President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates Chief Sunday Akinlabi Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, on the conferment of Sarkin Wasanni by the Emir of Daura, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Farouk Umar, CON.
Describing the honour by the Daura Emirate Council as well deserved, the President notes that the “Sarkin Wasanni” of Nigeria is given to the Minister not only for his contributions to sports development in the Daura emirate but across Nigeria
He commends Dare, who is also the Agbaakin of Ogbomoso land, for spearheading spectacular accomplishments in the ministry, which helped shift the focus to sports as business and no longer mere recreation.
The President adds that the revamp of infrastructure in the sector, new policy to improve sports development and athletes’ welfare, and more, are testaments of the new orientation in our sports and the central role it plays as a tool for peace, unity and diplomacy.
President Buhari recognizes the tremendous energy, passion and dedication Dare brings to the job, adding that this has inspired many young Nigerians to excel in the track, field and other personal vocations, raising the bar that with discipline, patience and consistency, success is sure.
The President trusts that this new cap of responsibility will inspire the Minister to do more for God and the country.
He offers his best wishes to Chief Dare and his family.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
December 20, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
2023 ELECTION: SANWO-OLU TAKES CAMPAIGN TO IKORODU, ASSURES RESIDENTS OF MORE FULFILLED PROMISES
- Governor reels out achievement records in Lagos East
- Imota Rice Mill, Lekki Deep Seaport set for commissioning in January
- Governor to hand over Oba Sekumade Road, Ipakodo Road, Eleko-Epe Highway
Ikorodu Town Hall, on Tuesday, bubbled with political activities as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) took its governorship campaign to the Lagos East senatorial district.
Tumultuous crowd of residents, party stalwarts and leaders from all towns in the Lagos East Senatorial District of the State converged on the Ikorodu city centre to drum support for the re-election of APC gubernatorial standard bearer, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.
Candidates of the party running for national and State legislative seats in the district also led scores of their supporters to the campaign attended by members of the State cabinet, Governance Advisory Council (GAC) members, and various political support groups.
It was time for Governor Sanwo-Olu to showcase his administration’s scorecard in projects and promises fulfilled to residents in the Lagos East, which comprises Ikorodu, Kosofe, Somolu and Epe provinces.
The Governor said the quality of projects and programmes initiated by his administration had positively changed the socio-economic narrative in the district, improving the wellbeing of the people.
Sanwo-Olu regaled the crowd with the list of infrastructure projects ready to be commissioned in the Lagos East District, disclosing that President Muhammadu Buhari would be in the State in January to inaugurate the 32-metric tons Rice Mill project built by his administration in Imota.
He said: “Today, we have come to you to seek your mandate and support for another term. We are here with our hands full of fulfilled promises, which are already changing the socio-economic situation in this part of Lagos. After this campaign, we will be coming back to Ikorodu for the formal commissioning of Oba Sekumade Road and Ipakodo Road. The President will also be coming in January 2023 to inaugurate the Imota Rice Mill, which we have completed and has been in operation.
“Also in January, the first deep seaport we have initiated in the Lekki Free Trade Zone is due for inauguration. In the same free zone, we have the biggest refinery to be commissioned by Mr. President. The first phase of the six-lane Lekki-Epe Expressway from Eleko to T-Junction getting ready for completion and will be formally opened. We have delivered Mother and Child Centre in Epe, just as we opened regional emergency centre in Epe. These are some of the projects sited in the Lagos East and they are verifiable.”
Sanwo-Olu said the approval and the siting of an airport in Ibeju Lekki was another “step forward” towards delivering his administration’s agenda of Greater Lagos and keeping the Lagos East on the path of economic prosperity.
The Governor said the creation of Lekki Free Zone was a triumph for the vision of the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who initiated the idea that had transformed Epe Division into a new economic hub.
Sanwo-Olu said his Government had started development of West Africa’s largest Food and Logistics Park in Ketu Ereyun, Epe. He added that his administration, in the last three years, had empowered thousands of young farmers and entrepreneurs in agro business.
In road infrastructure, Sanwo-Olu has completed the first phase of Ijede Road, while construction work is being completed on Ogombo Road. He said the network of roads inaugurated by his administration in Soluyi community in Gbagada had not only improved mobility, but also life quality.
The Governor pledged his commitment towards the timely delivery of Gberigbe Road, Agric-Isawo Road, Igbogbo-Bayeku Road and the ongoing phase two of the Lekki-Epe Expressway from Eleko to Abraham Adesanya.
In housing, Sanwo-Olu delivered the 480-unit Ibeshe Housing Scheme and 744-units in Sangotedo, while work is being carried out on Ibeshe Scheme II and Sangotedo Scheme II.
He said: “We have also made a lot of progress in education, which has improved access to quality learning. We have not only achieved the full upgrade of Lagos State Polytechnic to a full-fledge university, we have also brought huge relief to our youths and their parents from the 60 per cent reduction in tuition fee.
