Connect with us

News

Sanwo-Olu Seeks Funds for Critical Security Needs in Lagos

Published

on

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, appealed to individuals and organisations to support the government’s efforts to sustain the security of lives and property in the state through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).

Sanwo-Olu made the appeal during a private breakfast meeting with selected Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of various companies, organised by the LSSTF in the Ikoyi area of Lagos, to raise funds for critical security needs for 2026.

The governor said past interventions had been effectively utilised by the LSSTF to empower security agencies and ensure a safe and secure environment, noting that the model had since been adopted by other subnational and federal governments.

He said: “On a year-on-year basis, the Lagos State Government has never taken a back seat in its responsibility. We still fund well over 50 per cent of what happens annually. However, we wanted a system that the private sector can trust—one where they can see that their support is always judiciously used. There is accountability, and the funds are transparently deployed at all times.

“We are rebuilding the Command and Control Centre with state-of-the-art equipment. We are installing CCTV cameras. We started with a Safe City model and initially planned to deploy between 5,000 and 10,000 cameras across Lagos. We have not gone as far as we intended, and we want to scale it up.

“We want to ensure that Lagos continues to remain secure. We also want to improve the rescue capacity, capability, and response time of our first responders.”

Some of the identified security needs include multi-purpose security helicopters and drones, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), water cannons, tactical training and infrastructural upgrades for the police, digital communication equipment, smart CCTV cameras, operational vehicles, and an ultra-modern mechanical workshop, among others.

Commenting on recent demonstrations by some protesters against demolitions in parts of Makoko, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the actions of the government were taken in the public interest.

He said: “I have been accused of destroying Makoko. You will notice shanties sprawling near the Third Mainland Bridge. The challenge was that the settlement was expanding at an incredible speed and getting dangerously close to the bridge.

“There are also high-tension power lines underneath the area. I am not going to sit back and allow a situation where something collapses and, in one day, between 100 and 500 people lose their lives.

“What we did was to push them back. For six years, a United Nations agency claimed it would support development if I provided funding. I told them I was ready to provide my own funds. They have not returned to date. Just last week, they admitted they no longer had the money.

“People often tell stories. Of what benefit would it be for the government to dislocate people? It can only be in the interest of their safety. We will not sit back, allow disasters to happen, and then be blamed for inaction.

“We understand our responsibility and what we are meant to do. Sometimes, you see NGOs collecting thousands of dollars from donor countries, making videos of two or three children and saying, ‘You miss school today, you miss school tomorrow,’ all for pecuniary gain. It is a shame.

“I want people to be assured that we are not taking anything away from anyone; we are simply trying to make life better for our people.”

The governor also disclosed plans by his administration to commission 35 schools accommodating about 22,000 students in the Tolu community of Ajegunle. He further spoke on how his administration resolved the long-standing Okobaba sawmill issue.

He said: “Okobaba was a place that experienced fire outbreaks almost every year. We addressed it. It took between 10 and 15 years, but we successfully relocated the operators to Agbowa. It cost the government billions of naira, and we built over 500 houses for them. That is why they are no longer there.

“Next month, I will commission 35 junior and senior secondary schools with capacity for over 22,000 students in Tolu, Ajegunle. We are dealing with many challenges, but through all of this, we must continue to keep our people safe.

“We also need to create an environment that attracts and sustains investment. We must assure new and existing investors that Lagos remains the right place for business and that the future is secure.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Lagos Residents Protest Unreliable Power Supply, Demand Immediate Action

Published

on

Residents of Lagos on Friday took to the streets to express their frustration over persistent electricity outages, condemning the state’s power supply as “epileptic” and unsustainable for daily life and business activities.

A video circulating on social media showed dozens of mainly young protesters marching through the Fadeyi area, holding placards and chanting for a consistent electricity supply.

The demonstrators criticised what they described as the collapse of the nation’s power sector, stressing that erratic electricity is undermining livelihoods and making life increasingly difficult across Lagos.

