The governor also emphasised that the state government is open to dialogue and peaceful resolution of issues, in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, on Friday.

Governor Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the constitutional rights of citizens to voice their concerns about the socio-economic situation in the country but cautioned against actions and utterances that could endanger public safety and peace.

He noted that some individuals issuing threats might have ulterior motives aimed at disrupting law and order.

Speaking during a courtesy visit from members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets and Special Duties, led by the Chairman, Ademorin Kuye, Sanwo-Olu reiterated the importance of constructive dialogue.

He lauded President Bola Tinubu-led administration for its commitment to addressing citizens’ grievances through dialogue, emphasising the need for continuous engagement for the sake of national stability and the strengthening of democratic governance.

He said, “We are at a point in the country where there have been agitations and plans for nationwide protests. It is crucial to recognize the constitutional rights of citizens to express sincere concerns. As leaders, we must appreciate these concerns but also ensure that protests do not become a platform for advancing political agendas. Divisive rhetoric and actions should be avoided. “The current administration, which has been in office for less than 15 months, is dedicated to transforming the country’s economic fortunes. The government is actively engaging with citizens to address their grievances and demonstrate its commitment to listening. It’s essential that all grievances are brought to the table for resolution. This openness to dialogue is a testament to the government’s sincerity in addressing issues as they arise.”

It added that it was working with the Federal Housing Authority to provide affordable housing for both residents of the state and Nigerians abroad.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, according to a statement on Monday, stated this when he received the management of FHA, led by the Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer, Oyetunde Ojo, at the Government House, Marina on Saturday.

Sanwo-Olu maintained that the FHA vision tallied with the state objectives of providing affordable housing for residents at the various strata of the economy.

He said his administration had provided 18 different housing estate projects in different parts of the state to reduce housing deficits in Lagos since he assumed office.

Sanwo-Olu stated, “The Federal Housing Authority is known for opening new areas, new cities, and corridors. We can see from your (Hon. Oyetunji Ojo) drive and move in the last couple of weeks that indeed, you want to make a positive impact in your tenure. “For us in Lagos, we know what the deficits are and are open to collaboration. In the last four and a half years that we have been in government, we have inaugurated about 18 different housing estate projects in different parts of the state. The citizens want shelter, and we have been very strategic and thought outside the box to create housing solutions that would meet the needs of the citizens.

“Your (FHA) vision sits with our objective, which is to be able to provide housing needs for various strata of the economy. We can collaborate. There are a lot of needs for Lagosians that we can collaborate on.”

In remarks, Ojo said the synergy with the state became necessary because the FHA wanted to learn from Lagos housing model to make Nigerians both at home and abroad have confidence in the system.

He stated, “We want a synergy between the Federal Housing Authority and the Lagos State Government because, when it comes to housing, Lagos State is leading in housing models in West Africa. We want to learn, and that is why we need synergy with the Lagos State Government. President Tinubu must flag off and commission FHA housing projects in Lagos State. We want people abroad to be secured in buying properties so that when they pay by installments with the digitalisation FHA is about to do in collaboration with the Diaspora Commission, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Lagos State Government, our people abroad will be safe. We want a place where we will partner, and people overseas would be very confident about it.”

Sanwo-Olu made the announcement at a one-day interactive session between the governor, students’ union leaders, and stakeholders tagged “Students as Strategic Partners in the Governance Process: Challenges and Prospects for Youth Development” on Tuesday in Ikeja.

The governor also appointed four former leaders of the Student Union Government in Lagos tertiary institutions as special advisers.

The appointees are Eniola Opeyemi, Kayode Samuel, Giwa Moor, and Adeola Adewunmi.

This appointment followed a request by the Lagos Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Lekan Alimi, that the students union should have representatives in government to interface between the government and the students.

While reacting to the request, the governor said, “They are important stakeholders in the governance of Lagos State,” urging them to believe in themselves.

He added, “The country is about you and believes in you. You have to believe in yourselves too.”

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education,Tolani Sule, said the interactive session was “a further demonstration of Sanwo-Olu’sadministration’s commitment to quality tertiary education and youth development.”

