₦airaland Forum

Ifelola Olaleye

The University of Ibadan broke into the top 1000 universities in the world some few years ago, becoming the first and only university in Nigeria to do so till date. For some who may not understand the significance of this feat, It would be important to note that more than 95% of universities in USA never make the Times Higher Top 1000. This means that Times Higher Education a UK based ranking body believes that UI is in some ways is better than majority of universities in the US.

The times top 1000 represent the top of the top of universities in the world - they are the elite 5% of universities amongst over 25,000 institutions across the globe. Times itself ranks universities under 13 pillars collapsed into the following five categories; Teaching, Research, Citations, Industry income and Internationalisation.

Despite the severe funding challenges that has hit the Nigerian academic space, it is still amazing how a Nigerian university could still manage to attain anything significant.

The following image shows why University Of Ibadan has remained the Nigerian king on almost all reputable University rankings.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2179463185417137&id=100000604299656

Lalasticlala seun

This is really sad... If i were the head of TETfund i would refuse to give institutions more money if they don't channel their request to first improve living conditions. We have universities requesting for funds for newer senate buildings when the old one is still ok yet student residences are left to rot completely.

I'm sure UNN staff quarters wouldn't be left to look like this.
Lalasticlala

Ubenedictus:
the Israelites in scripture were also stoning the adulterous women... we don't consider that humane or admissible any more. the judiciary may sentence crime, the police may enforce laws but nobody has the right to kill another person whether there are readily available alternatives.



Christianity has a role for setting morals among its adherents and the morality of killing an already contained criminal is a moral question and within the purview of the church.

What is the relevance of citing the adulterous woman in this case? Jesus showed mercy to an adulterous woman who was going to be mobbed to death by some self righteous religious fanatics. He never condemned the govt right to sentence to death or pass judgment anywhere in scripture. Infact apostle paul reiterated the right of the govt to "bear the sword".

orisa37:
Generally, Pope Francis is a Dynamite and Specifically a Correct Apostle of Jesus Christ by St. John 17.
God bless Pope Francis for simply asking us and Governments everywhere to let God be The Author and Finisher of all Judgements. God is our Instructor, Director and Discernment. His Name is Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding. He owns All SOULS CONTAINED IN OUR CONSCIENCES. He alone uses them to serve His Pleasures, since they were, in the first place, made in His Image. He will never allow The Righteous to soil his hands by killing. He uses Satan to kill and destroy all unrighteousness. No one needs to be jealous of God's Power. God, Himself, is The Jealous One. As for the Armed Forces in Wars, God is The Sorter of their actions, interactions and movements. Following the principles of not being yoked unequally with the unbelievers, States can quarantine suspected hardened criminals. States cannot arm a tribe with AK47 to kill other tribes. It's low class Animal life.

You might as well suspend the judiciary and eliminate the police force. As though the Isrealites in scripture where not sentencing people to.death! Christianity has no role in answering the question on death penalty as it is a govt thing entirely. And i disagree with francis completely, the death penalty should remain for extreme cases of mass murder.
Lalasticlala

Nn

As in ehn. It is too much. You just have to listen to CNN to understand how desperate and obsessed they are with getting rid of Trump. They have even gone beyond reporting the news and now giving their unsolicited opinion on almost everything trump, especially that Kate Boulder and that black guy on 7am news. 200 people can can die in Kabul they don't care because they are busy looking for ways to destroy trump. I didn't pay to be seeing such crap!

I forever respect Aljazeera, that's what international journalism should look like. CNN and Fox are an embarrassment to the world of media. There are way thousand more important things to report on than to focus on trump....

And why are private universities not included in these hifl competition. The private universities do theirs separately and the public universities do their separately. Not right at all...

Private universities are taking over Nigeria. And the competition would really help Higher education become better in Nigeria.

pabostt:
Punch falls my hand. Their quick response to the mistake made by webometric on the initial data may affect their trust level. They should at least look through the ranking factors before jumping to publish.

We are in an era where supposed credible news outlets are competing with bloggers on how to be stupid...

A while ago, Punch Nigeria made an erroneous claim on her website claiming that Afe Babalola University had toppled Covenant University In the July edition of Webometrics ranking 2018.
https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/punchng.com/ui-ranked-nigerias-best-abuad-tops-private-varsities/amp/

Truly Covenant university was toppled out of second place which it held some months ago but it was toppled by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka not ABUAD while Obafemi Awolowo University took third place.

