Again, Tinubu absent as Lagos projects commissioned

For the second and final day of the scheduled two-day official visit in Lagos State, President Bola Tinubu was absent again at the commissioning of projects executed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration. Senate President Godswill Akpabio again represented the president at the event on Thursday. Akpabio, alongside Sanwo-Olu and other top officials, commissioned the newly […]

For the second and final day of the scheduled two-day official visit in Lagos State, President Bola Tinubu was absent again at the commissioning of projects executed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio again represented the president at the event on Thursday.

Akpabio, alongside Sanwo-Olu and other top officials, commissioned the newly regenerated and full upgrade of the Tolu Schools Complex, comprising of 36 schools, alongside 19 mini football pitches, Olodi-Apapa, Ajegunle, in the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State.

The Senate President represented President Tinubu on the first day of the event on Wednesday, where he inaugurated the Opebi–Mende–Ojota Link Bridge, the Lagos State Multi-Agency Complex in Alausa—now renamed the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administrative Complex (BATAC)—and the Lagos Geographic Information Service (LAGIS) Office in Alausa, Ikeja.

Daily Trust reports that Tinubu is currently in Lagos and has been playing host to dignitaries across the country.

However, he was also absent on the first day of the two-day event after several preparations for his presence.

Part of the arrangements was the diversion of traffic, which led to hours of gridlock in Ikeja, Maryland, Ojota, and other parts of the state.

Responding to remarks by the Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Tajudeen Olusi, who expressed a desire to see Tinubu at the event, Akpabio said the president’s responsibilities make it difficult for him to attend all engagements.

“You said you would have loved to see your son, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and yet, you also said it was predicted that one day he would be president of Nigeria,” Akpabio said.

“So, if you knew that he was going to be president of Nigeria, it means you also consented that you were selling him to Nigeria and the global community. That means that sometimes when you want to see him, he might not be available because of the exigencies of his office,” he added.

Akpabio further justified his role as the president’s representative, noting his personal ties to Lagos and familiarity with the state’s development.

Also, the Special Adviser to the president on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said Tinubu missed the event because he prioritised security matters.

“In the last 10 days, right from the developments in Jos, the president has been busy taking constant briefs, and he has to prioritise when it comes to state matters, especially security,” Dare said during his appearance on Channels Television on Wednesday evening.

“He is in Lagos monitoring the development, working with the intelligence community, and taking constant security briefs.”

Sanwo-Olu said the Tolu Schools complex commissioning represented a beacon of hope and a message of reassurance to children living in Ajegunle, pointing out that the mega school project showed the Government did not neglect them.

The Governor said the story of Tolu Schools Complex started in 1981 during the Mass Education Policy of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration to provide accessible education in Ajegunle. He said the Government reclaimed land from the Lagos lagoon to build the complex, which started two pioneer schools — Unity and Olodi Apapa Secondary Schools.