WHY THE LAGOS GOVERNMENT SPENT ₦531 MILLION REMODELING THE LAGOS CHURCH

The ₦531 million renovation of Saint Andrews Anglican Church in Oke-Popo, Lagos Island, has been justified by the Lagos State Government.

Funso Doherty, the Action Democratic Congress’ (ADC) candidate for governor of Lagos State in 2023, had questioned the allocation of ₦531 million for the church’s refurbishment.

Doherty questioned why the Lagos government would use ₦531 million in tax payer funds to renovate a church in an open letter to the state government.

Along with other exorbitant charges he saw on the state’s procurement portal, he requested the administration to justify the permission of ₦24.5 million for renovations to the Lagos Commissioner of Police’s official residence.

In response, Gbenga Omotoso, Commissioner of Information and Strategy, stated in a Tuesday interview with Arise News that the government’s social duty includes renovating the cathedral and the Oba of Lagos Palace.

According to Omotosho, the funds are intended for both renovations and compensation for the church’s partial demolition that occurred while a major road was being built nearby.

The commissioner went on to say that the church and the Oba of Lagos palace are important historical sites in the state that should not be overlooked.

He declared, “The Church was established in 1889 and is a noteworthy historical site in Lagos State. It follows that the state’s obligation to protect these landmarks cannot be overstated.

The contract amount includes money allotted for the church’s renovation as well as payments made to the church as compensation for having to demolish a portion of its property because of an expanding road.
Omotosho declared that the state government will continue to be transparent by keeping the procurement website accessible to the public and that they welcome criticism from the opposition in order to improve the efficacy of their job.