Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has restated the need for Special Economic Status for the State owing to its role in the nation and the burdens it bears.

Speaking today at the South West Zonal Public Hearing of the House of Representatives Special Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, held at Marriott Hotel, Ikeja Lagos, Mr. Sanwo-Olu stated that the continuous request for a special status for the State is by no means a selfish one, but actually in the interest of every Nigerian and of Nigeria as a nation as the progress and prosperity of the country is linked to that of South-west Lagos State.

According to the Governor, the need for this special status has been sufficiently articulated and justified. “It suffices for me at this point to restate that this request is by no means a selfish one, but one that is actually in the interest of every Nigerian and of Nigeria as a nation. The progress and prosperity of Nigeria is inextricably linked to the progress and prosperity of Lagos State”, he said.

While stating the issues of State Police and Fiscal Federalism as top priority for the State in the ongoing review process, the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat emphasized that a special status for Lagos State must be a concern not only for the people of the state alone, but for all Nigerians.

He stressed that true democracy is all about the exercise of the sovereign will of the people and that “voices and wishes of the people must always be heard loud and clear, regarding how they are being governed and how they wish to be governed”.

Sanwo-Olu was also of the view that “the constitutional amendment process will provide Nigerians the opportunity to express their minds on the issues they want to see reflected in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria either by way of amendments to existing provisions or entirely new provisions”.

Earlier in his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representative, RT. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, while urging Nigerians to take the ongoing constitutional amendment seriously, noted the process of review and amendment will devise the nation a near perfect constitution which will resolve the issue of “identity, political structure, human rights, administration of government, resource control, national security and so much else that has fragile our nation and that has hindered our progress and prosperity”.

He noted that “the 1999 constitution is as a result of a hurried national compromise that Nigeria entered into two decades ago, just to allow the military vacate the political scene and return back to the barracks. It has always been our intention that one day as one people we will return to amend this document to give voice to the yearning of the Nigerian people”.

Similarly, the Deputy Chief Whip and Member, House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha noted that the review is part of the efforts of the House of Representatives to ensure a participatory and inclusive approach in the 9th National Assembly’s Constitution review process.

The Deputy Chief Whip added that the Committee issued a call for memoranda and received submissions covering a wide range of issues such as local government autonomy. Devolution of powers, indigene and citizenship rights amongst others.

The Review is currently considering over thirty constitutional alterations bills which borders on the following; Electoral matters, Local Government, Judiciary, Fundamental human rights, gender equity, increased participation of women, vulnerable groups in governance, immunity, indigene ship and residency, devolution of power, strengthening the independence of Institutions, traditional institutions, State and Local Governments creation and Legislature and Legislative Bureaucracy.

Governor Udom Emmanuel has paid an unscheduled visit to the construction site of the N14BN, 8.4km Ibrahim Babangida Avenue flood control project.

The Akwa Ibom State Government / World Bank assisted project awarded to China Road and Bridge Corporation,CRBC, cuts across 17 communities in 3 local government areas Uyo, Nsit Ibom and Ibesikpo Asutan.

Governor Emmanuel who was conducted round the project location by the State Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals , Sir. Charles Udoh, had in his delegation, top government officials.

The Senate on Wednesday passed a Bill prohibiting discrimination between first degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders for the purposes of employment and promotion, into law.

The decision followed the consideration and adoption of a report on the Bill presented by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, at plenary.

The Nigerian Government has reacted to Twitter’s decision to delete President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet that referenced the civil war.

Buhari threatened those fomenting trouble in Nigeria’s southeast region that his government will “treat them in the language they understand.”

“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” Buhari tweeted on Tuesday.

Buhari’s tweet faced criticism from Nigerians who reported his account for suspension.

Twitter rules prohibit users from making statements that “threaten violence against an individual or a group of people; engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so; nor promote violence against, threaten, or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.”

In response, Twitter deleted the vexatious tweet, noting that “this Tweet violated the Twitter Rules”.

The microblogging platform did not take any action on Nigerians’ request for suspension of Buhari’s account but deleted the tweet that referenced civil war.

However, reacting after Wednesday’s Federal executive council (FEC) presided over by President Buhari, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, accused Twitter of double standards in handling the issue.

Mohammed, who dismissed Twitter’s, accused the social media giant of bias and supporting the looting and destruction of public and private properties during the #EndSARS protest in November 2020.

The Minister of Information said Twitter’s role is suspect, adding that Nigeria will not be fooled anymore.

“Twitter may have its own rules, it’s not the universal rule. If Mr. President, anywhere in the world feels very bad and concern about a situation, he is free to express such views,” Mohammed said.

“Now, we should stop comparing apples with oranges. If an organisation is proscribed, it is different from any other which is not proscribed.

“Two, any organisation that gives directives to its members, to attack police stations, to kill policemen, to attack correctional centres, to kill warders, and you are now saying that Mr President does not have the right to express his dismay and anger about that?

“We are the ones guilty of double standards? I don’t see anywhere in the world where an organisation, a person will stay somewhere outside Nigeria and will direct his members to attack the symbols of authority, the police, the military, especially when that organisation has been proscribed.

“By whatever name, you can’t justify giving orders to kill policemen or to kill anybody you do not agree with.”

The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has released 14,468 passports for applicants in Lagos State to collect.

The Lagos Passport Controller, Lagos Passport Command, Mr Sunday Fagbamigbe, confirmed the figure while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday, in Lagos.

Fagbamigbe said the figure covered applicants in the three passport offices in Lagos State.

NIS suspended fresh passport applications to allow clearance of backlog of all passport applications received before May 17.

The backlogs were expected to be cleared before June 8, the new deadline.

According to the Controller, 580 passports were ready for collection at Festac Passport Office.

“About 6,212 are ready for collection in Alausa Passport Office and 7,676 in Ikoyi Passport Office in the state,’’ he said.

Fagbamigbe appealed to all applicants who applied before May 17 and were yet to collect their passports to visit the passport offices where they applied.

He said that NIS would always serve the interest of Nigerians and satisfy them in the provision of statutory services.

“A link has also been provided by the service on its portal to enable applicants check their names, ” Fagbamigbe said.