As a matter of fact Covenant university remains the only private university in the top 20 of the Nigerian university ranking and maintains fourth place.
http://www.webometrics.info/en/africa/nigeria

Lalasticlala TheVictorious

Demmzy15:
What's going on then? Or it hasn't been updated?

I know what abuad is referring to. Early yesterday UI was ranked 1st while ABUAD came 2nd. Understandably ABUAD notified Punch immdediately and voila. However webometrics notified that it was a beta ranking so there was issues with the ranking. Webometrics herself hasn't really released the final result

No you are wrong Covenant is currently number 1. Actually UI is number 1 but there must be an error or something.
UI is number 1 while Covenant is number 2.

SammieJayh:
Wow, it's sold out already?

Yeah phase 1 is completely sold out. Phase two is currently selling

I don't know why leke us even paying this guy attention. Shebi he has an online church with his online followers they all should first eradicate poverty in one local govt of Nigeria before asking rccg to do same. Rccg is a blessed church whether anyone likes it or not.

I can smell lala

Waakanda:
This church made me a dangerous tither, self-same day effortless tither for that matter. I've actually been off and on with it until I received my own personal revelation concerning it (tithe)... and ever since then, I've been practically enjoying open heavens. To God alone be all glory

Thank you sister. They can't break the church or her movement. I'm happy to know that despite all the assault the church is waxing stronger! I'm not a member of winners but I love that church and her people with a Jesus conviction.

spongeisback:
Rich church, Poor members, I agree with you money just flew into Oledepo's account. Isn't god great?!

Oyedepo by himself may not have more than $10 million USD in his account per time. But the church can very well meet his any need at any time so you will never know the difference.

You say winners members are poor, yet they alone bought out the entire church estate with prices ranging from 4-35 million naira. I don't think they are as poor as you depict..

spongeisback:
It's called FRAUD. Promising people what they can't see even when they die for a fee.

That same winners collects offering just once in a service o. They are no different to the orthodox when it comes to money collection. As a matter of fact I don't think they ever collected a special offering for their second university.

All through my stay in Covenant university they never for once took a midweek offering from us nor did we ever pay service unit dues. The first time Oyedepo ever preached Tithing in my entire four years was a week or so to my graduation. So I don't share your sentiments that winners is fraudulent.

HigherEd:
What could be the secret of such growth? Many simplify it as simply a result of offerings collected in her Church services; there could be nothing further from the truth. In Lagos State of Nigeria alone, alone, over 40,000 units of different Churches, both small and large, collect offerings every week. Offering collection simply does not make a Church wealthy.
The secrets of men are in their stories. In this article, we explore the secrets of one of the wealthiest churches in the world.

For the first time I alongside business partners took a tour of the canaancity project and I can't but say how stunned we were that a church in Nigeria could try this. Without loan building a 15,000 unit housing city on 8,000 hectares of land which was previously 24 villages. If I'm not wrong this is bigger than Eko Atlantic City and online report says it would cost 500 billion naira..

I can say that there is something special about the Idahosa clan that makes them stupendously rich. The likes of Oyedepo, Enenche and Ibeoymie. They command some very dangerous level of wealth.

It doesn't really matter how big they are they seem to be very financially wealthier than other churches their size. I do pray they invest more massively in the help ministry as time goes by.

HOW WINNERS’ CHAPEL BECAME A MEGA-WEALTHY CHURCH
By Leke Beecroft

“But thou shall remember the Lord your God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth…” Deuteronomy 8:18

“Very soon and surely before Jesus comes, we shall be as strong as Paris Club; we shall be above IMF”.
Bishop David Oyedepo, (April 3, 2011)

On a mission trip in August 1987 to Tulsa, Oklahoma in the USA, 33 year old David Oyedepo visited the 500 acre Oral Roberts University, he looked around in quiet observation. There stood a 60 floor tower; next to that was a 30 floor skyscraper and then another 20 storey building. That should awe anyone. As he is wont to do, he brooded over scripture ‘…God is no respecter of persons,: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.’ Acts 10:34-35. ‘It can happen anywhere’ the young Nigerian pastor of a ‘grass cathedral’ somewhere in Northern Nigeria muttered under his breath. A few hours after that experience, he heard God say to him ‘Arise, get back home and make my people rich’. That experience changed his outlook and he impulsively forsook all commitments and returned to Kaduna.

