BEVERLY HILLS, November 06, (THEWILL) – The Presidential Lodge at Marina, Lagos, has been handed over to the state government by President Muhammadu Buhari.
This followed a request by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to have the lodge released to the Lagos State Government in its bid to transform the Marina-Onikan axis into a world-class arts and tourism hub.
This was revealed in a letter signed by Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to Ambode as disclosed in a statement on Sunday, signed by Lagos State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde.
The statement said with the presidential approval, the governor has consequently unveiled plans to turn the lodge to The Heritage Centre for Leadership, which would be redesigned and equipped as a landmark research and tourist arena that will be open to local and international visitors.
“On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his kind hand-over of the Presidential Lodge in Marina to the Lagos State government,” Ambode said.
“This, in my opinion, demonstrates the President’s special interest in Lagos State, which is in line with the promise he made in Lagos during the electioneering campaign, that the interest of Lagosians will always be paramount in his heart.
“President Buhari’s approval had come at a time that the old Lagos State House in Marina, which is next door to the Presidential Lodge, is also being prepared for a transformation to The Lagos History Centre, as a mark of honour to and celebration of all former governors of Lagos State, as well as for the benefit of humankind as a whole.
“With the handing over of the Presidential Lodge to Lagos State, the Lagos State Government will begin a process that will transform the whole area into a culture zone in the next two to three years that every Lagosian will be proud of.
“These two buildings will be nurtured as world-class monuments by the Lagos State Government to compliment the ongoing larger plan that aims to transform the Marina-Onikan axis into a multi-sectorial culture zone.”
Story by Oputah David
