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Sanwo-Olu: Delivering on THEMES developmental agenda
It is over two years that a successful banker and seasoned administrator, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu took over mantle of leadership as the 15th Governor of Lagos State. Sanwo-Olu, who was once a three-time commissioner and Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), took the oath of office along with his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat on May 29, 2019.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in his inauguration speech, spoke passionately on his plans for Lagos State, especially his dream of a ‘Greater Lagos,’ anchored by a six-pillar THEMES developmental agenda.
Governor Sanwo-Olu is passionate about Lagos and his vision for the Centre of Excellence has made him to deliver good governance and dividends of democracy to millions of Lagosians within his 834 days in office. With massive support and cooperation from his deputy, Dr. Hamzat and other members of the State Executive Council as well as major stakeholders in Lagos State, Governor Sanwo-Olu has taken Lagos to a greater height.
Governor Sanwo-Olu has shown leadership in managing the affairs of Lagos State and protecting the citizens of the state, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Lagos became the epicenter of the pandemic in Nigeria in February 2020, the governor has been up to the task assuming the position of Incident Commander and ensuring that the pandemic is well managed in Lagos State and today, Nigerians have a relief from the deadly virus as infections rate has reduced drastically going by daily account of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
Apart from COVID-19 pandemic, Lagos was also hit last year by massive destruction of properties worth billions of naira destroyed during last year’s #EndSARS protests hijacked by hoodlums. Despite these challenges, Governor Sanwo-Olu took the bull by the horn to put Lagos on the path of success through the Lagos Rebuild initiative.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who seems to be very conscious of the number of days and years he is constitutionally allowed to spend in office as a democratically elected Chief Executive of the Centre of Excellence, believes that his mid-term in office must be marked with visible and iconic projects that will cut across all the sectors itemised in the THEMES’ developmental agenda, despite the negative impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protest that almost grounded Lagos as a results of hoodlums hijacking peaceful agitations by Nigerian youths.
Speaking at the “2021 State of the State Address” held at the Lagos House, Ikeja on Thursday May 27 in commemoration of his second year in office, which was attended by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, members of his cabinet, traditional rulers, political gladiators, captains of industries and media executives, among others, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Greater Lagos collectively envisioned by Lagosians is closer now than ever before.
Traffic Management and Transportation
The Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has developed a reliable intermodal system of transportation by investing heavily in waterways and light rail transportation system as well as road transportation to make life easy for Lagosians.
The State Government has reduced traffic congestion in different parts of Lagos by resolving key gridlock points, maintenance of road infrastructures, decongestion of traffic by connecting more communities with new link roads and bridges, provision of intelligent transport systems to optimise the transport network and completion of ongoing strategic transport projects in rail, water and road. The administration has developed Lagos Bus Reform Initiative, which is designed to provide comfortable and reliable bus service for commuters. Governor Sanwo-Olu, few months ago commissioned 500 First and Last Mile Buses to ease transportation system in Lagos. The incumbent administration also has a success story in the water transportation.
In works and infrastructure, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration within two years delivered 51 iconic projects in Lagos State. Among the iconic projects are Pen-Cinema fly over, ramp and road networks at Lagos-Ogun boundary and other parts of the State. The administration also constructed and rehabilitated 301 inner roads in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). It also commissioned the Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT lane and rolled out hundreds of buses plying different routes in Lagos State.
Health and Environment
Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has also made significant impact in touching the lives of millions of Lagosians in the areas of health and environment, which is the second pillar of the THEMES developmental agenda. The incumbent government in the last two years, believes that nothing should be spared to give Lagosians quality health care. It has made a lot of intervention in the health sector for Lagos residents to feel the presence of the government, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proactive and efficient management of the COVID-19 pandemic by Lagos State Government has been adjudged as the most significant achievement of the Health and Environment pillar of the THEMES development agenda.