“To ensure residents enjoy the benefits of efficient transportation system we have put in place, we procured and deployed more high and medium capacity buses to transit passengers from Ikorodu to Lagos Island and Oshodi. We are currently restoring the Ijede Jetty, just as we upgraded Badore Jetty to boost safe waterways transportation for those in coastal communities.”
Sanwo-Olu told the Lagos East residents that APC remained the party to beat. He urged them to get their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and vote en mass for all the party’s candidates in the general elections.
Lagos APC chairman, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, described Sanwo-Olu and his running mate as “effective crisis managers”, noting that the State was lucky to have the duo at the time of emergencies.
The party, Ojelabi said, had strengthened itself on the ideals of social equality and brought programmes targeted at alleviating burdens on people. He cited the recent reduction of tertiary institution school fees by 60 per cent as deliberate to create more access for the youth
He said: “We want you to renew your hope with us for a better Lagos and Nigeria. We are presenting the best candidates for State and national elections. Today, we want to sign another accord and renew our commitment to deliver more projects that will make your lives better.”
Former Deputy Governor and party leader in the division, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, said Lagos East benefited greatly from the Sanwo-Olu administration in the areas of education, housing and infrastructure.
The GAC leader said the best way to appreciate the Governor’s performance was to re-elect him to complete various projects being undertaken by his administration.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
20 DECEMBER 2022
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU URGES LAGOSIANS TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN 2023 CENSUS
- NPC Chairman, stakeholders implore residents to stay and be counted in Lagos
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appealed to all Lagos residents to participate fully in the 2023 Population and Housing Census by cooperating with the National Population Commission (NPC) officials and Committees set up by the State Government in the series of activities lined up towards the exercise.
He said the exercise is extremely important because the census will provide the vital data and statistics in many areas that will enable the Government to plan better and deliver more effective infrastructure and social services to the people of Lagos State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the appeal at the stakeholders summit on the 2023 Population and Housing Census held on Tuesday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, at the Secretariat, Alausa Ikeja.
The Governor, who was decorated as the 2023 Population and Housing Census Patron by the National Population Commission, promised full support and commitment of the Lagos State Government towards a successful census exercise.
He said: “We cannot emphasise enough the critical role a credible National Census plays in achieving effective and result-oriented planning. This exercise is extremely important because apart from the population figure, the Census will also provide us with vital data and statistics in many other areas that will enable us to plan better and deliver more effective infrastructure and social services to the people of Lagos State.
“As we are all aware, the last Nigerian census was conducted in 2006. The result of that exercise indicated that the population of Lagos State was 9,013,534, which was then reviewed upward to 12,772,884 in 2019, making our population the second largest in Nigeria, after Kano State.
“Although Lagos State has always contested these figures – we have always been clear that they do not reflect the actual population of the State – it has remained the official population figure upon which national planning decisions and some resource allocation decisions are based. Now we have in front of us another opportunity to get it right, perhaps for the first time in our history. Many of you will be familiar with the controversies and tensions that have accompanied all previous Census exercises. We cannot afford to have these disturbing outcomes happen again in 2023.
“Thankfully, we can now count on new technologies that make enumeration easier and more credible. In that vein, it is heartwarming to note that the planned 2023 Population and Housing Census, slated for April 2023, will be a digital census, taking advantage of digital tools and technology. This is unprecedented in our history, and another sign of how technology is transforming every aspect of our lives, including the conduct of our elections.
“Knowing exactly how many we are in Nigeria, and in each State, is a basic foundation that must be in place for our economic growth and prosperity. We are all familiar with the saying that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. We cannot plan adequately for the future, without possessing accurate data that shows us today’s patterns and tomorrow’s trends.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu who launched the 2023 Census Implementation and Strategy Plan during the stakeholders’ meeting, announced the setting up of five additional Committees in line with the National Population Commission’s strategy and vision in addition to the Technical Committee he set up last year.
The new Committees are; Census Advisory Committee, Census Logistics Committee, Census Publicity and Advocacy Committee, Census Security Committee and Census Monitoring Group.
The Governor also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for hosting the National Stakeholders Summit on the 2023 National Population and Housing Census, in August 2021, which set the stage for the Stakeholders Summits being organised at the subnational level.
“The President’s commitment to successful Census exercise has never been in doubt, and, here in Lagos State, we are inspired to match this commitment,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the participants at the Stakeholders Summit, saying “their attendance is a clear reflection of the importance of this exercise, and the collective commitment to ensure that the desired objective is achieved, especially in Lagos State.”
