FG hands over State House in Marina to Lagos government

The Federal Government has completed the process of handing over the State House, Marina, to the Lagos State Government.

The process which started about 20 years ago was completed with the signing and exchanging of documents between the state government and the Federal Government in Abuja. The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, signed for the state government while the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, signed on behalf of the Federal Government.

Mr Akinwunmi Ambode described the hand over as a sign of greater things and greater collaboration between the state and the Federal Government. He disclosed that the state government’s intention is to turn the property to a tourist centre that will help improve the economy of the state.

He said, “We are delighted to be here on a historic day that finalises the  intention of President Buhari to bring positive change to Lagos.

“We thank the President that approved that the presidential lodge be released to Lagos State.We have been trying for 20 years.

“I am pleased that on a day like this, it is my predecessor and the current minister that is now doing the final hand over. He has also been part of efforts to get the property back to Lagos. It is by God’s doing that he is positioned today to do the final handover.

“We see this as a sign of greater things and greater collaboration between the Federal Government and the state. It will improve the economy of the state because our intention is to turn that property to a national monument that we will christen a National Heritage Centre for Leadership.

“We will also use it as a tourist centre to attract Nigerian and foreign tourists and use it as a means of improving the economy of the state.”

Fashola, on his part, described the hand over as being consistent with the President’s promise to respond to many things that have been left undone and that with the hand over, Lagos State has joined the league of states with stories of promise fulfilled.