The State has also witnessed improved capacity and capability in area of infrastructure and personnel. Aside from the comprehensive renovation of medical facilities at Ebute-Metta Health Centre, Harvey Road Health Centre, General Hospitals at Odan, Isolo and Ketu-Ejinrin, the State has also developed new facilities, such as the New Massey Children Hospital, New General Hospital in Ojo, and a Rehabilitation and Mental Health facility in Ketu Ejinrin.
The State Government is also building a 300-bed Isolation Centre and a Research Institute at IDH, Yaba. The administration recently commissioned three Oxygen Plants and new Doctors’ Quarters built at Gbagada and Isolo. The administration has also improved maternal and child health care in Lagos State, with the inauguration of the Mother and Child Centres (MCCs) in Eti-Osa, Igando, Badagry and Epe.
In the Environment, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration within two years in office has invested significantly in the waste collection capacity of LAWMA. It has also increased the capacity of PSP operators from 320 compactor-trips to 720 compactor-trips daily, and commissioned a mini-effluent treatment plant to determine waste toxicity before release into the atmosphere. The administration has also made significant improvement in Drainage management and maintenance.
Education and Technology
Education and Technology is the third pillar in the THEMES Agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration and since his assumption in office on May 29, 2019, Governor Sanwo-Olu has never paid lip service to education in the State.
The incumbent administration has completed more than 1,097 school projects in just two years. It built six Secondary Schools, provided over 100,000 tables and chairs, built 450 classrooms and provided 2,000 hostel beds in model schools. It also introduced EKO EXCEL – an education reform programme targeted at developing highly skilled teachers through training, support and motivation. The EKO EXCEL initiative has reached about 1,009 schools, 13,000 teachers and 450,000 pupils.
Since the inception of the administration, over 2,000 teachers have been recruited for public secondary schools. It has also stretched the opportunity for continuous learning with the establishment of additional 21 Adult Literacy Centres, which took the number of such centres in Lagos State to 1,284.
It is also worthy of note that the global ranking of Lagos State University (LASU), the state-owned tertiary institution has gone up. It is a reflection of the level and quality of support provided to tertiary institutions in Lagos State by the incumbent administration. LASU moved to prominence, and occupies a regal position in the hierarchy of universities in Nigeria. Like LASU, other Lagos State-owned institutions have received both ample materials and financial support that have adequately strengthened their operations and boosted their competitiveness internationally. The administration has also concluded plans to upgrade Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) and Lagos State College of Education (LACOED) to Universities.
As a State that caters for its students, Lagos State Government paid a total sum of N218, 795,000 million as bursary awards to 6,411 students of the state’s origin in various higher institutions of learning to support their education. The government also provided sum of N217, 732,955.44 million as scholarship awards to a total number of 981 beneficiaries.
The popular narrative that teachers’ rewards are in heaven is changing gradually with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as he preaches that teachers’ reward should no longer be in heaven but on earth. He believes that teachers should reap the reward of their labour while on earth and not after death. This new belief made Governor Sanwo-Olu present handsome rewards to teachers adjudged to have made quality impacts in Lagos State’s teaching service. Setting new records of reward for teachers in the State, Governor Sanwo-Olu few months ago presented three-bedroom and two-bedroom flats to two teachers and also rewarded 13 teachers and school administrators with a brand new cars each at the Year 2020 Teachers’ Merit Award organised by the Ministry of Education for making quality impacts in the State’s teaching service.
Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is standing up to the call to implant technology at the heart of everything in Lagos. The vision of becoming #DigitalLagos or a smart city of relevance, has started to crystallise with the laying of 3,000km fibre across the State. The administration has covered 1,800km, which has provided connection to 100 schools and 12 hospitals.
Riding on the Fibre infrastructure is the Smart City Project, which will enhance traffic management and security, with the planned installation of about 2,000 cameras at strategic locations. The test-run has begun, with the installation of about 150 smart cameras on the streets.
