NEWS DIGEST – The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the state for more support from the Federal Government in a bid to maintain it’s status in the economic space of the country.
This was addressed to Buhari yesterday at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, as part of activities to celebrate his two-day visit to the state. Ambode revealed that the state has not enjoyed adequate support from the Federal Government since 26 years, after the Federal capital was relocated from Lagos to Abuja.
“Mr. President, it has become glaring that Lagos State cannot achieve this alone. Mr. President, 26 years after the Federal Capital was relocated from Lagos to Abuja, the state has been left without much federal support.”
“Your Excellency, despite all these, Lagos State needs more and Lagosians deserve more. Eminent Nigerians have called on the federal government to grant our state a Special Status. I recall that a bill seeking to accord it a Special Status has been rejected three times in the senate. Lagos deserves a Special Status if we want the state to continue to serve as the major driver of the nation’s economy,” Ambode explained during his address.
The Governor also stated the impact of the state in the development of the nation’s economy. He acknowledged that there are still much opportunities to strategically improve the ease of doing business, entertainment, sports and tourism. economic, social and cultural growth in the State, which he said his administration is doing its best to explore.
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He, however added that; for the exploration of this opportunities, the support of the Federal Government is paramount. Governor Ambode also seized the occasion to request the President to grant the ownership and management of the National Stadium, Surulere and the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu to the state government to enable it resuscitate them for the benefit of the country.
Meanwhile, he appreciated the President for granting the state’s request to reconstruct the Oshodi International Airport Road into a 10-lane world-class road and transform the Presidential Lodge Marina into a monument and cultural heritage.
“Mr. President your word has been your bond as far as your promises to Lagos State are concerned. You approved the reconstruction of the Oshodi to Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road into a 10-lane world-class road that will be ready by the end of this year. You gladly released for our kind use, your Presidential Lodge in Marina because you believe in our vision to transform the lodge into a monument and cultural legacy as part of the Onikan-Marina cultural and architectural regeneration.”
“In addition, as part of our drive to use entertainment and sports to drive tourism and economic growth, we again ask of Your Excellency to consider ceding the ownership and management of the National Stadium Surulere and the National Arts Theatre Iganmu to Lagos State. These two edifices have been left to decay and our government is in the best position to revive these assets and make them viable again for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“This is not too much to ask but we are reassured that our president is a listening father who understands the yearnings of Lagosians. We are confident that he would listen and respond positively to the demands of about one-eighth of the nation’s population resident in Lagos,”
It should be recalled that NEWS DIGEST reported the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to lagos and the commencement of the $1.5b deep seaport project in Lagos.
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