Placards displayed messages such as “No More Estimated Billing,” “No More Epileptic Power Supply,” “No Light, No Life, No Nation,” and “You’re Destroying Businesses; Give Us Regular Light.”

One protester declared, “We are not asking for too much. Give us light!”

Local business owners also highlighted the severe impact of inconsistent power supply on their operations, noting that reliance on fuel-powered generators has significantly increased operating costs.

A shop owner at the protest lamented: “We cannot continue like this. Every day we spend money on fuel because there is no electricity. Many small businesses are closing because they cannot cope.”

The demonstration underscores growing public dissatisfaction with electricity supply in Lagos, as residents call on authorities and power operators to ensure a stable and reliable power supply.

Continue Reading

News

Tinubu Mourns Former Super Eagles Coach Festus Onigbinde

Published

on

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Super Eagles head coach, Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President extended his condolences to the late coach’s family, associates, and the entire Nigerian football community.

Tinubu also sympathised with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the National Sports Commission, professional colleagues, and football fans across the country over the loss of the respected football administrator.

The President described Onigbinde as a trailblazer whose contributions significantly advanced the growth and development of football in Nigeria.

He noted that the late coach made history as the first indigenous coach of the Super Eagles in 1982, praising his leadership and dedication to the sport.

“Chief Onigbinde distinguished himself as the first indigenous coach of the Super Eagles in 1982,” the statement said.

Tinubu further highlighted Onigbinde’s role in guiding Nigeria to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, describing the achievement as a landmark moment in the country’s football history.

The President also commended the late Modakeke High Chief for his commitment to grassroots football and his efforts to strengthen football administration in Nigeria.

He said Onigbinde would be remembered for his discipline, integrity, foresight, and passion for the game.

Tinubu prayed for the repose of the late football icon and asked God to grant comfort to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

Continue Reading

News

Again, Dangote Refinery Hikes Petrol To ₦1,175/Litre, Diesel To ₦1,620/Litre — Report

Published

on

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has revised its ex-depot prices, increasing the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to ₦1,175 per litre, while Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel, has been raised to ₦1,620 per litre.

The latest revision marks the fourth consecutive price review in less than two weeks amid global market volatility, according to a report by Petroleumprice.ng.

Quoting industry sources, the report noted that the new pricing template has been communicated to marketers, following earlier adjustments this month.

Under the revised structure, the ₦1,175 per litre petrol price reflects a significant jump from the previous ₦995 per litre, while diesel has surged sharply from its prior ₦1,430 per litre level, underlining the continued upward trend in domestic fuel pricing.

The increases coincide with a sharp rise in international crude oil benchmarks as of 1:00 pm WAT: Brent crude at $102.8 (+10.91%) and WTI crude at $101.0 (+11.08%), driven by the Middle East energy crisis.

The development is likely to have a ripple effect across Nigeria’s downstream petroleum market, as depot operators and fuel marketers adjust supply costs in response to the revised prices announced by the country’s largest refining facility.

The refinery had yet to issue an official statement on the development as of the time of filing this report.

Oil prices surged by 30 per cent on Monday on fears over supply disruptions in the Middle East, as the US-Israeli war against Iran continued into a second week with no sign of easing.

Concerns that the conflict could drag on intensified after US President Donald Trump said only the “unconditional surrender” of Iran would end the war.

He added over the weekend that the spike in prices was a “small price to pay” to eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat, reiterating the White House’s insistence that the rise is temporary.

Since the beginning of the war, WTI has risen by more than 75 per cent, while Brent has increased by over 60 per cent.

Attacks on oilfields were reported in southern Iraq and in the northern autonomous Kurdistan region, forcing a US-run oilfield to cease production. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have begun reducing output.

This comes as maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — through which about one-fifth of global crude oil and gas supplies pass — has been halted since the war began on February 28.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025 JaraJournal.