As part of the measures put in place for formal and informal education, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation through the Women Affairs Department organised a series of programmes and activities aimed at improving the status of Women in Lagos State and making them economically independent. The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) has also provided financial support to residents of Lagos State for jobs, wealth creation and employment. It has promoted entrepreneurship by improving access to finance, strengthening the institutional capacity of MSMEs and formulating policies designed to improve the business environment in Lagos State. So far, the initiative has supported over 14,646 small businesses in Lagos State and created more than 123,720 jobs, especially for young persons in the State.
Making Lagos a 21st century economy
The fourth pillar of the THEMES developmental agenda is Making Lagos a 21st century economy. To achieve this, the incumbent government has recorded a milestone in infrastructural development in various parts of the State, amongst which is heavy investments by public and private sectors at the Lekki Free zones. Lagos State Government has also provided business-friendly environment and ease of doing business for many investors to set up business empires in the Centre of Excellence.
The Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration has also made significant progress in the area of housing by increasing access to home ownership with emphasis on first-time home owners and enhancing the rent-to-own policy; maintaining existing and newly commissioned housing schemes through facility managers to prevent dilapidation of estates and renewal of dilapidated estates.
Within two years in office, Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Housing has completed and commissioned 492 homes unit at Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande Gardens in Igando, 360 homes at Prince Abiodun Ogunleye Estate in Igbogbo and 124 home units at Lekki Phase 1. The Ministry of Housing through Joint Ventures agreements has provided 252 two bedroom Bungalows at Lagos State Affordable Public Housing Scheme Idale, Badagry; 124 homes at LagosHOMS Lekki Phase II and 132 homes at Babatunde Raji Fashola Estate at Iponri.
Lagos State Government through the LSDPC provided six units of two bedroom flats in Olutunda Ilupeju, 120 home units at Courtland Villas at Igbokushu, Eti-Osa and Bayview Estate Ikate-Elegushi with 100 units (32 units three-bedroom flats and 68 units 4 bedroom Terraces with Maid’s room) and Sunnyville Apartments located in Nob Oluwa, Ogba (32 units of 2 bedroom flats).
It is noteworthy that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration strengthened its policy of delivering homes to Lagosians through the existing Rent-To-Own Mortgage System. Under this arrangement, individuals are required to pay only five per cent of the cost of the housing unit as the commitment fee and the balance spread over a period of 10 years with minimum interest obtainable under the scheme.
The Sanwo-Olu administration has done so much in the area of agriculture and food security. Lagos has developed and commenced implementation of a five-year Agricultural and Food Security Road Map. The full implementation of the strategy will enable the state to achieve 40 per cent sufficiency in food production by 2025.
With initiatives such as the Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project amongst others, which were designed to empower, train and build capacity development of the youth and women, especially in selected key value chains such as fisheries, poultry, rice, aquaculture and horticulture, the State Government has trained and empowered thousands of farmers in the State.
The State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu unveiled a five-year Agricultural Road Map between year 2021 to 2025. This road map will enable the State Government actualise her dreams of food security within the stipulated time frame.
The long awaited 32 metric tonnes per hour Imota rice mill, one of the largest in sub-Sahara Africa is at over 85 per cent completion stage. When completed it will provide over 250 thousand direct and indirect jobs across different value chains.
Entertainment and Tourism
Among the numerous transformational initiatives deployed to strengthen the socio-economic positioning of Lagos State globally, the energy of the city, fuelled by a thriving entertainment industry is unmistakable. And this is why Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has made huge investment in Entertainment and Tourism, the fifth pillar of the developmental agenda.
Aside from landmark facilities and initiatives like the J.K Randle Centre for Yoruba history, Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Theatre in Badagry, Badagry Museum and major Tourist attractions in Badagry, the incumbent administration is also working with the Federal Government to rehabilitate the National Arts Theatre Iganmu into a world class entertainment, fashion, music, technology and cultural hub as a deliberate and purposeful mission to boost the tourism appeal of Lagos State.
The Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s empowerment drive through partnerships with the Ebony Life Academy and Del York Creative Academy, is yielding positive result with no fewer than 2,000 youths receiving training in different aspects of cinematography; such as Scriptwriting, Directing and others. This is aimed at unlocking the huge talent and potential in the creative arts space.
The administration has also launched the Lagos Creative Initiative (LACI) for focused development of the creative industry, which has birthed the 100-hecterLagos Film City in Ejinrin. Besides, it has given financial support in excess of N1billion to operators to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on the industry.
Security and Governance
In line with the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Agenda, the administration has worked tirelessly to ensure that Lagos is safe and secure for the residents of the State and investors. As at today, security agencies in Lagos State can boast of modern day armoury. On Thursday, June 10, President Muhammadu Buhari joined Governor Sanwo-Olu to officially handover patrol vehicles and various security equipment to security agencies in Lagos State. The equipment were; 150 Double Cabin Vehicles, 30 Saloon Patrol Vehicles, 1,000 Ballistic Vests, 1,000 Ballistic Helmets, 1,000 Handheld Police Radios/Walkie Talkies, 100 Security Patrol Bikes, two Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), four High Capacity Troop Carriers, two Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicles and Office/Command Furniture and other Ancillary Support Resources.
Lagos State Civil Service, which has many ministries, departments and agencies are role models to many states in Nigeria as a result of several developmental strides of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
Despite delivering on his campaign promises, Governor Sanwo-Olu is not looking back as he is marching on towards the attainment of the “Greater Lagos” dream.
Op-Ed | By Maxime Houinato
As Africa stands at a crossroads in the fight against violence targeting women and girls, the continent’s traditional leaders hold a uniquely powerful key to unlocking lasting change. Their influence—rooted in culture, authority and community trust—positions them not just as custodians of heritage, but as essential partners in redefining norms, protecting rights and leading a continental shift toward safety, dignity and equality for every woman and girl.
In the coming week, traditional leaders from across Africa will meet in Lagos to explore how culture can advance dignity, safety, and equality. Their convening could not be timelier. Violence against women and girls remains widespread, underreported, and a major obstacle to achieving Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. Recent UN and WHO findings confirm that intimate partner and sexual violence persist at alarming levels, underscoring the need for strong, locally led prevention and accountability.
This important convening in Lagos is made possible through the valued support and partnership of the Ford Foundation, whose long-standing commitment to gender justice, human rights, and community-led solutions continues to strengthen efforts across Africa to end violence against women and girls.
Sub-Saharan Africa records some of the world’s highest rates of intimate partner violence, with studies showing that over 40% of women surveyed have experienced emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. Regional data platforms confirm that both lifetime and recent intimate partner violence remain alarmingly common. The effects also span generations: research across 37 African countries links mothers’ experiences of violence to higher risks of illness, undernutrition, and even death among children under five, highlighting IPV as a major threat to child survival and public health.
Where culture must evolve
Africa has made notable strides, yet harmful practices still put millions of girls at risk. West and Central Africa remain the global epicentre of child marriage: nearly 60 million women and girls in the region were married before 18, with Nigeria bearing the largest absolute numbers. These figures, drawn from UNICEF’s databases, remind us that while progress is possible, it is not guaranteed without sustained, community-anchored change.
There are bright spots. In Kenya, the latest Demographic and Health Survey shows FGM prevalence fell to about 15% in 2022, down from 21% in 2014, a testament to policy commitment and local norm change. Yet prevalence remains extremely high among several communities, and sustained vigilance is required to prevent medicalisation or cross-border practices.
Nigerian realities, African momentum
Nigeria mirrors the continental picture: national surveys and administrative data point to widespread physical, sexual and emotional violence, with thousands of cases reported to authorities each year, figures that almost certainly undercount the true burden. The Government’s National GBV Data Collation Tool is an important step toward standardising reporting and improving coordination; scaling it nationwide and linking it to survivor-centred services will save lives.
