Politics

#EndSARS: After they burnt buses, I told Sanwo-Olu to tell Lagosians to walk – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari says he told Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to tell residents of the state to “walk” after buses were burnt during the #EndSARS protest last year.

In October 2020, protests against police brutality rocked Lagos and several states across the country. In the wake of the protests, hoodlums wrecked havoc by looting, and razing vehicles and buildings across the country. Several vehicles under the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) scheme in Lagos were also burnt.

Following the incident, Sanwo-Olu had paid a visit to Buhari with a photo album of the destruction recorded in the state during the protests.

Speaking during NTA’s Good Morning Nigeria show on Friday, Buhari said he told the Lagos governor that the federal government didn’t have the funds to replace the burnt buses.

“Look at the #EndSARS incident in Lagos. The previous governor of Lagos state bought 200 buses to complement the transportation in Lagos. And he built a complex. But they went and burnt them.

“The present governor made an album and came to see me. I said ‘Thank you very much’. I took the album, put it in my archives and I told him to tell the Lagosians to walk, because we don’t have the money.

“After an administration bought over 200 buses, for some people to come and burn it? So, let them walk,” Buhari said.

Politics

Sanwo-Olu proposes law to tackle fuel tanker fires

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Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has stressed the need for Nigeria to have a uniform “Combustible Standard Law” guiding tankers and articulated vehicles.

Sanwo-Olu made the remarks at the commissioning of the Aerial Hydraulic Firefighting Truck at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos on Thursday, March 18.

The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said that the law was necessary to protect lives and property of the citizens, as well as loss to fire and accidents involving such vehicles.

Sanwo-Olu noted that 45 per cent of petroleum products comes to Lagos with the consequence of trucks catching fire, destroying lives and property.

He said there was a need for the state to work with the Federal Fire Service to ensure that the combustible standards are met before the trucks are loaded.

According to him “life is the most important gift, without which nothing else matters, therefore fire that consumes lives and property is important to every one of us”.

The governor added that his administration takes fire service seriously, noting that the state first bought the aerial hydraulic platform Fire Truck as far back as 2012 and currently has four of them.

The governor disclosed that the state has about 700 firefighters employed and 500 were to be recruited very soon.

He added that there are 18 fire stations across the State.

He said: “I appreciate the State Fire Service for their consistent support.

Whenever there is a need for their service and they are called upon, they work with us well.”

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, stated that the Federal Government is committed to safeguarding lives and property.

Aregbsola assured that government would not relent in its efforts towards making policies, resources, and strategies for a safer Nigeria.

The minister noted that under the Buhari administration, Federal Fire Service had spread to nearly all the states of the federation.

Federal Government will keep improving on our infrastructure and bring innovations, in the bid to protect lives and property that will help in putting fire under control.”

The minister explained that the DG54 Aerial Platform Fire Fighting Truck has 54 metres height capacity and will reach the 18th floor of high-rise buildings.

“This has been a challenge in Lagos, especially with a plethora of skyscrapers and a nightmare to fire-fighters and this will be a thing of the past now.

“The Federal Fire Service has since expanded beyond Lagos and Abuja, and now has a presence in almost all the states of the Federation,” he said

According to the Minister, fundamental changes are taking place all over the fire service.

He disclosed that property worth N1.351trillion was saved from fire in the last year, adding that 94 fire service vehicles had been approved for procurement by the Federal Executive Council.

Politics

Sanwo-Olu Launches Nigeria’s ‘First Assembled Electric Car’.

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Centre) attended an event launch for a locally assembled electric car on November 13, 2020.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday participated in the official launching of what has been described as Nigeria’s first assembled electric car.

The electric car, named ‘Hyundai Kona’, was assembled by Stallions Automobile factory.

In his remarks at the launch, Sanwo-Olu said the state government will provide charging points for electric cars, and continue to partner with stakeholders who are ready to bring in innovative ideas that will make Lagos stand out and further create an enabling environment where business can thrive.

A locally assembled electric car was launched in Lagos on November 13, 2020. The Managing Director of Stallions Group, Rohtagi Manish, said the innovation is a step towards keying into an eco-friendly green Lagos, as the material used to assemble Nigeria’s First one hundred percent Electric zero-emission car was mostly sourced locally.

Meanwhile, the Governor restated his administration’s commitment to the completion of the Lagos-Badagry Express road and also to embark on the construction of the phase two of Aradagun Imeke road.

Politics

Lagos state governor finally speaks concerning END SARS after many casualties.

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Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has released statements concerning the END SARS protest.

He stated the following;

I was at the venue of one of the #EndSARS protests today. The safety of everyone involved in peaceful protests across Lagos is important and communicating with the CP, this is what we want to guarantee on all sides.

Tomorrow, I will be meeting with HE Pres. @MBuhari in Abuja.

As a servant of the people, my job is to listen and do everything within my power to act while managing the nature of the problems our people are protesting against. I am proud of our youth and the courage they are displaying in articulating their grievances.

I identify wholeheartedly with the #EndSARS campaign as it touches the essence of democratic freedom.

Citizens must never be denied the right to protest and your voices have been heard.

A clear pronouncement has been made and Mr. President has addressed the nation. All SARS officers involved in the killing of innocent people and engaging in the abuse of human rights will be brought to justice.

My stand on #EndSARS is unmistakable and I assure you that I identify with this protest because your concerns are legitimate. The protest is in good faith but we have to be peaceful and decorous in expressing ourselves.

I have received the news of casualties at the Surulere protest as well as other developments we are monitoring. We mourn with the families of those who have lost their loved ones.

Please do not allow your protest be hijacked and used by people with a pre-existing vendetta.

We must prevent the escalation of issues and I am meeting with the Lagos CP and other security leaders in a few minutes to ensure that live rounds that could lead to further casualties are not used at all as the police looks to maintain peace during the protests.

I want to appeal to the protesters to take a break from protesting tomorrow. Tempers are at a highest on all sides at this time and while we work to prevent escalation, the safety of our residents is paramount.

I speak not just as a governor, but as a father, brother and son.

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