He commended the management of Lagos-owned universities and the students for avoiding any  unrest that could warrant the closure of any of the state-owned institutions.

The commissioner also thanked the governor for making student and staff welfare a  priority of the state government as well as embarking on infrastructural development projects across campuses.

The lead speaker, former Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University,Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, urged the government to be sincere, saying “Where there is sincere governance, students are always supportive.

“We want to start with our public servants, immediately from next week, Civil servants from the lower level will be working like three times a week and level 15-17 can work four times in a week,” Sanwo-Olu said during the ongoing media parley on economic hardship.

On the rising cost of food, he added that his administration would open more markets where Lagosians can buy food items at discounted rates.

“We will open Sunday Markets in at least 42 identified markets across Lagos State. You will be able to buy food items at a discounted price. You will only be able to buy items worth up to N25,000,” the governor said.

The governor said his administration was also constructing four food hubs to ensure food distribution in tackling rising food prices.

“Coupled with the one at Idi-Oro in Mushin, four more food hubs are under construction and 7 other locations in other local governments have also been identified for more food hubs to be developed,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He added that the 25% reduction on transport services will start this weekend for the State Public Transport system (BRT, Train, Ferry).

Furthermore, Sanwo-Olu announced a free delivery for pregnant residents across all government-owned hospitals in Lagos.

“There is an arrangement for free delivery including cesarean session at government hospitals,” he said.

On rising cost of drugs and other pharmaceutical products, the governor promised that his administration “will also give rebate on some particular drugs at our state government hospitals”.

The governor noted that his administration was also in discussions with various transport unions to reduce their fares.

“First is to express empathy with our citizens, We are not unmindful of the situation, as leaders, we must be able to solve socioeconomic problems,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He also challenged the private sector to look into what they can do for the citizens by replicating their role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, disclosed this in a statement on Monday signed by the agency’s Head, Corporate Communications, Kolawole Ojelabi.

The Governor of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRasak, will join Sanwo-Olu in unveiling the project.

“The bridge is one of five overpasses ceded to Lagos State for construction over the Red Line corridor where the Nigeria Railway Corporation and Red Line will share tracks,” the statement noted.

It quoted the Managing Director of LAMATA, Mrs Abimbola Akinajo, as noting that “the Ikeja overpass is the fourth to be inaugurated within the last two months.”

The LAMATA MD stated that the overpasses were built to separate vehicular/pedestrian traffic from train traffic, adding that the opening of the Ikeja overpass would drastically reduce congestion on the Obafemi Awolowo Way and the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and old Lagos Abeokuta Motorway.

Sanwo-Olu, during the unveiling of the Oyingbo overpass last month, had promised that the Ikeja overpass would be opened for traffic before Christmas.

The Ikeja overpass is a T-Bridge measuring 620 metres.

The governor disclosed this during the unveiling of a middle-level Fresh Food Agro Hub in the Mushin area of the state.

According to a post on his X handle on Sunday, the first phase of the Lagos Market Trader Money will provide N50,000 business grants to 15,000 traders across the state’s 57 local councils.

His wrote, “Today, I launched a fresh palliative scheme in Lagos to support low-income traders. The Lagos Market Trader Money in its first phase will provide N50,000 business grants to 15,000 traders across our 57 local councils.

This initiative aims to cushion the impact of economic challenges and empower small businesses.”

Addressing the food agro hub, the governor wrote, “The inauguration of the Fresh Food Agro Market in Mushin aligns with our vision for a coordinated food security network. Our roadmap prioritizes boosting food production, processing, and marketing. This facility maximises storage and offers consumers affordable fresh farm produce.

“This milestone facility signifies a turning point in Lagos’ food distribution system, paving the way for improved logistics and modernization of our markets. “I am grateful for the support and appreciation from traders and community leaders in Mushin. The completion of this market project and the launch of Lagos Market Trader Money is a step towards bettering the lives of our market communities.”

Sanwo-Olu said this on Monday while announcing the resumption of the Blue Line Rail which was earlier suspended at the weekend.

“I am happy to announce that the LRMT Blue Line is back on track energised with an increase in trips from 12 trips to 54 trips per day and this will rise to 74 trips by the end of November, thanks to the hard work of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.