Eleven years from that day, the Church which he pastors began a 530 acre camp project inclusive of a university and one of the world’s largest Church auditoria. Today, Canaanland, Ota is host to Covenant University, one of the best in Africa and by all means the best private university in Nigeria. What is more? The 530 acre property is now about 17,000 acres.

What could be the secret of such growth? Many simplify it as simply a result of offerings collected in her Church services; there could be nothing further from the truth. In Lagos State of Nigeria alone, alone, over 40,000 units of different Churches, both small and large, collect offerings every week. Offering collection simply does not make a Church wealthy.
The secrets of men are in their stories. In this article, we explore the secrets of one of the wealthiest churches in the world.

*Prophecy
“This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that by them thou mightiest war a good warfare”.
1 Timothy 1:18

Some young people gathered at a secondary school in Erinle for a ‘Powerhouse’ prayer and campmeeting in April 1982. They had to make use of plastic spoons, plates and cups for their meals. They could not afford the use of a hotel facility. It was in that same meeting that the first prophecies over the new ministry were rendered. Some of these prophecies were… very soon, there would be a world standard industrial publishing press, they would soon be flying their aircraft, a 50,000 capacity ‘tent’ will be built. It all sounded like Utopia at its best. After that event, some of the ‘brothers and sisters’ left that group of dreamers and never returned.
About 17 months later, a lecturer at the University of Ilorin and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), a growing Church of over 40 branches, Dr Pastor Enoch Adeboye was invited as guest speaker to the ‘commissioning’ of the ministry that had emerged from the powerhouse group: ‘This ministry shall be great’ he prophesied. Going forward however, he reminded the small group of the story of the donkey which Jesus sat upon in scriptures. He told them that people were not forced to lay their clothes and palm fronds on the ground for the donkey to tread. The clothes were laid for Jesus but the donkey’s legs trod on them. As long as it was carrying Jesus, people laid their cloths. That was one rich donkey. However he added, the moment Jesus came down from the colt, that was the end of its ministry. As long as Jesus sat on the back of this new ministry, she would remain wealthy’ Adeboye concluded.

*Divine Direction
“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them”.
Acts 13:2

A pastor friend once asked Bishop Oyedepo in Canaanland, ‘How do you achieve results so cheaply?’ His epic response ‘We don’t do anything except as commanded’.
Living Faith Church as we know it today was intended to start from Jos. At the point she was to relocate, David Oyedepo heard a warning not to move to Jos. Instead, he heard an instruction to move to Kaduna. Later while looking for land to expand in Kaduna, she secured a property of over 100 acres near NNPC. Again she was warned not to use that property on massive pillars had already been sunk. Soon another divine instruction came and the founder against his personal wishes moved to Lagos and settled in the locality of Iyana Ipaja. She again moved 10 years later in 1999 to Ota, 17 kilometres away from the city center. A seeming foolish move which eventually announced the young Church on the global stage.

*Benevolence to the poor
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again”.
Proverbs 19:17

‘I am not surprised by the donations from your Church (Winners’ Chapel), because the Church is known as the most generous in the land. However I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of the relief materials. This is the longest convoy of deliveries in the history of the Nigerian Red Cross Society since the Civil War ended’-President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (2011).

As early as April 1984, the total offering of ten naira (N10.00) was given to a member who had nothing to eat. The Church was on hand to send relief to Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone among other nations during various crises. She was also the first ministry to establish educational institutions on a large scale on the Koma Hills in North Eastern Nigeria. Recently she donated mass relief materials to victims of Fulani Herdsmen attacks on the Plateau. A good number of transformers in the communities around the Church in Ota were also provided by the Church. The Church has been giving scholarships since 1992 to indigent members and with an average of 3,000 beneficiaries from all over Africa yearly, she has sponsored the primary, secondary and university education of almost a million recipients.
According to the Church’s constitution called her ‘Operational Manual’ and known as ‘The Mandate’, five percent (5%) of Church income is directed towards empowering the poor.

