Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will inaugurate some projects undertaken by the Lagos State Government today on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari. The President, who had been slated to make a two-day official visit today and tomorrow, will no longer make the trip.
As at yesterday, the route the President would have taken had been decorated with banners. The presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport was wearing a new look.
The presidential visit would have been the first since 2002, when President Olusegun Obasanjo visited.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu confirmed that the VP will stand in for the President.
He said the President “has scheduling difficulties”.
According to him, Osinbajo would inaugurate a few of the projects while the President will still visit the state after Ramadan.
Some of the projects to be inaugurated include the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency Rescue Unit in Cappa, Oshodi; the newly constructed Ago Palace Way in Okota, Isolo and the inauguration of security equipment and vehicles donated by the Ambode administration.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has said the two-day working visit will provide a platform for the party leadership and Lagosians to engage and interact with the President.
A statement yesterday in Lagos by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, said: “The historic visit will provide an opportunity for the President to get first class knowledge of the massive transformation going on in Lagos.
“The President will inaugurate few projects, assess the Lagos security architecture, meet Corporate Lagos, and hopefully engage the efficient and dynamic Lagos civil service.
“President Buhari will use the timely visit to the ‘land of aquatic splendor’ to explain the activities of the government in the last one year.
“The President is expected to tell curious and anxious Lagosians what they may not know about the struggle to reclaim Nigeria and the man-made obstacles on the way of progress.”