Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Saturday empowered about 5,000 residents of Surulere, Lagos, under his annual Gbaja Mega Empowerment Programme, in what he described as the biggest edition of the initiative.
The programme, held at the open ground of the National Stadium, had an estimated value of ₦1.15 billion and featured cash grants, electric vehicles, minibuses, tricycles, laptops and other support targeted at residents across the constituency.
Gbajabiamila said 3,905 beneficiaries received ₦250,000 each, while another 348 people received ₦500,000 each. The package also included 61 electric vehicles, 50 electric tricycles, 60 minibuses and 100 laptops.
Other items distributed included four Toyota HiAce 18-seater buses, two security patrol vehicles, a medical ambulance and two additional vehicles.
The Chief of Staff said the programme involved about 279 vehicles, combining electric and conventional vehicles, alongside the cash and other forms of assistance.
“This is not a token gesture,” Gbajabiamila said, explaining that the scale of the intervention was why it was designated a “Mega Empowerment” programme.
The initiative is one of the longest-running constituency empowerment programmes in Lagos, having been sustained by Gbajabiamila over many years of representing Surulere in the House of Representatives.
Previous editions have provided residents with vehicles, business support, industrial equipment and computers. In 2023, for example, 161 cars and buses, 555 laptops and 502 industrial machines were distributed, alongside ₦200 million in business support to more than 2,500 beneficiaries.
Gbajabiamila said this year's programme, originally scheduled for June, was postponed to allow organisers to verify submissions from wards, community associations and trade groups.
He said the verification was necessary to prevent duplication and ensure that beneficiaries received the items allocated to them.
Beyond the immediate empowerment, Gbajabiamila used the occasion to speak about the recent allegations surrounding his office, saying investigations by the Nigerian Police, Department of State Services and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission had cleared him of wrongdoing.
“The past few months have tested me in ways I never expected. Stories were written, strange accusations were made, lies were told, and my integrity was questioned,” he said.
Gbajabiamila said he appreciated President Tinubu for insisting that the allegations be subjected to due process rather than acting on them before investigations were concluded.
He also warned people using his name to defraud members of the public, saying such individuals would face the law.
The allegations followed investigations into the activities of the purported Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council. Gbajabiamila appeared before the ICPC in July as part of the investigation. The commission subsequently said it found no evidence linking him or his office to the organisation or its alleged director-general.
Turning back to the empowerment initiative, Gbajabiamila said the electric vehicles were deliberately included as part of a broader push towards cleaner transportation and lower operating costs.
The programme's electric mobility component covers e-hailing cars and tricycles, while plans are also underway to establish electric vehicle charging stations.
Gbajabiamila said the development would create additional economic opportunities while supporting the transition towards cleaner energy.
He also highlighted the continued operation of the Gajarai transportation service, which provides free transportation for students and discounted services for elderly residents.
The event attracted prominent Lagos political figures, including Lagos State Deputy Governor and APC governorship candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, who commended the party's emphasis on maintaining direct contact with citizens.
Hamzat said political engagement should extend beyond election periods and focus on addressing the needs of communities.
“That is why our party is the party of the people,” he said, adding that the APC's responsibility was to remain connected to residents and deliver programmes that affect their daily lives.
Saturday's programme combined direct financial assistance with productive assets and transportation support, expanding the reach of an empowerment initiative that has remained a feature of Gbajabiamila's constituency engagement for years.
