Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, expressed disappointment over the scooping of fuel dripping from a fallen tanker at Liverpool Bridge, Apapa, by some residents of the state, describing the act as reckless.
He lamented that they did not prioritise safety, as they endangered their lives during the act.
Sanwo-Olu, who commended the swift actions of first responders, including the police, for securing the area before any eventualities, warned residents to desist from such acts.
The governor, who spoke frankly on indiscipline, especially indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the road median, said stiffer penalties would be served this year.
He hinted that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) had been directed to arrest scapegoats as a deterrent to others.
Speaking on the demolition exercise at the Makoko area of the state, Sanwo-Olu insisted that evacuation notices had been served for over two years before the demolition to those within 150 meters to 250 meters of high-tension wires.
However, he restated his commitment to the safety of lives and the safeguarding of residents’ property in the state, noting that, as a compassionate government, affected residents would be given palliatives and relocation grants as compensation.
The governor emphasised that his administration would leave no stone unturned in ensuring the safety of the lives and property of Lagos residents.
In other news, Sanwo-olu signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the “Budget of Shared Prosperity”, into law on Monday, saying it would be implemented accountably by his administration.
This comes days after members of the Lagos House of Assembly approved a budget of about N4.4 trillion, up from the N4.2 trillion presented by the governor in December.
Sanwo-olu who noted that this year’s budget is the last budget his administration will implement fully, expressed hope that residents would be the greatest beneficiaries.
He commended the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and other lawmakers for their due diligence, maintaining that the Executive and the Legislature would continue to work hand in hand for good governance.
Representative of the Speaker of Lagos Assembly, the Majority Speaker, Noheem Adams, commended Sanwo-olu’s people-oriented policies, saying the budget was well scrutinised by assembly members and was optimistic that it reflects the economic realities for the benefit of Lagosians.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ope George, said the budget of shared prosperity was designed to accelerate economic growth, deepen infrastructure development, improve the transportation system and maintain fiscal responsibility.
The Guardian news
