News / politics / Transportation

PDP faults planned BRT fare hike in Lagos, wants reversal

The Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State has faulted the proposed increase in the fare for Bus Rapid Transit across various routes in the state, urging reversal of the plan.

The Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the party, Hakeem Amode, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

The party berated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approving such hike, saying it would add to the plight of the masses.

Amode said that the All Progressives Congress-led government blaming the hike on the pump price of diesel from N187 to N830 and the unavailability of spare parts for the increase were not justifiable. According to him, with the crippling economic situation being experienced by Lagos residents on a daily basis, the government showed lack of compassion and total disregard for the plight of the citizens of the state.

He said: “Sanwo-Olu-led APC administration has completely abdicated its responsibility to the people of the state, and turned a blind eye to their  predicament.

“The few ‘luxuries’ that the people benefit from the state is being taken away.

“Now is not the time for any form of increment, as the people of the state have suffered enough under this unsympathetic government.”

Amode said the proposed increase should be “shelved so as not to worsen the citizens’ situation in the face of dilapidated infrastructure, insecurity,  hunger, rise in crime”, among others being experienced by the people of the state.

Sanwo-Olu had on Thursday approved a flat rate increase by N100 in bus fares for all Bus Rapid Transit and Standard Routes with effect from July 13.

With the increase, a bus ride from Ikorodu-TBS will now cost N600 from N500, while Berger to Ajah is now N700, up from N600.

Also, Oshodi to Abule Egba will cost N450 from N350 and Abule-Egba-CMS-Obalende will attract a fare of N600.…

Education / News / politics

IPAC hails Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s efforts on out-of-school children

The Inter-Party Advisory Council in Lagos State has applauded Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s renewed efforts to reduce the number of children roaming streets or hawking during school hours.

Sanwo-Olu on Thursday halted his convoy to interact with two underage girls on errand for a bean cake vendor during school hours.

The governor, who noted that there were many children like that, said his encounter with the girls brought the need to bolster government’s support to public schools and raise the standards.

Sanwo-Olu said that the two girls would be under his care and that of the First Lady. The girls: Amarachi Chinedu, 9, and Suwebat Husseini, 12, were forced to skip school by their parents in order to carry out some domestic assistance around Anthony Village area.

Reacting, the Lagos State IPAC Chairman, Olusegun Mobolaji, in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, said that every idea and initiative to reduce the number of children roaming street or hawking during school hours was commendable.

Mobolaji said: “This is a good initiative in the right direction. It will go a long way to build a great future for the State and build a better community.

“I will also plead with the State Governor to also look for a similar program to help remove teenagers and youths from the streets to reduce crime, cultism and cyber crime.

“The youths of this nation need urgent rescue and we can start from somewhere, no matter how little.

“The journey to Rome, as they say, begins with a step.”…

EndSARS / News / politics / Religion

Lagos Peace Walk: Church urges support for Governor Sanwo-Olu

The Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Yaba District Headquarters (Ogo Serafu) has thrown its support on the Peace Walk planned by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Chairman of the church’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, Special Apostle Samuel Sogunro, made this known.

Sogunro, who spoke on behalf of the church, gave the backing during a news conference at the church’s headquarters in Ijeshatedo.

Sanwo-Olu had on November 30 called on the youths and other stakeholders to join him in a Peace Walk for the healing of Lagos State after the disturbances that trailed the 2020 #EndSARS protests against police brutality. The news conference was to announce the 50th Anniversary of the church, Cathedral Dedication and 51st Harvest Thanksgiving.

Sogunro, a former Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic, said that what had happened was irreversible, but all had to come together and move the nation forward.

According to him, the whole issue about #EndSARS protest and its aftermath came with a lot of lessons learnt.

He said: “The bottom line is that we must move forward as a nation.

“And we continue to learn everyday.

“I believe that what happened during that EndSARS will never repeat itself again.

“So many things, many infrastructure of government were destroyed/

“I bet you if it had been other states, they will not get over it till thy kingdom come, but we want to appreciate the Lagos State Government for rising up to that challenge.

“Lagos State Government has been doing very well as far as infrastructural development and listens to the masses.

“So, the Peace Walk is the thing that everyone wants to embrace.

“What has happened has happened.

“We need to move on.

“Let us come together and forge ahead.

“I believe the government is reasoning in the right direction.

“So people should join hand with the government to make sure that we come together and build our country ourselves.”

Sogunro said that the church, formerly known as The Holy Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement, Ijeshatedo, was founded in 1970 …

EndSARS / News / politics

‘I humbly decline’ – Mr Macaroni says as he reacts to Gov Sanwo-Olu’s proposed ‘walk of peace’

Nigerian Instagram comedian Mr Macaroni has declined the ‘walk of peace’ match championed by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The governor had sued for peace and harmony, Tuesday, as he broke his silence on the report of the Lagos judicial panel of inquiry into police brutality and the Lekki tollgate shooting of unarmed, peaceful protesters.

In a series of tweets shared via his Twitter page on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, the popular skit maker said the government should implement the recommendation by the panel to build trust from its people. “I humbly decline the Invitation of Mr Governor. The Government themselves set up a panel. The panel has made recommendations. I believe that genuine peacemaking will begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel. Then we can begin to trust the government,” he tweeted.

“Mr Governor has said it in his speech. That to be a center of Excellence, we have to be a Center of Truth. Before there can be healing, the government has to be sincere. There must be acceptance of wrongdoings and willingness to correct them.”

The Lagos state government is all but set to release a white paper on the report.

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