*Teachings from Scriptures
“Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice”.
Psalm 20:2

The Church teaches several types of giving to her members,
They are:
1. Tithes
2. Worship Offering
3. Giving to Parents
4. Providing for family
5. Kingdom Investments (Project Offerings)
6. Giving to Prophets
7. Giving to members of the household of Faith
8. Giving to the poor
9. Sacrifices

In the ministry, pastors need permission to raise ANY special offering to prevent abuse. The popular system where churches raise a group of partners who normally come to the aid of the Church financially is discouraged. Oyedepo protects his altar jealously. In the past, when visiting ministers came to raise offerings or pledges from members, he would ‘release’ them from such pledges especially when he knew that it was a burden to them. The case of a popular American minister who tried to raise pledges from worshippers at the Church in Ota is very fresh. The Pastor has never returned to Canaanland. Worshippers who feel no burden to give thus find it easy to give whenever occasion requires.
The perception that the Church extorts so much money from poor members to keep up the running of the ministry is untrue. Many Church programs are held without taking offerings.
The Covenant Hour of Prayer (CHOP) runs daily without the Church receiving offerings neither does she take offerings during weddings nor during her WSF meetings, (the ministry’s version of Home cell). Offerings are also taken only once during Church services.

Law of Corporate Tithing


“To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all…”
Hebrews 7:2

Two weeks after Oyedepo’s return from Oral Roberts University in 1987, he was invited to minister at the Foursquare Gospel Church in Lagos and was lodged at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja. Early one morning, while studying from Hebrews 7:1-8, he made a discovery. In his words “The Holy Ghost said to me, ‘the same way I open the heaven over the lives of individuals, I also open the heavens over organizations, companies, institutions and churches.’ I covenanted with God that day to make this Church a tithing Church’. You may not understand the implication of this. Ten Percent of every income of Winners’ Chapel till date is paid to ANOTHER Church.
That however seems to draw a return of faithful tithing by members. Though with me, there are serious personal issues with the Mormon doctrine, clearly, it is a known fact that it is the largest membership tithe paying church in the world and that has made it the richest church in the world cash-wise and only second to the Catholic Church in terms of assets.


Prudent Financial Management

“When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost”
John 6:12

Living Faith Church started from the home of the founder. Everyone shared one toilet while he usually used his car, a Volkswagen beetle to pick members at the Fuel Station and ferry them to his house for services. The Church did not start from a hotel as is the case with many up and coming ministries today. The first furniture of the Church was a Table Tennis board. Eventually when furniture was to be made, it was not made according to requirements but according to money available. The Church cut its coat according to her cloth and not according to her size.
Today, the Ministry buys property and avoids rentals. The only hotel known to be used today is in Dubai and that is because of her peculiar case. Living Faith Church does not take loans. She has successfully built two universities from scratch without a loan. First Bank offered a N1 Billion loan in 2002. The money would have made a big difference at the time but it was rejected by the Bishop. The ‘No Loan’ policy has been inserted in the Mandate and a curse planted in it for anyone who would ever try to take a loan on behalf of the Church.

Sacrifice and Kingdom Projects


“Gather up my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice”
Psalm 50:5

“Let me show you what I am doing now because the time will come when some of us are flying in the air and others are grumbling ‘we don’t even know what they are doing’ let me tell you what I’m doing. I am sold out for Him”.
The Living Faith Church is a sacrificial Church and this was first exemplified in the life of the founder and Presiding Bishop. At the early stage of the ministry, funds were once needed for an outreach and while praying for insight in how to get money, it was laid in his heart to sacrifice his only car, a 504 peugeot. He gave it out to be sold and on his way home, he heard God say to him “My son David, even if you don’t want to be rich, it is too late”.
On another occasion, while worshipping on a field, it was laid in his heart to offer his monthly salary for life as sacrifice. This he did and never mentioned it to his wife until she began to ask questions two months later. Three years from then, gifts in cash and kind became so much that he had to employ his own personal accountant to keep records.
The Church known for her large and unique building structures presently has over 6,000 branches and personally, David Oyedepo’s goal is to build at least 1000 churches singlehandedly in his lifetime. A good number of that have been built already.

