Refund money spent for Grenada trip to Lagos, Doherty tells Sanwo-Olu

Funso Doherty, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reimburse the Lagos State account for the funds spent on travelling from Grenada, emphasising that such expenses amount to public waste.

In an open letter addressed to the governor dated January 26, 2024, Doherty asserted that the trip is unjustifiable, highlighting that Grenada’s national GDP is significantly smaller than Lagos’s economy and that there is no apparent trade partnership between the two.

The chartered accountant emphasised that, given Lagos’s current budget deficit of N400 billion naira, the governor’s trip only adds to the state’s financial burden.

The letter reads, “Grenada is a distant Island nation with a very small population of approximately 130,000 people and National GDP of just over $1 billion, both of which are a small fraction of those of Lagos State. Its economy is primarily tourism-based and has little complementarity, trade volume and potential with Lagos.

“In the unfortunate event that LASG funded the trip, you should consider refunding the trip’s costs to the State purse, as we do not consider this expenditure justifiable in the circumstances.

“As you are aware, despite concerns we raised, the State House of Assembly has passed, and you have signed into law, a greatly increased expenditure budget of N2.27 trillion for 2024 with a projected budget deficit of over N400 billion, which the already over-stretched average Lagosian will ultimately bear.”

Earlier reports indicated that Sanwo-Olu flew to the Caribbean Island and stayed in one of the most expensive resorts globally, attending the birthday party of one Aisha Achimugu in Grenada.

According to Premium Times, Sanwo-Olu and other participants alternated between Calivigny Island and Silversand Grenada, an exotic five-year-old seven-star luxury resort in Grand Anse Beach. Those familiar with the governor’s itinerary said he left Nigeria on Wednesday, January 17, for Achimugu’s party.

However, the Lagos State Government responded with photos of Sanwo-Olu’s meeting with the Grenadian Prime Minister in Grenada, emphasising talks on bilateral relations between Grenada and Lagos State.

During the visit, the government highlighted discussions on tourism, agriculture, and other economic interests.