It’s giving damage control

Tinubu is putting his ten toes forward to stop protests from happening

Jul 26, 2024

Happy Friday, Big Brains. I hope you took ₦100k out of your salary to buy yourself something nice. So quick one – the Biggest Brain (that’s me if you haven’t clocked it) will be MIA next week. But you won’t miss me too much because you’ll be in good hands.

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Let’s get into today’s edition:

President Tinubu signs new regional development bills amid protest threats
Lagos State launches €410 million electric ferry project

The Big Deal

President Tinubu signs new regional development bills amid protest threats

It might be safe to assume that the news of the planned protest sent the President into at least three stages of grief. Just when we thought he was stuck in denial, he’s successfully arrived at the bargaining stage.

From emergency meetings to new bills, Tinubu’s public relations team seem to be working on a damage control strategy. He just signed two important bills into law: the North-West Development Commission Bill of 2024, and the South-East Development Commission Bill of 2023. These new laws are expected to boost development in different parts of Nigeria.

The North-West Development Commission will facilitate the rebuilding of roads, homes, and businesses damaged by various crises. It will also address issues like poverty, literacy, and environmental challenges in North-West states, while the South-East Development Commission will achieve similar results in the region.

Why is this a big deal?

Aside from the fact that these bills hold nice benefits for the people living in the region, it also presents a glimmer of hope. It shows that the president cares about public opinion to an extent and is interested in appealing to the people in Tinubu-style. It also shows that there’s a tiny chance that Tinubu might be willing to compromise and reverse some of his controversial reforms. We truly hope this ages well.

Lagos State launches €410 million electric ferry project

Whatever prayers Lagosians have been praying lately needs to be studied. Millions of people living in Lagos are about to say goodbye to their hate-hate relationship with traffic.

The Lagos State government is introducing electric-powered ferries through the €410 million Omi Eko water project. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu confirmed that the project is going to reduce the traffic congestion the state is widely known for and protect the environment. 20-25% of Lagos commuters will likely have access to these ferries.

And that’s not all…

Lagos also plans to build a $150 million food hub to make food available in the state, reduce waste by 50%, cut food prices and create over 16,000 jobs.

The government is also on the lookout for investors willing to invest $26 million in a cancer diagnostic institute. This centre will provide complete oncology services, reducing the need for patients to seek treatment abroad. Lagos currently has only two advanced cancer centres, while the World Health Organization recommends 11. But you know what they say, growth is growth.

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