On a day Lagos state attained another milestone in public transportation with the commencement of Commercial service on the blue rail line, the State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also forwarded another list of nominees for consideration as Commissioners to the State House of Assembly, few weeks after the rejection of seventeen names by the lawmakers.

In a letter sent to the House of Assembly on Monday, the governor urged the lawmakers to approach the screening of the nominees as part of their expected constitutional duties to clear them to serve as commissioners in the state.

Reading the letter to the house during the plenary session, the clerk of the state house of assembly, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko told the house that the governor appealed to the lawmakers to ensure the successful formation of his cabinet as it is crucial to the development of the state. He read

“I have decided to represent a list of nominees that includes a balanced selection of previously presented and new individuals.

Your rigorous assessment of these nominees in adherence to your constitutional obligations demonstrates your dedication to ensuring a competent and effective council.

“This list represents a broad political spectrum and diverse backgrounds reflective of the rich diversity of our lovely state”, he said.

It would be recalled that the lawmakers have rejected 17 names out of the 39 nominees sent to the house in the first place, without disclosing reasons for their disqualification. However, many argued that the list did not accurately represent the diversity and political balance of Lagos State, which sparked rumours of tension between the speaker of the house, Mudashiru Obasa, and the governor of the state.

To mediate the matter, the state Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) met with the executive and legislative representatives to find a common ground between the two arms of government on the list.

As a result, the state governor sent a new list, which includes the rejected fresh lists for the second opportunity. This includes Professor Akin Abayomi, Gbenga Omotoso, Sam Egube, and Olalere Odusote Others are Cecilia Dada and Olalere Odusote

However, the former commissioner of Education, Folashade Adefisayo, who was rejected by the house was not included in the second list.

In response to the new list, Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the House, urged Fatai Mojeed, chairman of the screening committee, to ensure a thorough ratification process and ordered the committee to report to the house on Thursday.

The nominees (FULL LIST)

Prof Akin Abayomi
Gbenga Omotosho
Sam Egube
Oluwaseun Oriyomi Osiyemi
Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen
Engr. Olalere Odusote
Folashade Kaosarat Ambrose-Medem
Akinyemi Bankole Ajigbotafe
Tolani Sule Akibu
Cecilia Dada
Barakat Akande Bakare
Mosopefoluwa George
Yekini Nurudeen Agbaje
Olumide Oluyinka
Abayomi Samson Oluyomi
Iyabode Oyeyemi Ayoola
Sola Shakirudeen Giwa

Also on Monday, the Lagos State Government announced the start of commercial operations for the state’s blue rail system, nine months after the first project was inaugurated.

On Monday morning, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state governor, and officials joined Lagos residents from Marina to Mile 2 to inaugurate the rail line. Governor of Lagos State, launched commercial operations on the Blue Line Rail. The Rail Line will move from Marina to Mile 2. Mr Governor was the first passenger to board the train, and payment was done with Cowry Card.

There are 5 stations on the lane, namely Marina, National Theatre, Iganmu, Alaba and Mile 2 station.

Recall that former president Muhammodu Buhari officially opened the electric rail line in January. This was done following the state governor’s trial run of the blue rail’s move from Mile 2 to Marina.

The operation was initially scheduled to begin in August, but the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) later announced that it would begin on September 4th, 2023.