Hardwork

“I must work the works of him that sent me…”
John 9:4

‘The devil knows that I work, even work knows that I’m working it’-David Oyedepo
One of the unique characteristics of this mission is hardwork. The Dominion Publishing House which is the publishing arm of the Church has churned out well over 10 million books till date. The Church operates like the Catholic Church which holds daily masses with her Covenant Hour of Prayer (CHOP) ensuring that pastors and even worshippers are up very early. Her parishes run multiple services to cater for her numerous members. In densely populated areas, services run up to 4 on Sundays while the headquarters run 5 services.
The Church has a plethora of institutions from kindergarten to primary and secondary schools as well as universities and Bible Schools. She runs water factories, bread baking factories, poultries and arable farms. The ministry generates its own power and owns her own building firm which in most cases builds her structures. Winners’ Chapel is one of the most disciplined Churches in terms of promptness and time keeping. Her pastors live a rigorous prayer lifestyle which is also inputed into members and above all, she is one of the most zealous soul winning missions on the face of the earth today.

Service


“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction…”
James 1:27

A unique attribute of the Church is her desire to service humanity. The land for Landmark University was actually procured in the 80s bearing in mind the desire by Oyedepo to build a future hospital for his community. Today, the university has been built with a standard hospital as there is no government hospital several kilometres around. Also, a town hall built was built for the town of Omu-Aran while 4 secondary schools were renovated. Also, a heavily discounted bus shuttle was provided while a Ring Road built for the little town amongst many others.
This recent quote by Bishop Oyedepo captures the essence of service the ministry is known for: ‘In the 1970s, Kenneth E Hagin gave $40,000 worth of books to Nigeria for free. I was among the beneficiaries. They were sold to us and we were happy to buy them from those that received it. One day in the USA, God said to me “I found you faithful as a vendor, I have thus made you an author”…till today, I am yet to get the first kobo from my books. I have never been tempted to ask for royalty. It is the Word of God, we are only publishing it.’

The True Riches

“If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches”?
Luke 16:11

Winners’ Chapel is undoubtedly a wealthy Church though from very humble beginnings.
The Faith Tabernacle was built in exactly one year (September 18, 1998-September 17, 1999)-during the Nigerian Military era. [b]Anyone alluding that the new project, Faith Theatre has not been built because of lack of money is simply ignorant. According to the Bishop, every penny required to build is already in an account waiting to be spent. [/b]Also, when considering time and size, Faith Tabernacle can be said to be the fastest auditorium ever built.

Canaanland is the best managed Christian camp of such magnitude in the World. The network of roads, 24-7 electricity, water supply, security, provision of continuous infrastructure and maintenance have all come at a cost.

Goshen, the largest and most developed camp in northern Nigeria-700 acres-15,000 capacity auditorium and other facilities built in 15 months.

Most Church facilities from where the ministry operates are owned by the Church. On very few occasion does she rent properties. Every new parish has either just moved or is preparing to move into her new facility and most new branches were only established late in 2009 when the Church exploded from 700 branches to about 6000.

The ministry is presently building the largest housing estate in Africa, a 15,000 housing estate called ‘Canaan City’ which would be second only to the Co-Op City Estate, a 15,342 housing estate located in Bronx, New York and built between 1968 and 1973 in the USA housing over 56,000 people.

Contrary to Forbes’ Magazine’s claims that the ministry runs one secondary and one primary school, there are actually 20 secondary schools and over 150 primary and kindergarten schools. Thus, she is one of the biggest stakeholders in the Nigerian education system.

The total income in 1984 was N18,000 while the total income in 1985 was also less than N1 million. Now according to Oyedepo, “we spend N1 million every second”.

The ministry is already running budgets in hundreds of billions of naira and according to the Bishop, “very soon, we will be in the trillions”.

Truly, the Church is Marching on and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1416308495179684&id=444807728996437

Lalasticlala

moufan:
then why are you comparing lagos,the commercial centre of nigeria,lagos with a population of over 20 million with ekiti whose population is less than 3 million and a farming state. they are both incomparable

The impact of the population of Lagos on her IGR maybe exaggerated. As a private sector driven state a lot of lagosians are serviced by the private sector in health care, education, transportation and all that. So many people are not a burden to the Income base of Lagos.

Secondly, much of the services the state renders are partly self sustaining as they generate huge IGR because they charge the residents.

afroniger:
Dude, you are talking nonsense. You said you will vote against Ambode, and I said fine, even though you are yet to tell us whom you will vote for instead and what that person or party would do differently You might as well just come out and say you just want a different party to take over Lagos just for the sake of it because you have so far failed to give us a better alternative. If you feel Tinubu's party is not doing well, give us an alternative party, let us see their manifesto and plans for Lagos. Lagosians are RATIONAL people. They will vote out APC in a heartbeat if presented with a better alternative. In the meantime, you are still talking crap.

