President
Muhammadu Buhari has fulfilled his promise to hand over the historic
Presidential Lodge in Marina, Lagos to the state government. The promise
was made last year, before the President left for the country for
medical vacation in the United Kingdom.
The
formal handing over ceremony was done in Lagos today, with Jalal Arabi,
the permanent secretary in State House, Abuja handing over the keys to
the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello.
In
a brief but impressive ceremony held at the main conference room of the
Lodge, also known as State House, Marina, the Federal and Lagos State
Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding formally transferring
ownership of the edifice to the State Government.
Speaking
at the ceremony, Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello who
led the State officials including members of the State Executive
Council, promised that the State Government would not compromise its
structural integrity while preserving the architectural finesse and
beauty.
Bello said the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would ensure the edifice becomes a tourist destination.
He
stressed that the edifice will become one which residents of Lagos and
Nigerians in general would not only be proud of but which compares to
similar ones in distant locations, assuring Lagosians that the State
will put the edifice to the best and most judicious use.
He
added that the State Government would ensure that it is perfectly
transformed without compromising its structural integrity and preserving
its architectural finesse and beauty.
“The
successful handover of the structure represents one of the landmarks of
the City of Lagos and an eloquent testimony to the new dawn of politics
of tolerance and inclusiveness which the All Progressives Congress
(APC) has brought to the Nigerian landscape”, Bello said.
The
SSG, on behalf of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the
Government and people of the State, expressed deepest appreciation to
President Muhammadu Buhari for his statesman-like gesture in the
approval of the release of the edifice to the Lagos State Government.
He
also applauded the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo for
ensuring that the handover process became realizable and the Minister of
Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) for his untiring
assistance to ensure the success of the transfer.
“The
list of appreciation will be incomplete without mentioning the
Permanent Secretary in the State House, Abuja, Mr Jalal Arabi with whom I
co-chaired the committee that midwifed the handover process for the
painstaking job. Same goes for all the directors and top staffers in the
Presidency with whom officials of the State Government worked. Mr Arabi
and his team have been very supportive, forthcoming and painstaking in
the last couple of months since we commenced this exercise by ensuring
that nothing is left out. We are indeed very grateful to you and your
team”, he said.
Earlier,
the Permanent Secretary, State House, Abuja, Mr. Jalal Arabi who
described the occasion as a solemn one because of the emotional
attachment that most of the staff have towards the complex, said they
are happy it was a smooth transition process.
He
said the several months of perfecting the transfer of the ownership was
a family discussion which was devoid of any bitter feelings expressing
delight that he and his team carried out the directives of Mr. President
concerning the handover of the edifice and ensuring that all the
equipments and properties were not removed.
He
described President Muhammadu Buhari as a statesman who believes that
his word should always be his bond, hence his insistence that his
promise to the State Government must be kept.
The
event featured a ceremonial handover of the keys to the building and
the symbolic takeover by the State Government officials led by the SSG.
Also
part of the Lagos State team are the Commissioners for Special Duties
and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr Seye Oladejo; Housing, Prince
Gbolahan Lawal; Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon Lola Akande;
Special Adviser on Tourism and Culture, Hon Adebimpe Akinsola; Special
Adviser on Urban Development, Mrs Yewande Onabule and Permanent
Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engineer Olujimi Hotonu.
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