Senator Gbenga Ashafa, from Lagos East Senatorial District, held a second town hall meeting today with members of the public. The meeting was held in conjunction with Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team at Mercy hall, CMD road, Ikosi-Ketu.
The Lagos state senator apologised for his silence but that he lacked anything tangible to bring back to the constituency.
“Forgive me that I have not been around to give you feedback in a while. I would have come but the many challenges we have faced the house particularly the senate president’s trial. Would I come to narrate to you the court cases? I know that is not what you want to hear but the progress we have made.”
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“On my part, as the chairman Senate committee on Land Transport, myself and member of the committee invited the ministry, department and agency under the purview of the committee for an assessment of their performance level with respect to the previous year’s budget and to defend the 2016 appropriation bill as it then was. The most significant occurrence that took place in 2016 appropriation process remains the issue of the Lagos to Calabar costal railway project. While we have since released a press statement which was helpful in laying the issue to rest, I must state that as a representative of the people we must be courageous enough to speak in support of such project that would be beneficial to all sundry”
He expressed his regret on the exclusion of the project and the impact it would have had in Lagos, particularly Lagos East Senatorial District.
“Consider with me the sheer magnitude of such project. Consider also that this project has its commencement point from Lagos state and will have a significant presence in Lagos East Senatorial District. Please consider the number of jobs that would be created in Lagos and particularly the Lagos East Senatorial District.”
He however expressed optimism about the Lagos-Kano standard gauge line and the Lago-Calabar standard gauge line. “I must say that the budget of 2016 in the area of Land Transport has brought home to Lagos two of the most important rail projects in Nigeria, which are the Lagos to Kano Standard gauge line and the Lagos to Calabar gauge line.”
He informed his district that he has sponsored two bills already lined up for first reading. “I also currently have two bills lined up for first reading before the senate. These are the Chartered Institute of Logistic and Transport Bill 2016 and the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) amendment bill 2016.”
He itemised his achievements in the National Assembly and restated his commitment to community empowerment scheme. “Today, we have also made arrangement to empower you, some of our constituents, in the informal sector of barbing, sewing, catering, hairdressing and small-scale trading.”
Mr. Ashafa also spoke on domestic and sexual violence, “I strongly believe that the incidence of domestic and sexual violence can be readily linked to the downward spiral of family values as well as economic downturn in our society. Hence, we must all guard our families jealously and ensure that no harm befalls any member. We must all become more attentive to the needs of our families and inculcate in our families the values of love, care, respect and mutual support.” He went further to commend the Lagos state Government for being proactive by setting up the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).
Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, the director of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender, also spoke about domestic and sexual violence. She talked about the different types of sexual violence with the corresponding sanctions. She encouraged parents to always be vigilant with their children and protect them from any form of harassment. In her speech, she informed that the Lagos state government frowns at child abuse and anyone caught maltreating any child will face the wrath of the law.
She also encouraged that people should not shield offenders from the law. “People sometimes always want to settle the case of domestic violence out of court. We have had issues of clergymen coming to appeal on behalf of the offenders and seeking to settle the case within the family. This should be discouraged. Offenders should be punished by the law so that it can serve as deterrent to other.”