Encouragingly, the upcoming Conference of African Traditional Leaders in Lagos, already drawing commitments from eminent leaders, signals growing recognition that cultural authority can be mobilised to protect women and girls. UN Women’s work with traditional councils across Africa has shown that when custodians of culture publicly denounce harmful practices, backed by evidence and community dialogue, norms shift and laws gain legitimacy. It is why we helped catalyse platforms like the Council of Traditional Leaders of Africa to champion the abandonment of child marriage and FGM.
Law works best when culture leads
Africa’s legal architecture has advanced. The Maputo Protocol, our continental bill of women’s rights, has spurred reforms, and the African Commission recently moved to develop a Model Law to accelerate domestication and harmonisation across countries. These instruments matter: they provide standards, remedies and budgets. But their power is realised when interpreted through community values that affirm women’s dignity.
Evidence from the Spotlight Initiative, the EU-UN partnership with the African Union, shows that multi-sector, locally-led approaches can reduce harmful practices, strengthen services, and improve prevention. Traditional and religious leaders who champion public declarations, alternative rites of passage, and community bylaws help convert state law into lived practice.
A practical agenda for traditional leaders
I urge traditional leaders to make clear, practical commitments that have been proven to drive change: publicly and repeatedly denounce harmful practices such as child marriage, widowhood rites and FGM, backing declarations with community bylaws aligned with national law; promote survivor-centred justice in customary systems through strong referral pathways, bans on forced reconciliation, and proper case documentation; safeguard girls’ childhoods by ensuring birth and marriage registration, enforcing 18 as the minimum age of marriage, and supporting re-entry to school for married or parenting girls; encourage alternative rites of passage and positive models of masculinity that reject violence; and use their influence to push for stronger laws, adequate funding, and community engagement to address all forms of violence against women and girls.
Culture is not a relic; it is a living promise we renew with each generation. As guardians of that promise, Africa’s traditional leaders can be the champions of a continental transformation: from harmful silence to protective speech, from permissive norms to zero tolerance. If we act with urgency and unity, a life free from violence can become every African woman’s and girl’s lived reality.
Maxime Houinato is the UN Women Regional Director for West and Central Africa, providing strategic leadership across 24 countries to advance gender equality, strengthen women’s rights, and accelerate the elimination of violence against women and girls. In this role, he guides UN Women’s regional programmes on women’s economic empowerment, governance and political participation, humanitarian action, and the prevention and response to gender‑based violence.
The Federal Government has banned electricity distribution companies and installers from collecting any form of payment for meters, warning that DisCo officials and installers found extorting customers will be prosecuted.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, issued the warning on Thursday during an on-site inspection of newly imported smart meters at APM Terminals, Apapa, Lagos.
Adelabu said the meters were procured under the World Bank–funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme and must be installed for consumers free of charge, stressing that any demand for money would be treated as an offence.
Adelabu, who was received into the Apapa Port Command of the Nigerian Customs Service by Area Controller Emmanuel Oshoba, expressed happiness over the importation of another tranche of 500,000 smart meters under DISREP.
He said the meters would be given to all electricity customers, regardless of their band. “I want to mention that it is unprecedented that these meters are to be installed and distributed to consumers free of charge—free of charge! Nobody should collect money from any consumer. It is an illegality. It is an offence for the officials of distribution companies across Nigeria to request a dime before installation; even the indirect installers cannot ask consumers for a dime.
It has to be installed free of charge so that billings and collections will improve for the sector.
“The main objective of coming here today is to carry out a physical on-site inspection of shipments of smart meters that the Federal Government has imported under the World Bank-funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme. This programme is supporting the Federal Government to import a total of about 3.4 million meters in two batches; the first batch is 1.43 million meters, out of which we have received close to about a million meters. Currently, almost 150,000 meters have already been installed across all distribution companies in the country.