“The first trip starts at 6:30 am and your daily commute has now become even smoother with a schedule you can plan around as well as with the Cowry Card and discounts to help you plan your expenses better.

We temporarily paused the Blue Line this weekend for your safety, and now we have fully energised the line for a brighter future,” Sanwo-OLu wrote on X via @jidesanwoolu.

Warning against nefarious activities around the rail tracks, the governor stated: “Please do not attempt to access the rail tracks for any nefarious or otherwise activities and it bears repeating that the train tracks are not a marketplace.”

Justice Mikhail Abdullahi held that Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Hamzat, were qualified to contest the March 18, 2023, governorship election in the state under section 177 of the Constitution.

The judge noted that they are members of political parties and educated up to school certificate level.

Section 177 of the constitution stipulated that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if

(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

(b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years;

(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and

(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”

“We have considered the evidence before this court. He has the highest number of votes. This petition is dead on arrival.”

“Given the evidence adduced before the court, the grounds on which the petitioner is seeking disqualification of 2nd and 3rd respondents lack merit.

“I have found Gov Sanwo-Olu and deputy, Dr Hamzat duly elected and therefore declared them winner.”

However, justice Arum Ashom and Justice Igho Braimoh aligned with the judgment

Earlier, the Tribunal had struck out the application of Jandor, who was seeking a disqualification of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s candidature.

Jandor had argued in his motion, alongside his formal petition in which he challenged the return of Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat in the March 18, 2023 governorship elections in Lagos State.

The petitioner had contended that Mr Sanwo-Olu was not qualified to be elected, and therefore wrongfully nominated and sponsored by his party, the All Progressives Party.

He had replied to section 134(1)(a) of the Electoral Act of 2022 which deals with grounds for instituting an electoral petition.

But, Justice Abdullahi, while reading the Tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that this position didn’t form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of Governor, under sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

The tribunal also declared that it has no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC which produced Sanwo-Olu, saying it is a pre-election matter which doesn’t fall under its jurisdiction.

“Only an aspirant or member of a political party can complain about the outcome of the party’s primary, not a busybody like the petitioner.”

This ruling forms part of the judgment being delivered in Jandor’s petition.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Arum Ashom, earlier on Monday, announced that judgment over the petition of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour will be delivered afterwards.

The third judge on the panel is Justice Igho Braimoh.

The tribunal also struck out the names of the Labour Party and its candidate among the list of respondents, saying a petition is contemplated to be filed between the winner and the loser of an election and not between two persons who lost.

The tribunal also expunged from its records all exhibits tendered in evidence by Rhodes-Vivour and the LP in Jandor’s petition, adding that they cannot subsequently go on to challenge any part of the judgment in Jandor’s petition or else will become a meddlesome interloper.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress winner of the governorship election.

He polled 762,134 votes to beat Mr Rhodes-Vivour, who scored 312,329 votes. Jide Adediran came a distant third, polling 62,449 votes.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed this while hosting the acting Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, at the Lagos House, Marina.

Speaking at the Lagos Circular Economy Hotspot on Wednesday at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stressed that his “administration is committed to ensuring that resources are reused again and again in order to minimize waste.”

“Circular economy is a model of production and consumption which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as many times and for as long as possible.

“In a city like Lagos, we believe that this initiative will create more jobs, as additional innovative production ideas will be needed and extra manpower required to keep materials in the loop for a long time.

“Therefore, the teeming population will be profitably and sustainably engaged, expanding the philosophy for an even greater mega city,” the governor added.

Sanwo-Olu emphasized that his government was committed to ensuring that resources were reused in order to minimize waste.

He added, “Our linear approach to delivering public goods and services shall be re-evaluated and the principles of circular economy shall be adopted fully.”

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Omobolaji Gaji, said the ideas of the circular economy “are strongly anchored on the concept of restorative practices, in which waste becomes a resource and efficiency is the rule.”

He enjoined participants to join him “to challenge the current status quo, seek innovation, and envision a future where growth and sustainability coexist, where the economy and the environment coexist.”