I have just signed into law three very important bills:

• The Prohibition of the Act of Kidnapping
• The Sports Trust Fund Law, and the
• The Sport Commission Law

These laws have been enacted to address key issues bordering on security and effectively harnessing the potentials in the sports sector.

In recent times, kidnapping has become a major threat to the safety of citizens and therefore required decisive action by the government. This law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment for kidnapping for ransom. The law stipulates that where a victim dies in the course of a kidnap, the suspect is liable on conviction to death.

Security is of utmost importance to our administration and we are confident that this law will serve as a deterrent to anybody who may desire to engage in this wicked act within the boundaries of Lagos state. Our justice system will be required to execute this Law to the letter and make sure that any criminal caught faces the full wrath of the law.

While we use this law to address the challenge of kidnapping and punish the criminals, we are also putting in place appropriate measures, particularly in our schools and other vulnerable targets, to prevent security breaches.

The Sports Commission Law will give legal backing to the formulation and implementation of sports policies in the State while the Sports Trust Fund will enable government to raise money for the development of sporting facilities and activities. This Fund will provide a platform where the State government can enter into partnership with the private sector to finance Sports infrastructure, tournaments and programmes which will in turn create employment and generate revenue for the State.

As provided for in the law, a Board of Trustees comprising all stakeholders in the sports community will be inaugurated soon to manage the Sports Trust Fund.

By these laws, we have restated our commitment to Sports and making Lagos the hub of Sports in Nigeria.

The passing of these laws have been made possible by the commitment and dedication of the Lagos State House of Assembly. I appreciate the work done by the State House of Assembly and promise that we will ensure its full implementation.

I thank the leadership and members of the House, especially the Speaker, Right. Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, for keeping faith with our collective aspiration to build a State that is clean, safe and prosperous and demonstrating this in all your actions.

Thank you all.

Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko, lo je wa l’ogun.