Buhari Cancels Much Publicized Official Visit To Lagos

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Sunday, May 22nd, 2016

By Ayo Balogun, Lagos

LAGOS, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – President Muhammadu Buhari has canceled his much publicized two days visit to Lagos State as he will now send Vice President Yemi Osibanjo to represent him.

The president’s visit would have made him the first sitting president to embark on official state visit to Lagos in the last 15 years.

The dream of having Buhari visit Lagos was aborted on Sunday when his media aide, Femi Adesina said the president is no longer visiting Lagos as earlier scheduled.

The Lagos State Government had issued a statement on Saturday that Buhari would be in Lagos on Monday and Tuesday for an official visit.

A statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, had stated that this was the first time in about 15 years that a sitting President would be visiting the State on a working visit and described it as a testimony to the landmark achievements in the last one year of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as well as the good working relationship between Lagos State and the Federal Government.

Buhari would have during the visit formally commission the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Rescue Unit in Cappa Oshodi built by the State Government to ensure prompt and swift response to emergency situations in the State.

He was also supposed to commission the newly constructed road in Okota, Isolo after which he would pay homage to the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Rilwanu Aremu Akiolu at the Iga Iduganran, Lagos Island.

The president would have later in the day be hosted to a reception rally by the State Government at the Tafawa Balewa Square, (TBS) Lagos where he would have also commission and hand over security equipment and vehicles contributed by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration to securities agencies to beef up security in the state.