The 2023 Governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress in Lagos State, Funso Doherty, has challenged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over the money he allegedly spent, to travel to Grenada.
Doherty in an open letter addressed to Sanwo-Olu, dated January 26, 2024, urged Sanwo-Olu to reimburse the Lagos State account for the funds spent to travel to the country, emphasising that such expenses amount to public waste.
According to the Chartered Accountant, the trip is unjustifiable, highlighting that Grenada’s national GDP is incredibly smaller than Lagos’s economy and that there is no apparent trade partnership between Lagos and the country.
He explained that given the current Lagos 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.”
Premium Times reported that Sanwo-Olu flew to the Caribbean Island and lodged in one of the most expensive resorts globally, attending the birthday party of one Aisha Achimugu in Grenada.
According to Premium Times, the governor alongside other participants rotated between Calivigny Island and Silversand Grenada, an exotic five-year-old seven-star luxury resort in Grand Anse Beach.
According to close sources to the governor, Sanwo-Olu left Nigeria on Wednesday, January 17, for Achimugu’s party.
The State Government, however, 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.
The government further highlighted discussions on tourism, agriculture, and other economic interests, during the visit.