He said: “It is important that we deploy various means to ensure widespread sensitisation and enlightenment of all our people, in readiness for the commencement of this exercise. We must get the word out, in various local languages and media formats, and let people know why it is important for us to have an accurate population count, down to every locality in the country. We have a responsibility to get it right this time, for ourselves and for future generations.”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the National Population Commission, Hon. Nasir Isah Kwarra, urged Lagos residents to stay in the State during the exercise for them to be counted so that data generated from the Census would be used for planning toward the growth and development of the State and the citizens.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Traditional Rulers and Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who was represented by the Oniru of Iruland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, said data will help the government to plan and therefore urged all Lagos residents to participate in the 2023 Census by ensuring that they stay and be counted in Lagos during the exercise.
He also urged the National Population Commission to share data with the subnational governments for adequate planning.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
20 DECEMBER 2022
We’ll deliver Cross River for Tinubu, like we did for MKO – Ndoma-Egba
By Michael Jegede
The Secretary of the Campaign Planning Directorate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PPC), Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has assured the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of victory in Cross River State.
Ndoma-Egba, a former Senate Leader and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), gave the assurance on Tuesday in a vote of thanks speech he delivered at the town hall meeting held in Calabar by Cross River APC to play host to the party presidential flagbearer, and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.
He said the people of Cross River will vote for Tinubu as they did for the late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola who contested and won on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 1993 presidential election.
Thanking Tinubu and Shettima as well as all party members and supporters for their presence at the town hall meeting, the erstwhile Chairman Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said: “Your Excellency, I remember in 1993, when you (Tinubu) came to Cross River with MKO Abiola, then Cross River was NRC (National Republican Convention) but you were received like a brother and a friend. And if you remember after that visit, for the presidential election, Cross River voted SDP (Social Democratic Party) because of your visit. Today you are here to canvass votes not for another person but for yourself. If we did it for another person on your recommendation, we will do it for you too this time around.”
Ndoma-Egba expressed profound gratitude to Tinubu for using the gathering to openly settle party members who had certain differences, describing the APC presidential standard-bearer as a peace-loving politician.
“We thank you for making peace between our brother and our sister. For we Christians we say blessed are the peacemakers. So, blessed are you for being a peacemaker. We thank you. And May that peace endure and see us to victory. I thank you all for coming. Thank you for the enthusiasm that you have shown. And Your Excellency, I want to assure you that Cross River is now fully APC. The story that Cross River is a PDP state is a fiction. It is not true. And we are going to prove it when we go into this election.”
MICHAEL JEGEDE
MEDIA PROFESSIONAL
ABUJA
PRESS RELEASE
GREATER LAGOS FIESTA KICKS OFF NEXT WEEK IN EKO ATLANTIC CITY, AGEGE STADIUM, THREE OTHER CENTRES
Lagos State Government on Monday said its annual end-of-the-year entertainment event tagged “Greater Lagos Fiesta” will hold next week in all the five divisions of the State.
Speaking to journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Femi Martins, said the Greater Lagos Fiesta, aimed at engaging and entertaining Lagos residents as the year winds down, will be held from Thursday, December 29 into the wee hours of Sunday, January 1, 2023, to usher in the New Year.
He said the event where a lot of Grade A artists are expected to entertain Lagosians, was in continuation of Governor Sanwo-Olu administration’s passion to meet the yearning of the public and promote tourism, arts and culture through entertainment in line with the fifth pillar of the Greater Lagos developmental agenda, which is Entertainment and Tourism.
Martins, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, and other state officials during the press conference, said the annual fiesta which started in 2012 but could not hold in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 restrictions, will take place simultaneously this year at designated centres in Ikorodu, Epe, Ikeja, Badagry and Lagos Island.
He said over 10,000 fun seekers are expected to throng each of the venues of the Greater Lagos Fiesta daily in Ikorodu Town Hall, Epe Recreation Center, Agege Stadium, Badagry Grammar School and Eko Atlantic City.
Martins said the Greater Lagos Fiesta will further open up economic opportunities for small and medium scale operators, adding that adequate security arrangements have been put in place for all attendees in all five divisions.
Martins, who assured all Lagos residents and beyond of a well-loaded Greater Lagos Fiesta filled with fun and entertainment, said the event will promote and have a positive impact on the economy of the State, which would result in a boom and therefore appeal to willing corporate organisations to partner with Lagos State Government to make the event successful.
The Special Adviser to the Governor also hinted that with the Q4 Initiative launched in September, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture will be able to collate data for attendees to enhance planning and project to the world the traffic Lagos State attracts to tourism and entertainment.
Martins while responding to questions from journalists on the name successive governments have called the fiesta in the State, said Mr. Governor would be briefed on the need for a bill to be sponsored and sent to the Lagos State House of Assembly for the current name to be backed by law for continuity.
Greater Lagos Fiesta was designed to provide a platform to promote commerce, arts, culture, unity, and happiness among the people of Lagos State in celebration of the yuletide.
