working in concert with the Ministry of Justice to enforce relevant laws guiding the waterways to ensure compliance with safety standards and checkmate any illegal activity by operators.

Also speaking on safety plans for the waterways, General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Tiamiyu Adeshina said the Jet Skis would be deployed across the State to aid rescue operation in case of emergency, and also help to fight crime.

“Each of the Jet Skis has the capacity to carry two divers and the idea behind this is that when an incident occurred on the water, there is a Jet Ski that will move divers fast to the incident scene while the rescue boats are coming behind and when they get there, divers are dropping into the waters and as soon as they rescue people, we put them into the rescue boat and take them to hospital,” Adeshina said, just as he revealed  that training to that effect was already ongoing.

Also, the Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, said the commissioning was the beginning of sustainable development for the waterways, adding that apart from efforts by the agency to enforce safety standards, the State Government has concluded plans to license 10 new operators who would provide better ferries.

The Governor also inspected ongoing projects on the waterways especially at Orange Island and Lekki Foreshore areas of the State.

Gov. Ambode to make Agege Stadium fit for CAF Champions League

Receives MFM FC, Donates N50M To Club

…Says Lagos Games Village To Commence In 2018

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday heaped praises on the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Football Club for returning the State back to the prestigious CAF Champions League sixteen years after a team from the State participated in the tournament.

Speaking at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja when he received MFM FC alongside top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as well as some ex-internationals, Governor Ambode said it was gratifying that a team from the State would be participating in the 2018 edition of the continental tournament after such a long time, just as he pledged to assist the team with the necessary support to ensure successful campaign at the championship.

While congratulating the team for the feat, Governor Ambode particularly acknowledged and saluted the vision of MFM General Overseer, Pastor Kayode Olukoya who founded the team ten years ago, saying that the State Government was proud to associate with his idea of meaningfully engaging the youths to contribute positively to the society.

Responding to some requests by the MFM FC, Governor Ambode donated N25milion to the footballers and officials of the club for qualifying for the CAF Champions League and another N25million to ensure hitch-free campaign, as well as adequately prepare for the tournament.

Already, the Governor said the State Sports Commission had been directed to ensure that the Agege Stadium, which is the home-ground being used by MFM FC, be put in good shape to meet up with CAF standard before inspection in December.

I want to also say that we have directed our sports team and the Sports Commission to make sure that everything needed, just as earlier requested, to ensure that Agege Stadium is certified by CAF is done, Governor Ambode said.

While recalling the promise he made to the people during electioneering to use tourism, hospitality, entertainment and arts as well as sports for excellence, Governor Ambode said the feat by the team aptly conform with the vision and plan of the State Government to use sports to advance the economy and positively engage the youths.

According to him, We need sports to use it as an instrument to build the economy of Lagos and also direct the energy of our younger ones to things that are very positive as exemplified by what is happening today. Beyond football, they continue to use it for their own mental ability to be able to be proud future leaders in this country and that is what we are trying to say.

It is a way of propagating new leaders and people who are properly disciplined because you need a lot of discipline to play football. There are things that are not taught in schools that you actually find in sports and that is the direction we are trying to go with youth development in this State and so I like to commend the team and the officials, the Governor said.

While speaking on other plans for sports development in the State, Governor Ambode said aside the ongoing transformation of Onikan Stadium to world class standard, a major upgrade of the Teslim Balogun Stadium would soon be carried out, while efforts were already ongoing for the Lagos Games Village located along the Lekki-Epe axis to commence in 2018.

Also, the Governor said his administration would soon invite stakeholders in the sports sector to discuss modalities for the Lagos Premier League which, according to him, would have twenty teams.

However, Governor Ambode charged the MFM FC to be good ambassadors of the State and be at their best at the tournament.
Earlier, MFM Director of Sports Worldwide, Mr Godwin Enakhena commended Governor Ambode and indeed the State Government for the support so far extended to the team, saying the assistance contributed to the feat achieved by the team to play at the continental level.

He recalled how the State Government released Agege Stadium to MFM FC free of charge for use as home-ground and other security arrangements, as well as logistics, adding that the immense support of the government was well appreciated.

Enakhena, who spoke on behalf of Pastor Olukoya, however, urged the State Government to continue to support the team especially financial support and also make Agege Stadium suitable for CAF Champions League, the requests which were instantly granted by the Governor.