Breaking: FG Officially Hands Over Presidential Lodge, Marina To Lagos Govt

The Federal Government, on Thursday, officially handed over the Presidential Lodge, Marina to the Lagos State Government.

Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Permanent Secretary, State House Marina, Alhaji Jalal Arabi and Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mr.Tunji Bello.

Others present at the signing, hand over includes: Commissioner for Housing, Gbolahan Lawal, Commissioner for Energy Wale Oluwo, Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, Commissioner for Special Duties, Seye Oladejo and Special Adviser on Physical Planning and Urban Development, Yetunde Onabule, among others.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier approved the handing over of the Presidential Lodge to the state Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, last year.

The handover had followed complains by former Governor Babatunde Fashola about the lodge that seemed to have been abandoned.

Ambode, while receiving the lodge, had said that it will be turned to ‘The Heritage Centre for Leadership’, which would be redesigned and equipped as a landmark research and tourist arena that will be open to local and international visitors.

“On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his kind hand-over of the Presidential Lodge in Marina to the Lagos State government.

“This, in my opinion, demonstrates the President’s special interest in Lagos State, which is in line with the promise he made in Lagos during the electioneering campaign, that the interest of Lagosians will always be paramount in his heart,” the statement said.

“With the handing over of the Presidential Lodge to Lagos State, the Lagos state government will begin a process that will transform the whole area into a culture zone in the next two to three years that every Lagosian will be proud of.” Ambode assured.