“And what we have today is close to 500,000 meters that we just received. They are all smart meters, and I believe that the journey of completely eliminating the meter gap in the Nigerian power sector has just begun,” Adelabu said, even as he expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of metering.
Adelabu was optimistic that in a couple of years, every household, business, and institution would be fully metered so that billings and collections in the power sector would become more transparent, fair, and just. He added that it would also improve the readiness of electricity consumers to pay their bills, leading to improved liquidity in the sector.
“I’m quite excited and elated with what’s happening because it’s unprecedented. This is the first time in the history of this country that a government will be importing and locally buying this number of meters to ensure that the power sector is completely transformed. This is like walking the talk. Our target reform in the sector is not just verbal. Nigerians can see that this is real; it’s not just a promise of the tongue.
“We said it is free. We are not saying this behind closed doors. We are telling Nigerians that the distribution and installation of these meters in every location is free of charge, and it is declared an offence—an illegality—for any DisCo official or installer to request money from the beneficiaries of these meters. We will track and monitor this installation. We also await tip-offs. We have the regulatory commission (NERC), which has offices in some of these locations, and the state regulatory authorities also have offices in each state.
“We are going to open a customer complaint desk whereby, if you notice any such requests for illegal money, you report it, and the authorities will follow up. We are not leaving the installation to the DisCos alone; we’re also creating an interface between the installers and consumers to accelerate the pace of installation. We have some issues with the data and addresses of unmetered customers. We are working hand-in-hand with the DisCos to ensure clean data so that we can accelerate installation.
“We also want to maintain a register whereby unmetered customers can register their names. Once we have a list, we will validate it with the DisCos, improving the pace of installation. We are looking for confirmed cases of requests for money by any DisCo official or installer. Nigerians will know what we can do, and it will serve as a deterrent for others not to commit such an offence or illegality. That’s the plan.
“Extortion is not allowed, but there must be confirmed cases of such extortion, and the officials involved—no matter how high—will be prosecuted. It will be publicised and serve as a deterrent to others with similar intentions. We will not allow that. This is a government effort, and no activity of a DisCo or installer should frustrate government efforts to ensure that life is made easy for Nigerians and that we have a stable, reliable, and functional power sector,” he said.
Adelabu added that the Tinubu administration is resolving a decades-long problem that has affected liquidity. “But the boldness, courage, and political will of the government to go ahead with this should be commended. We will track it end-to-end to ensure that the government’s effort is well implemented and our desired objectives are achieved.
“The aggregate meter gap covers all categories of customers. We are not discriminating. We are prioritising every Nigerian, every customer, every electricity user. The issue of Band A, Band B, or Band C is temporary; it is our systematic way of ensuring this reform reaches everyone. The meters will be given to all levels of customers and not restricted to a single band. I am committing to that,” he stressed.
As journalists expressed doubts over the possibility of free meter distribution to customers, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ayo Gbeleyi, stated that the bureau coordinates the implementation of the Distribution Sector Recovery Programme on behalf of the Federal Government and serves on the boards of all 11 electricity distribution companies.
Gbeleyi said, “Regarding concerns that DisCos are delaying meter installations, you will soon see a new order or circular from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission prescribing the protocols and processes DisCos must follow to ensure unhindered access for meter installations.
“We are monitoring this. We have our dashboard, trackers, and all stakeholders’ hands on deck to ensure seamless and rapid deployment of these meters. One more thing—the meters here are manufactured to the specific requirements of each DisCo. They are inscribed on the meter, with an anti-theft protocol embedded. The configuration is for a particular DisCo, so a meter configured for Eko DisCo cannot be installed in Ibadan.”
Speaking, the Chairman of Mojec, Mojisola Abdul, said the meters supplied by the Federal Government are designed to genuinely generate more revenue for the country and supply more power.
“I’m telling you, physically, we have installed almost 150,000 meters, and they are free. Don’t give anybody money. You are not allowed. We had a meeting Wednesday with the minister and the DG of BPE about further progress on making it easy for every Nigerian. We are calling it mobile registration of free meters. If you register today, your meter will be installed within three days,” she said.
