FG hands over Presidential Lodge, Marina, to LASG
The Federal Government yesterday completed the final handing over of the Presidential Lodge, Marina, to the Lagos State government.
The handing over came about 20 years after the journey to actualize it commenced.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony held at the Conference Room of the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing in Abuja, the Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said the development was a testament of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to bring positive change to Lagos.
Gov Ambode particularly commended the President, Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; staff of the Ministry; Permanent Secretary in the Office of Chief of Staff to the President; and other stakeholders who worked to ensure the final transfer of the asset to Lagos.
The governor said, “We want to sincerely appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari who has graciously approved that the Presidential Lodge be released to Lagos State and for the use of Lagos State which, just as said by the minister, we have been trying to get for the last 20 years.
“We are pleased that on a day like this, it is my predecessor and present Minister of Works who is now doing the final handing over, a process he had been part of to get this asset back to Lagos. The minister is in the position today to do the final documentation, and we are very grateful for that.”
Saying the development was a sign of greater collaboration between the Federal Government and Lagos State, Gov Ambode expressed optimism that it would be the beginning of a process to get such assets back to the state government.
The governor promised his administration would put the edifice to good use and transform it into a national monument to boost tourism and grow the economy of Lagos and Nigeria.
“We believe strongly that this singular gesture is part of what will improve the economy of Lagos, because our intention is to turn that particular asset into a national monument where we can christen it a National Heritage Centre for Leadership.
“We will use it also as a tourist centre to bring Nigerians and foreigners to come to Nigeria, and as well use that as a means of improving on the economy of Lagos State and Nigeria,” he said.
Fashola said that the signing of the document, which formally vests ownership of the Presidential Lodge in the Lagos State government, was in fulfilment of the promise made by President Buhari, saying it was gratifying that the long journey spanning about two decades had finally come to an end.