Brotherly hope your eyes are working. I said I may not vote Ambode not that I will vote against him. As for an alternative to Ambode I don't know either. But I believe people should be able open to better options if they do get to see one in 2019.

By the way learn to have an healthy discussion without going off in anger.

meromero11:
Let us render advice to at least one state in the country that is performing to enable them do more and improve. You don't change a winning team. Lagos economy is what is making Nigeria to look like a country with economy otherwise we would have been on a "long thing". Lagos people are very hard-working and it is their efforts that is sustaining this country compare to those of us "lazy ass" in Abuja always feeding on federal coffers. Thumbs up for Lagos. I expect Rivers, Ogun and Anambra to join this elite league operating as autonoumous economies within a soverign system.

You have a point. I know Ambode would win but I'm irritated at the fact that someone thinks he must win on a landslide.

CodeTemplar:
Lagos state has the least landmass and therefore should have the best of roads as roads length are largely a function of landmass.People don't rate what is done with what is given. Most times these people are cyber political jobbers and party-blind supporters.

Exactly! With 34 billion a month we can't boast of entirely good roads. We can't boast of a world class state funded university, we can't boast of a singular world class hospital yet we are still heavily indebted. The state is still dirty and some folks want us to be celebrating.

True, certain things have improved but we are asking for more and we deserve to get more!

afroniger:
Stale news. Op, you only have one vote so you have a right to vote for whoever you like. Not everybody will vote for Ambode which is fine and well. But I hope you are not expecting to sway others with this your veiled campaign of calumny because it will surely fail. Lagos is way too overpopulated with its infrastructure already overstretched. In spite of that it is still the most progressive and developed state in the country thanks to the visionary and innovative quality of its successive leadership since '99. Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, and Baylesa receive more allocation than Lagos, yet there's nothing fantastic happening there, while Lagos has had to reinvent itself (since it was neglected to die a slow death after it ceased being an FCT more than 25-years ago) by shoring up its IGR while depending lesser and lesser on federal allocation, building an entirely new city (e.g, Eko Atlantic city, amongst others), regenerating its infrastructure, building an intercity lightrail metro-system, e.t.c. No opposition party or candidate has so far come up with or articulated a better blueprint on how to take Lagos higher than it has witnessed since '99, but you are still free to exercise your franchise by voting whomever you please. But the REAL Lagosians know how far the city has come and will continue to speak with their votes.

I am not on any campaign of calumny as you have alluded to. As a matter of fact I believe Fashola remains the best governor of all time in Nigeria. However, I disagree with your version of how Lagos reinvented herself.

Lagos reinvented herself because her people are enlightened and know to ask for better. The political elites in Lagos knew it would be a matter of time till Lagos actually rebels so they started throwing crumbs. But don't be deceived the average Lagos politician is still as corrupt as those you would see far down south and this is why we must continue to put them on their toes and really evaluate their performances.

The error of the people always start when you think a leader is too good to be kicked out. If you want Lagos to succeed then you better stop your loyalty to her govt or the tinubu dynasty..

moufan:
lol,who cares about your vote? ambode is getting re-elected in a landslide with or without your vote.

p.s. ambode is by far the best governor in nigeria

I don't care whether you care about my vote either. My vote is my voice and I insist that LASG isn't doing enough for what it earns.

It is stupid to say one governor is the best in Nigeria. They don't earn same therefore cannot be judged in the same manner unless we are talking about policy enactment and all that.

34 billion a month is more than what 30 state in Nigeria earn combined in a month, for a Lagos state that is just the size of Ibadan in landmass. Clearly there is huge scam going on somewhere if not Lagos should look like a Johannesburg right now. People should be intelligent to know where to demand for better. And Lagos is certainly one state where people need to demand for better...

What Lagos is generating in a month is what Ekiti generates in 10 years. And yet Ekiti is bigger than Lagos in Landmass.

Still there is nothing fascinating about infrastructure in Lagos that equals the Igr profile. Ah! I may not vote Ambode next year.

Says N50bn Revenue Target By 2019 Still On Course

…Receives N327m From 13% Oil Derivation


The Lagos State Government on Monday said that it has so far achieved an average monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N34billion in 2018 compared to monthly averages of the last three years. R-L: Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade; Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation & Revenue Matters, Mr. Olalekan Lasisi; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, during a media conference by the Ministry of Finance as part of the on-going Y2018 ministerial briefing to mark the third Year in Office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, May 21, 2018.


Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade who disclosed this at the ongoing annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration held at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, attributed the gradual improvement to the impact of the ongoing reforms and growth in the State’s economy. He said, “Notably, we are recording gradual improvement in our average monthly IGR in 2018 compared to the levels achieved in previous years due to the impact of ongoing reforms and growth in the State’s economy. Based on our first quarter results, Lagos State has so far achieved an average monthly IGR of N34billion in 2018 compared to monthly averages of N22bn, N24bn and N30bn in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.”

The Commissioner expressed optimism that the IGR would continue to rise even further as the State continues to implement the various reforms, driven by wider technology adoption and innovation, adding that the target to grow the State’s IGR to N50bn by next year was well on course. “The target we set for ourselves is N50billion but we all know the kind of push backs we have experienced including people going to court and all that. Our commitment is not for now, its for the future of Lagos. We know it’s a marathon, we would win some and we would lose some, but we are very committed towards ensuring that we meet the target, but if we don’t meet it this year, definitely there would be another year, but we believe we would succeed in that target we set for ourselves,”

Ashade said. On Federal Transfers, he said since Lagos joined the league of oil producing State, the Government had received a total of N327million revenue, comprising N197million and N130million received in 2017 and first quarter of 2018 respectively. “Furthermore, we are in ongoing discussions with the Federal Government towards obtaining a refund for expenditure totalling N51billion that was incurred by the State Government on behalf of the Federal Government for infrastructure projects developments in the State.

We are optimistic of successful discussions that will result in the approval and payment of the amount owed to the State Government by the Federal Government,” he said. Giving an update on the State’s Debt Profile, Ashade said the Government’s debt stock, comprising 48 per cent local debt and 52 per cent foreign debt currently stood at N874.38billion at the end of 2017 while the debt service charge to total revenue ratio which stood at 17.61 per cent was still within the World Bank threshold of 30 per cent. The Commissioner said the State Government has continued to maintain a positive credit rating, however, adding that a downgrade of Nigeria’s sovereign rating would lead to a corresponding action on Lagos’ international drawing rights.


“As Nigeria continues to improve on its credit rating, we would be able to achieve better rating as we currently have because no amount of revenue generation, no amount of employment growth of Lagos State can make us surpass to surpass the sovereign rating,” he said.



He, however, said that the State Government has taken some strategic steps to help Nigeria improve on its ratings including adhering to fiscal discipline, improved revenue generation, reforms in infrastructure development, transport and embedded power. Giving an update on the revised Land Use Charge (LUC), Ashade said the State Government has continued to engage critical stakeholders in line with its tradition of inclusive governance, adding that a wide range of response have been received.

He said the extensive discussions led to several concessions on Land Use charge for property owners across board, adding that a revised bill to further amend the LUC Law to incorporate the additional concessions was presently before the House of Assembly and would be passed soon. Besides, the Commissioner said the Government through the LUC Assessment Appeal Tribunal, received a total of 1,503 complaints, out of which 1,113 were successfully resolved administratively and through mediation, adding that an additional 263 property owners/agents had their grievances resolved in the last two weeks and more still ongoing. Ashade also urged residents to continue to support the government by fulfilling their civic duty of paying their taxes and remitting all taxes collected on behalf of the Government as and when due, assuring that the present administration was committed to maintaining financial accountability and transparency for the overall development and prosperity of the State. Related

Read more at: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/05/993509/

Lalasticlala

They better return this university to one state. So sad!
Lalasticlala

Everyone has a right to preach whatever they want to as long as it doesn't promote hatred, physical or psychological harm or lawlessness.

Every adult also has the right to listen to whatever they desire and make their informed choices.

Human beings are eternally diverse in thought, ideology and value therefore it is tyranny for any individual or government to Insist that things must be done according to their own ways or dictates. This is why whoever created that petition must be some joyless, hopeless and sad individuals who simply may die of heart attack over other peoples choices and way of life. People should learn to mind their business. ..If I do seed sowing it is not your father's business because no be your papa or mama give me money...

I'm glad the Nigerian clergy is standing by her...
Lalasticlala

True. Lagos having the only functional seaport isn't good for anyone...