Exclusive.. Good Times For Lagos Big Boys As Ambode Throws N100m At Island Club, N50M At Boat Club, N50M At Polo Club, N50M At Lawn Tennis Club , N25M At Eagle Club To ‘Rehabilitate Infrastructure’
Whilst most of the public infrastructure in Lagos are in the state of disrepair and many school pupils in public schools sit on bare-floor to learn, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode lavishly threw millions of naira at elitist super rich social clubs in Lagos.
Findings by COMPLETE NEWS revealed that membership fee of a club like Lagos Motor Boat Club is over N1m (One Million Naira) and the applicant must own a multi-million Naira luxury motor boat. The A-list elitist social clubs like Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Eko Club, Polo Club, Eagle Club, Metropolitan Club, among others are the exclusive preserve of the super rich. Not folks with few millions in their bank accounts.
Strangely, the Lagos State Governor decided to throw unsolicited funds at these super rich clubs while millions of Lagosians lack shelter and commute daily on largely collapsed roads. A recent report ranked the state as one of the worst places to live in the world.
Under the guise of ‘infrastructural rehabilitation works, Governor Ambode gave Island Club N100m (One Hundred Million Naira) to fix infrastructure in the club. Another super rich club, Lagos Motor Boat Club, Ikoyi got a whopping N50m(Fifty Million Naira), Lagos Polo Club got N50m( Fifty Million Naira), the governor donated N25m (Twenty-five Million Naira)to popular Eagle Club in Surulere, COMPLETE NEWS has exclusively gathered.
Although, the governor claimed the donations were to assist the affluent clubs in rehabilitating their infrastructure, competent sources in government told COMPLETE NEWS, that the monetary donations were meant to secure the support of influential elites in these social clubs for the second term bid of the governor.
The donations were not appropriated in the 2018 Lagos State Appropriation Law, another insider informed this medium but this medium has not checked the 2018 appropriate law to authenticate the insider’s claim.
In a letter dated May, 21, 2018 written by the club commodore, Afolabi Balogun to members thanked Mr Koye Edu, an Epe-born lawyer and contractor who facilitated the donation .
The letter states, “ Dear member, as the Annual General Meeting (AGM) approaches , I write to you in what would be my final correspondence to you as the commodore of the Lagos Motor Boat Club.
“This committee year has been eventful and satisfying and I would like to thank you for the opportunity and the privilege to serve in this unique position of Commodore of the Lagos Motor Boat Club.
“In the course of last month, I was approached by a member, Mr Koye Edu(E/212) who informed me that Lagos State Government had taken a decision to assist social clubs in Lagos to fund their ongoing infrastructural rehabilitation works, and that our club was to be a beneficiary
“I am pleased to inform you that the Lagos State Government has approved the sum of N50,000,000( Fifty Million Naira) as a donation to the club towards our infrastructural rehabilitation works.
“I have since informed the Trustees , flag officers and the committee members of this gesture by the Lagos State Government. The flag officers held a meeting and have resolved to apply this immediately to repairs of our decaying jetties, berth refurbishments and other areas of the club that need immediate action.
“I have also instructed the Mooring Member and Maintenance Member to immediately commission an audit of our infrastructure to enable us identify areas of the club that can also benefit from this donation
“My sincere appreciation to Mr. Koye Edu for his efforts and introduction to the Lagos State Government”
Ambode in a letter dated April 14, 2018 with reference number: LASG.GOV/1/Vol/155 titled Letter of Commendation And Support For Club Projects / Activities addressed to the president of Polo Club, Mr Laoye Ade said he was extending the unsolicited monetary support to them in recognition of their contribution to the socio-cultural and economic development.
The letter read, “ Over the years, social clubs and service-based organizations have contributed very significantly to the socio-cultural and economic development of our state. They have continued to serve as a veritable platform for the promotion of philanthropic ideals and also a key fabric that keep the society together
“Your organization’s activities have in no small measure complemented government efforts and determination to improve the general well-being of our people in all the critical sectors of the State economy
“It is on the basis on this premise, that I write to commend you for your invaluable support and also extend to your club , on behalf of the state government a grant of N50,000,000(Fifty Million Naira Only).
“This gesture is in line with our policy to encourage social clubs whose activities have impacted positively on the lives of our people. It is also aimed at supporting and enhancing your club’s activities especially towards the completion of your ongoing infrastructural development projects” .
Meanwhile, while it is yet to be ascertained if the Ambode largesse was appropriated in the 2018 budget, the expenditure will be over N1bn (One billion Naira) considering the large numbers of social club in Lagos State, the epicenter of the nation’s social outfits.
See the copy of the letters below:
Where are we heading to?No chairs in the classrooms,no good roads,no hospital facilities. Yet Lagos state government is spending lavishly on the clubs.ls that wise?No,that is not wisdom.
Social clubs are relaxation centres for public use and a communal facilities. It indirectly belongs to Goverment. No one is denied membership except if your character does not fit into it. Giving money or grant is therefore not strange to other countries.
Not when more important facilities like hospitals, achools etc need urgent attention would a social club get so much support. There is no wisdom in that.
You are obviously a paid agent !!! These are clubs that their membership criteria is essentially a “Pay as you join”. or more bluntly put a “millionaires only club” so how does that qualify them as being open to the general public. You can try taking your kids there without being a member and see if you’ll be allowed access to their facilities.
No those clubs do not belong to the government. Members pay fees to remain as members. Their members are known wealthy people. What kind of silly comment is this?
Madness of the highest place.
We need to learn how to direct our priorities right.
God bless the governor and his government. A lot of societal ills are wiped away with the presence and attendance of the activities of these social clubs.
If these monies were disbursed to churches or mosques, a lot of us will go berserk!
@Paddy. You are obviously a paid agent !!! These are clubs that their membership criteria is essentially a “Pay as you join”. or more bluntly put a “millionaires only club” so how does that qualify them as being open to the general public. You can try taking your kids there without being a member and see if you’ll be allowed access to their facilities.
It is regrettable that such blatant and despicable acts can be unduly justified to the public with impunity. There is no way these funds have been judiciously spent. Something needs to be done