On the delay in meter installations after months of application and payments made, the minister reassured, “This is our country. It is valid that there will be apprehensions and reservations because of past experiences. Previously, there was limited meter availability, and payment was required.
“But this programme has two advantages: first, the volume is now sufficient—we have received almost 1 million meters, with another 1.55 million meters coming in the second phase. Second, the meters must be installed free of charge. The complications experienced in the past will be completely eliminated. We had a meeting on Wednesday for almost two to three hours to discuss all existing complications and foreseeable difficulties, and I assure you we already have effective solutions to all these problems.”
Adelabu also visited the National Meter Test Station in Oshodi, where meters are tested by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency to ensure they meet required standards. Nigeria currently has over five million customers under estimated billing.
….Gov throws jibe, describes impeachment notice as ‘love letter’
Vows to avoid actions capable of breaching peace
The office of the Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, has received the letter from the State House of Assembly requesting him to constitute a seven-man committee to probe the allegations of gross misconduct leveled against the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
The House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Petitions, Information and Complaints, Dr Enemi George, confirmed that the Chief Judge had acknowledged receipt of all the documents.
Also received by the CJ’s office were other documents detailing the allegations of gross misconduct against the governor and the deputy governor, copies of the Rivers State Impeachment Panel (Conduct of Investigations) Procedure 2025 and photocopies of The Nation, The Guardian and The Sun, among others.
George said: “It is important to inform the good people of Rivers State that Mr. Speaker has already complied with the Constitution and letters sent by him to the Chief Judge have been received and acknowledged.
“All relevant documents including the Notices of Allegations of Gross Misconduct were attached”.
He added: “Every step going forward, what can happen or what cannot happen is clearly stated in Section 188 of the Constitution.
“The good people of Rivers State should remain calm and should not listen to those who want to truncate our democracy.”
He commended and thanked the good people of Rivers State for their support and prayers for the 10th Assembly in particular and Rivers people at large.
The Rivers State High Court sitting in Oyigbo Local Government Area has however issued an interim injunction restraining the CJ from receiving, forwarding, considering or acting on any request, resolution, articles of impeachment or any form of communication from Speaker Martin Amaewhule and other members of the State House of Assembly for the purpose of constituting a panel to investigate the alleged misconduct against the governor and his deputy.
They just landed me a ‘love letter’, says Fubara
Governor Fubara, in a veiled reference to the impeachment notice, called it a love letter.
“This 2026 that I thought would have been the finest, they just landed me a love letter,” he said while speaking as special guest during the finals of the 2026 Port Harcourt Polo Tournament in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
He added:”That notwithstanding, we must move on and carry on the responsibilities as a government. We will continue to support everyone who means well for Rivers State.”
He vowed that he would not support, directly or indirectly, any action capable of undermining peace and safety in the state.
He insisted that the protection of lives and property remained the primary responsibility of his administration.
He emphasised that he remained the governor of the state and would continue to deliver on the promises made to the people.
Fubara expressed satisfaction that the 2026 Port Harcourt Polo Tournament was held for one week without any incident.
He described the peaceful conduct of the event as a clear indication that Rivers is safe for residents, visitors and investors.
A supporter of the governor, Amb.Chijioke Ihunwo, asked the assembly members to perform their functions independently.
He pleaded with President Tinubu to intervene on the matter, insisting that the governor had done nothing to warrant his removal.
He said: “This assembly must remain independent to allow peace to prevail in the state.
“Governor Fubara has done nothing to warrant his removal. President Tinubu should intervene in this matter as the leader of the party.”
The high powered committee set up by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to reconcile the feuding sides in the Rivers imbroglio is said to be working round the clock to stop the planned impeachment.
The committee members have already met with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike in Abuja and separately with Fubara and some other stakeholders.
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