Gbadebo criticizes Sanwo-Olu over N1bn spent to hire helicopters in one month

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Lagos State, has accused the state’s governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of spending more than N1bn on helicopter service in one month.

According to Gbadebo, Sanwo Olu paid N1,039,875,000 for helicopter charter service in April 2022.

He announced this in a post on his X account on Tuesday.

He further mentioned that the governor spent N512,000,000 on the same service in July and August 2023.

“In April 2022 alone, the Lagos state government spent N1,039,875,000 on helicopter charter service for Mr. Governor’s regular travel. In July and August 2023, it spent N512,000,000 on the same helicopters,” he stated.

Gbadebo questioned why the state would spend about N2 billion in three months on helicopter charter services for the governor while other regions of the state still lack access to potable water.

“Should Lagos be spending close to N2 billion in just three months transporting the governor in a private helicopter when most parts of his primary constituency on Lagos Island do not have portable water running from their taps?” he queried.

Speaking further, the Labour Party chieftain added that N1.2 billion could pay 1,000 teachers N100,000 every month for a year.

He stated that a government led by him would use drones instead of helicopters to oversee projects in order to conserve the state’s resources.

“A Rhodes-Vivour government will use drones as opposed to helicopters for project supervision. This will save the state funds that will be put towards human capital development.

“E.g. With N1.2 billion, we can pay 1,000 teachers N100,000 per month for a year. This will bring us closer to our goal of achieving the best public primary and secondary school education system in the country.

“A Rhodes-Vivour government will not pay for officials to travel on private jets. Any official that intends to fly private will pay privately,” Gbadebo added.

When contacted, the state governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, did not return phone calls or text messages sent to his phone at the time of reporting this story.