YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IS KEY TO SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT ----- HON. DR. ADEJARE

Reported by: Babatunde Rufai

26th, December 2016.

The Commissioner for Environment, Lagos State, Hon. Dr. Babatunde  Adejare, speaking at the 10th Year Remembrance Of Victims Of Fire Mishap caused by Scoop Of Petroleum Product in Abule Egba area of Lagos. He is of the opinion that youth engagement is key to societal development.

While giving kudos to the organisers of the epoch making event, also appreciate the honourable representing Ifako Ijaye constituency 02. Hon. Rasheed Lanre Makinde for giving this programme a wide publicity and support, as our people across Lagos needs to be continuously informed on the dangers of Pipeline Vandalization which reduces standard of living.

"Vandalizing petroleum pipelines and other government infrastructures will always cause economy shortages which in turns affect the budget performance. I want to urge our youth to see government infrastructures as community properties which must be protected at all time against hoodlums and saboteurs."

"I am creating a unit in the Ministry of Environment to get feedback from people who lives in communities with petroleum pipeline by the time this takes effect; adequate measures will be taken on cases relating to vandalism." Hon. Dr. Adejare Concluded.

General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Mr. Tiamiyu Adesina, implore the participants at the symposium to see emergency management as everybody's responsibility.

"The emergency team cannot be everywhere, we rely solely on the information we got from members of the public."

"Lagos state government is embarking on installation of CCTV camera across Lagos to aide security and emergency management; this is in line with the mandate of the governor, Mr. Akinwumi  Ambode in making Lagos safe for all." Adesina concluded.

Hon. TPL. Rasheed Lanre Makinde, member Lagos State House of Assembly, Ifako Ijaye 02, while welcoming participants to the symposium which was organized to sensitized the community people against the reoccurrence of the ugly incident which claim the lives of over 2000 people.

"The feelings will continue to remain in our hearts as we never envisage such in this community, but as it has happened we need to work against re-occurrence. Hence, I humbly key into the programme and support the organizers." Hon. Makinde said.

The sole Adminstrator, Ojokoro LCDA, Hon. Dr. Adeleke Ipaye, who was represented by APC youth leader Comrade Shakin Agbayewa, implore the youth and community leaders to always work with the Local government in making a better community as the door of the office of the sole administrator is always open for comments, observations and suggestions.

The paramount ruler of Ojokoro Land, Oba Rilwan Oluwalambe Taiwo, gave royal blessings to the event and urge the youth to continue in there zeal to make Ojokoro land an envy for all.

Area G, Commander, ACP Lanre Ogunlowo, while delivering lecture on 'Community Policing In An Emerging City' said "Community policing cannot be done by Police Officers alone that is why we have created different platforms in order to get the community leaders and eminent personalities in every community involved in the security of lives and properties."

"I urge people of Abule Egba and Ojokoro communities to use various platforms we have initiated to get across to the police in order to serve you better." Ogunlowo concluded.

The chairman Organising Committee, Mr. Akinbobola in his appreciation speech shortly after the event, said the message of the event have been passed and he is optimistic that government and other agencies concern will act swiftly.

In the same mood the youth leader of Abule Egba Awori land chief waliu Amsat, said "the struggle for a better Abule Egba Awori land is just beginning, for the first time a government is remembering us with a big project of a flyover, which many of our youth as partakers, it gives us joy to have voted a responsive and responsible governor, Mr. Ambode, and also Hon. Makinde who have reignite our passion for the government of APC." Amsat stated.

The event which expanded for 3-days also features special awards for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Senator, Solomon Adeola (Yayi), Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, any many other personalities, recreational activities, medical checkup and  prayers by religious clerics for the victims at the scene of the petroleum pipeline fire mishap.

It will be recall that on 26th, December 2006, over 300 people died in a fire mishap caused by scoop of petroleum product in Awori area of Abule Egba, Lagos State.