The Presidency has clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not attend the scheduled project commissioning in Lagos on Wednesday, because he was preoccupied with urgent national security matters.
Special Adviser to the President on Public Communications and Orientation, Sunday Dare, also defended President Bola Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s security challenges, insisting that ongoing military operations and intelligence efforts demonstrate that the country is gaining the upper hand against terrorism.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television, Sunday Dare said the President had remained actively engaged in national security matters, even while away from Abuja.
“The President prioritised national security developments over the event,” he said.
“Yes, the president is in Lagos, and I’m sure beyond the pictures, you know that the president has been busy with state matters.”
He added that recent security concerns across parts of the country required the president’s attention, noting, “You will know the last 10 days, right from the attack in Jos, we’ve seen the developments.”
Dare said Tinubu had been “busy taking constant briefs” and “has to prioritise when it comes to state matters, especially security”.
He further explained that the president remained actively engaged with security agencies, and was “monitoring development, working with the intelligence community, and taking constant security briefs.”
He assured Nigerians that the administration is consistently responding to threats and remains committed to protecting lives and property.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu while inaugurating the newly constructed Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge, a project his administration envisioned in 2002 but now delivered by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the projects reflected Lagos State government’s commitment to development and aligned with his Renewed Hope vision, which, he said, sought to build a modern country that would be fully digitally enabled and economically strong.
The bridge, a 5.04-kilometre transport corridor, is one of the three key Lagos projects inaugurated on Wednesday by Tinubu in the first of his two-day official visit to Lagos for commissioning.
Other projects include five-storey Lagos State Geographic Information Service (LAGIS) Building and Lagos Multi-Agency Building, both in Alausa.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, congratulated Lagos residents, saying the projects delivered by Sanwo-Olu spoke to the importance of putting people’s wellbeing at the centre of development.
Tinubu said: “The Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge is more than an infrastructure; it is a bridge to opportunities. In a busy city like Lagos, vehicular movement is more than just commuting; it is associated with the city’s economic wellbeing. When traffic flows, productivity improves. When time is saved, businesses grow. When access is made easier, living standards get improved.”
Tinubu thanked Lagos Government for making the new Administrative Complex after him, noting that he accepted the honour with humility.
Lagos State governor, Sanwo-Olu, said the projects were distinct but complementary investments, with each addressing a critical aspect of governance.
The bridge, he said, would address congestion and mobility around Ikeja-Maryland-Ojota corridor, while improving the quality of life for commuters.
He said the Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge would improve efficiency of traffic circulation, with noticeable impact beyond the immediate environs of the bridge. He said the road project was completed with walkways, bicycle lanes, solar-powered street lighting and embedded service ducts.
“We have built, not just for today’s needs, but with a clear eye on the ever-expanding demands of the future. As part of this project, we have integrated a comprehensive stormwater management system to address the long-standing challenge of flooding along the Odo-Iya-Alaro corridor, thereby strengthening environmental resilience,” he said.
