Koffi Tha Guru in an interview with our reporter said that the comedy, music and other activities to mark the event were earlier billed for Oct. 28.

“It is with deep regret and respect for those who lost their lives in the #EndSARS protests that we have to postpone the event till it is most convenient to laugh again.

“We take cognisance of the sad development that occurred precisely last week, which is still very fresh in our memories. We are indeed sorry for the inconvenience.

“Besides, there is curfew in town now and we cannot afford to go contrary to the state government’s directive because it will not be convenient for people to make it,” he said.

According to Koffi, the comedy, music and other events showed earlier slated for 6pm would have featured Alibaba, Gbenga Adeyinka, MC Abbey, Omobaba, Akpororo, Efe Warriboy, MC Shaggy and others.

“It was meant to be a fun-filled and laughter event as veterans and rising stars in the comedy and music sector would have been on ground to entertain the audience,” he added.

Koffi Tha Guru, who is also an Ambassador of Peace, urged all Nigerians to be positive minded and contribute their quota towards national development.

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The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said in a statement on Sunday, that some of the projects would be inaugurated virtually while the others would be on-site.

He noted that Sanwo-Olu’s administration would be one year old on May 29.

The official said that a number of programmes had been slated to commemorate the anniversary.

He said that the governor would visit Ikorodu to inaugurate the 360-unit Lagos Homes and visit Igbogbo Baiyeku IIB Estate, Lekki, and the Courtland Villas on Femi Okunnu Estate during the weeklong celebration.

”In the education sector, Sanwo-Olu will conduct virtual inauguration of completed classroom blocks in Maya Secondary School, Ikorodu; Eva Adelaja Junior School, Bariga; and Saviour Primary School, Ifako-Ijaiye, among others.

”Virtual inauguration of completed works such as the Concrete Jetty in Baiyeku, Ikorodu, Aradagun-Ajido- Epeme Road in Badagry, and the Maryland Signalisation project also form part of the itinerary to commemorate the anniversary

”Prior to May 29, Sanwo-Olu will deliver Children’s Day address on May 27, which coincides with the 53rd anniversary of the state,” he said.

The commissioner said that the anniversary events would not be held elaborately, in order to reflect the realities and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

”This is not a time to engage in any elaborate celebrations.

”The governor, however, considers it essential to render an account of his service to Lagosians since he was voted into office a year ago,” Omotosho said.

The commissioner said that in the next few days, the anniversary programmes would begin at the J.J.T Park in Alausa, with press briefings by some members of the state executive council.

He said that commissioners and special advisers would present their scorecards in tandem with the six pillars of the state’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.

He said that the daily briefings had been scheduled to run from May 27 to June 3, with two sessions daily.

”Three special publications highlighting the achievements of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration and testimonies of beneficiaries of various initiatives of the government are slated for presentation to the public by the governor and his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.

”Sanwo-Olu remains focused on fulfilling his campaign promises to Lagosians and determined to accomplish set targets in spite of the temporary setback occasioned by the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

”The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be an interesting alteration to our ways of life,” he said.

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The Presidency this week released a Factsheet outlining the policy and programme achievements of the Buhari Administration since it assumed office three years ago, on May 29, 2015.

The 41-page document highlights successes in the Economy, Security and the fight against Corruption – the three priorities of President Buhari’s Change Agenda.

It is organised into the following sections: Resetting the Economy; Restoring Growth, Growing What We Eat, Making Business Work, Doing More With Less, Investing In People, New Vision for the Niger Delta, Plugging Leakages and Justice Reforms.

The Factsheet, which will be updated regularly, showcases improving economic indices, rising investment in agriculture and infrastructure, successes in the fight against terrorism, and ongoing efforts to improve security in the North Central.

In addition, it lists the several measures taken to promote transparency and accountability in government finances.

Highlights of the Factsheet include the following:

• Nigeria’s economy is back on the path of growth, after the recession of 2016-17 (1.95 percent growth in Q1 2018)
• The Buhari Administration’s priority Sectors of Agriculture and Solid Minerals maintained consistent growth throughout the recession.
• Inflation has fallen for the fifteenth (15^th) consecutive month, from 18.7 percent in January 2017 to 12.5 percent as of April 2018.
• External Reserves of US$47.5 billion are the highest in 5 years and double the size as of October 2016.
• Total exports in 2017 were 59.47% higher than for 2016
• The first quarter of 2018 saw the fourth consecutive quarterly increase in capital importation since Q2 2017. The total value of capital imported in the quarter stood at US$6.3 billion, which is a year-on-year increase of 594.03%, and a 17.11% growth over the figure reported in the previous quarter.
• The new FX Window introduced by the CBN in April 2017, now sees an average of US$1 billion in weekly turnover, and has attracted about US$25 billion in inflows in its first year (and a total turnover of $47.14 billion) – signalling rising investor confidence in Nigeria.
• Nigeria’s Stock Market ended 2017 as one of the best-performing in the world, with returns in excess of 40 percent.
• Five (5) million new taxpayers added to the Tax Base since 2016, as part of efforts to diversify Government revenues.
• Tax Revenue increased to N1.17 Trillion in Q1 2018, a 51% increase on the Q1 2017 figure.
• N2.7 Trillion spent on Infrastructure in 2016 and 2017 fiscal years, an unprecedented allocation in Nigeria’s recent history.
• Fourteen (14) moribund Blending Plants revitalized so far under the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI); with a total capacity of 2.3 million MT of NPK fertilizer
• In May 2018, the Federal Government launched the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), under the management of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority. The PIDF is kicking off with seed funding of US$1.3 billion.
• Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in March 2018 invested US$10m to establish a world-class Cancer Treatment Centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and US$5m each in the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, to establish modern Diagnostic Centres. These Centres should be completed before the end of 2018.
• The Buhari Administration issued a N100 billion Sukuk Bond in 2017, Nigeria’s first sovereign Sukuk Bond. Proceeds from that Bond are funding 25 major road projects across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

The complete Factsheet is available on the State House website here:

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