Ambode wants Lagos’ special status bill revisited

 Sesan Olufowobi

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday appealed to the Senate to revisit the bill seeking allocation of one per cent of the Federal Government revenue to Lagos.

The governor explained that the passage of the bill would eventually translate to economic prosperity and wellbeing of Nigeria.

 

 

Ambode spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja, during the visit of members of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, who were in Lagos to perform oversight function on federal institutions.

He said, “Lagos, being a cosmopolitan city and the economic capital of Nigeria, must be assisted by the Federal Government to address infrastructure challenges confronting it.”

The governor added that Lagos used to be the capital of Nigeria and was home to every tribe, urging that the bill should be considered based on its importance to the country at large.

He said, “The wellbeing of Lagos is the total wellbeing of Nigeria. Everybody has a stake in Lagos; and as a government, we have continually addressed the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos in a way that is suitable for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, creed or religion.

“We want you to have a re-think and think more of Nigeria in the bill rather than of Lagos because that is what the one per cent assistance will address.”

The Chairman of the Senate committee, Alhaji Sani Yerima, said members of the committee were in Lagos to ensure that federal institutions in the state were performing their duties.

He assured the governor that the Senate would revisit the issue of the special status for Lagos, noting that as the former capital of the country, everything must be done to support the state.