Precisely fourteen months after he was elected into the Nigeria Senate as Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Tokunbo Abiru has showcased his scorecards in office to constituents and members of the press at a media parley held at his palatial Constituency Office in Ikorodu.
Addressing the media, Abiru recalled with nostalgia his election and swearing in into the Senate on December 15th after his victory at the bye-election.
‘Recall that I was sworn-in on the 15th December 2020 as the Senator of the Federal Republic. I came in at a critical period in the nation’s history. It was a time we were slowly coming out of recession, which was also worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic’, he said.
‘It has indeed been a trying period for many households and the nation at large. What we as the Trustees of the Peoples’ sacred mandate have tried to do, is to deliberately and continuously keep the hope of the people alive by working assiduously to deliver on the promises I made to our esteemed constituents during the 2020 Lagos East Senatorial By-election electioneering campaign’.
Showcasing his numerous achievements, Abiru noted that he has touched on many critical sectors of the Lagos East Senatorial District through his legislative and para-legislative activities in the last 14 months.
‘In fulfilment of our legislative agenda, I have sponsored many Bills and motions which cover different sectors including banking and financial services, the economy, copyright, health, infrastructure and the provision of the legal framework for the reduction of the cost of governance. We have also endeavoured to offer our possible best towards providing effective representation for our people’.
‘As a member of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, one of my primary responsibilities in the National Assembly is that of effective representation. In this light every matter that concerns my constituency has received its deserved and prompt attention and has always been treated as such, like the petition I recently presented on the floor of the Senate on behalf of the Magodo Residents Association over the invasion of the estate by security agents from the Office of the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation. My commitment to our people and indeed Lagos State is that I will continue to provide effective representation’, he assured.
‘The Bills and motions in focus for my legislative tenure which are already before the Senate for consideration and passage include the following Thirteen (12) Bills and Four (4) motions:
BILLS
-Copyright Act repeal and re-enactment Bill, 2021 (read the second time)
- Dishonored Cheques Act Cap D11 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2021 (read the first time).
- Federal High Court Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 (read the first time).
- The Federal Polytechnic Epe (Establishment, etc) Bill 2021.
- The Utilities Charges Commission Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021.
- The Control of Delegated Legislation (Control and Procedure) Bill, 2021.
- The National Boundary Commission, Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
- The National Economic Intelligence Committee (establishment, etc) Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021.
- The National Economic Reconstruction Fund Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021.
- The National Productivity Centre Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021.
The National Metallurgical Development Centre Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021. And, The Energy Commission of Nigeria Act (Repeal) Bill, 2021.
On motions, he listed the followings;
- Motion on the ban of cryptocurrency in Nigeria.
- Motion on the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Shagamu and Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe roads to further bridge the infrastructural gap and enhance economic growth in Nigeria.
- Motion on the need to position Nigeria and Nigerian businesses for continental growth through the African continental free trade zone (Afcftz).
In October 2021, I was made the substantive Chairman of the very important Senate Committee on Industries whose jurisdiction shall include:
- Standardization and quality control:
- Industrial development matters generally;
- Incentives for, industrial development;
- National industrial planning;
- Small-scale industries;
Aid to industries; - Heavy industries set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria;
- Participation of small business enterprises, procurement and government contracts;
- Promotion and administration of technology transfer programmes;
- Industrial financing;
Privatization and commercialization: and Industrial Training Fund;
Annual Budget Estimates.
On project facilitatation, Senator Abiru listed several projects he facilitated cutting across different sectors and spread across the Lagos East.
In Education, he facilitated four blocks of 24 classrooms equipped with complements of furniture and 16 toilets and Solar-Powered Borehole at Aga Primary School, Ikorodu.
In Ibeju-Lekki, two blocks of 6 classrooms have been completed at RCM Primary School Iwerekun, Ibeju-Lekki. In Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, 1 block of 3 classrooms have also been delivered at Ajelogo Primary School. An ICT centre has also been facilitated at the Igbobi Junior High School, Somolu Lagos.
On Health, he listed the construction of a 40-bed Health facility and Dental Centre at the Ikorodu Campus of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), now Lagos State University of Science and Technology and facilitatation of 200-solar-powered street lights to the institution.
Another 30-Bed Health facility at Mascara Health Centre was facilitated in Agboiyi Ketu LCDA while another 40-bed is under construction at Isiu, Ikorodu North LCDA.
On socio-economic impacts, Abiru said he has spread the Gospel of #DoingGood to Epe, through a 960-spectator capacity mini stadium. Two-pavilion sport facility, equipped with Basketball and Volleyball courts, and is almost ready for commissioning.
Equally, the popular Oluwo Fish Market in Epe has also been remodeled and rehabilitated with the entire market and increased the number of shops from 259 to 319 comprising of lock-up shops, open sheds and 48 toilets.
‘To further empower businesses to thrive through the creation of enabling environment, we facilitated the supply and installation of transformers in several locations in the District including’:
Ito Progressive CDA, Ito Isiu
Igbopa Ifesowopo CDA, Ijede
Ire Ifelodun CDA, Igbogbo-Bayeku
Magodo Community CDA Oke Ota Ona, Ikorodu
Ikorodu GRA 2, Ibeshe Igbogbo-Bayeku
Ifeloju Abule Eko,Ijede Ikorodu
Sekungba CDA ikosi Ejirin
Isale Agoro CDA, Epe LGA
Ideraoluwa CDA, Eredo LGA
Olugayan CDA, Imota
The supply and installation of transformers to other communities like: Idegun CDA, Imota
Gbaga Olorunda CDA
Adamo (Ikorodu North)
Agura Central Gberigbe ( Ikorodu North)
Garden Estate (Agboyi Ketu LCDA)
Agunbiade CDA ( Somolu).
Abiru concluded by assuring Lagos East Constituents of his determination to ensure that his doing good mantra is felt across the nooks and cranny of the entire District.
