Buhari to visit Lagos for project commissioning January 23: Official

*The Lagos State Government announces President Muhammadu Buhari will visit the state Monday, January 23 for two-day site visits, described as ‘a festival of project commissioning’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Lagos State Government (LASG) has said President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to visit the cosmopolitan state Monday, January 23 for two-day site visits for ‘a festival of project commissioning’.

Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy,  in a statement issued Friday, January 20, described the President’s planned visit as ‘A Festival of Project Commissioning’.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State 

The Commissioner stated: “Although Mr. Governor has hosted the President during some of his visits to Lagos, next week’s visit by President Muhammadu Buhari will be one with a difference.

“It is a visit where Mr. President will again see the beauty of Lagos and take the opportunity to see first-hand and commission the life changing and people-oriented projects undertaken by the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration.”

Omotoso also disclosed the projects President Buhari is expected to commission include the Lekki Deep Sea Port, a symbol of a good working relationship between the public and private sectors; and the 32-metric tonnes per hour Lagos Rice Mill, one of the largest in the world.

Others are an 18.75-kilometer six-lane rigid-pavement Eleko Junction to Epe Expressway; the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History; the iconic Lagos Blue Line rail project; and an MRS Lubricant factory, a private sector project in Apapa.

He described Buhari’s site visits as “Mr. President’s first official visit to Lagos State since assumption of office by Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat in May, 2019.”

Describing the visit as one with a difference, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy the visit would enable Mr. President again, to “see the beauty of Lagos and take the opportunity to see first-hand and commission the life changing and people-oriented projects undertaken by the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu administration.”

According to Omotoso, Mr. President is scheduled to arrive in Lagos Monday via the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, where he will be received by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu some top government officials and dignitaries.

He further said: “There will be a short ceremony, which will include a cultural display, presentation of a bouquet and inspection of a guard of honour by the special guest.

“Thereafter, Mr. Governor will lead the guest to the Lekki Deep Sea Port for the official commissioning of the largest Sea Port in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Mr. President and his host will be received at the Lekki Deep Sea Port by top Government functionaries and board members of the Lekki Deep Sea Port.”

The Commissioner stated: “The chief host, Governor Sanwo-Olu is expected to deliver a speech to formally welcome our guest to Lagos.

“There will be a tour of the Lekki Deep Sea Port facility by the President, Mr. Governor and other guests.

“The President is expected to drive through and commission the newly constructed Eleko Junction to Epe Road project before departing for the Lagos Rice Mill, in Imota.”

The statement as well said the President would take a tour of the Rice Mill – a solid testimony to the Lagos State Government’s readiness to bridge the deficit in local rice production.

He further said: “We all know that Lagos is known for its remarkable hospitality and conviviality.

“These attributes will be on display in the evening of Monday 23rd during the State banquet being organized in honour of our guest.

“Mr. Governor and his spouse, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu will lead other dignitaries to give President Muhammadu Buhari a befitting Lagos welcome.

“There will be musical performances and other forms of entertainment to make the evening a very memorable one for Mr. President and all the invited guests.

On the second day of the visit, the LASG noted that “Mr. President will commission the MRS Lubricant factory, a private sector project in Apapa on Tuesday 24th January.

“He will depart Apapa for the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History for its commissioning. He will take a tour of the Museum.

“The John Randle Museum, a bold attempt to curate our history and culture, will afford the President an opportunity to interact with art enthusiasts, curators, historians and academia, and students who have been invited to the programme.”

Omotoso said: “After that, Mr. President will move to the Lagos Blue Line Rail Project in Marina, where different activities have been lined up for him.

“At the Blue Line Terminal, Mr. President will witness the signing of the second phase of the rail project, from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko.

“He will also commission the Phase I and take a train ride from Marina to Mile 2 and back, and depart. Lagos.”

The President’s visit ‘a big media event’, says Commissioner

Meanwhile, Omotoso has described a presidential visit is, no doubt, a big media event, and stated that “we require your support for a successful event.”

He said: “As we know, a presidential visit of this nature requires the highest level of coordination. Consequently, there will be accreditation for journalists and photographers.

The media accreditation will be handled by the Media and Communication team from today (Friday).”

Also, all events will be broadcast live across several television and radio stations.

All activities will be streamed live on different social media platforms, he said.

The Commissioner assured Lagosians that all arrangements are in top gear to give the visit a maximum media coverage even beyond Nigeria.

“We count on you to make this event a great success.

“There are plans for transportation and safety issues during this visit,” he added.

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