So far, so good
Give it to him; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has given a good account of himself since his swearing in on May 29, last year. He might not be a man of many words, but he has proven to be a man of action. After the initial lull in his first four months or so, there has been no stopping him as he continues to launch one project or the other almost on a monthly basis. It was like the proverbial ram that beats a retreat; it has only gone for more strength.
The governor began to worm his way to the hearts of Lagosians in November last year when he launched an ambitious security project worth about N4.7billion. It was just about the time the people were wondering whether he was capable of wearing the big shoes of governor of a mega city like Lagos. But the criticism turned to praise with the donation by the government of security equipment and vehicles to the Lagos State Police Command and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), to enable them tackle effectively the criminals who wanted to make staying in Lagos a nightmare for law-abiding citizens. The donated items included 100 4-door salon cars, 55 Ford Ranger pick-ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser pick-ups, 15 BMW power bikes, 100 power bikes, Isuzu trucks, three helicopters, two gun boats, 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers, revolving lights, siren and public address system. Others were vehicular radio communicators, security gadgets, including bullet proof vests, helmets, handcuffs, etc. Uniforms, kits as well as an improved insurance and death benefit schemes for officers were also part of the gesture. With these and other items on ground, criminals should not find the state a safe haven, the governor told the security agents. So far, this has been the experience of Lagosians.
The administration realised that security cannot be enhanced in a situation where most parts of the state are in darkness. So, the state government came up with the idea of Light Up Lagos Project, an aggressive effort to provide street lights in as many places as possible. This was something that had been taken for granted over the decades, whereas I remember street lights existed in the nooks and crannies of the state in the late sixties, perhaps till the seventies. I remember at Ogba-Elefo (Atitebi Compound), off Moshood Abiola Road, Ebute- Metta, where I grew up, we had street lights under which we played as children. The relics of the lights (close to the new Chief Magistrate’s Court in the place) were just removed a few years back.
I have seen lights under the Light Up Lagos Project in places like Capitol/Alfa Nla streets; Maryland – Mile 12; Old Ota Road, Alimosho; Cemetery Road, Badagry; Kara through Alapere; 7up Toll Gate and Berger; Ligali Ayorinde, Victoria island; Babatunde Anjous, Eti-Osa; Itire Road, Surulere; Martins Street/Ereko, Brook Street, Lagos Island; Olowookere Street, Alimosho; Bode Thomas, Surulere; to name a few. Without doubt, this must be bad news for marauders and other criminally-minded persons who ply their illicit trades under the cover of darkness. On the other hand, it is a plus for night life and business which was a part and parcel of Lagos life in years past.
Another area that the government realised could reduce insecurity is by providing jobs for the teeming jobless, particularly the youths. Indeed, this is one sure way to complement the massive investment in security, otherwise, the well-equipped security agents would be working in vain. The Ambode administration has therefore set up a N25billion Employment Trust Fund, ETF, to address unemployment and promote wealth creation through entrepreneurial development. And, to ensure the fund works as intended, it has the former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mrs Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, as chairman of its board. Still on unemployment, the government has also launched a registration/labour exchange centre in Ojo Local Government Council, with the objective of having a data base of unemployed persons which would then be used to develop an appropriate intervention programme for them, as well as link them with potential employers. Five of such centres are to be established to cater to the needs of the five divisions in the state.
A lot is also happening in the transportation sector. It is not just about road construction and rehabilitation, the government has also increased the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) buses in the state by an additional 400 air-conditioned buses to ply the ever-busy Ikorodu Roundabout – CMS route. The impact of these is being gradually felt and this is so due to the mega city status of Lagos, with its ever-burgeoning population. Over time, and with more programmes and projects, including water transport and light rail materialising, the state’s roads would eventually be relieved of the usual logjam, and travel time drastically reduced.
It is apt to say that Lagos State has been particularly lucky, especially since the country’s return to civil rule in 1999. Nigeria as a country might have leadership deficit; but not Lagos which has continued to post impressive records within the period. This is what has continued to make the state witness the progress it has been witnessing, especially in the last 17 years. I have always said that continuity, especially as used by our politicians, is not the issue, but the use to which continuity is put. Lagosians should congratulate themselves for their choice of governors since the return to civil rule in 1999. One can only imagine what would have happened if the state had been captured by the predators that had ravaged most other states of the federation. Those who might want to argue that Lagos has no choice but to do well because it has the resources are missing the point. The point is; it is not about having huge resources, it is more about prudent use of the resources.
But if Lagos’ revenue profile has been rising, so are its responsibilities. The state is just joining the league of oil-producing states in the country, and so has not begun to enjoy the derivation that oil-producing states enjoy. This means the bulk of its revenue comes from internally generated revenue (IGR), which has been growing exponentially since 1999. The IGR has reached a record high. Under the present governor, Lagos State made a whopping N101.69 billion in total revenue in the first quarter of this year. It was about N97.28billion in the same period of last year. This translates to about N33.8billion per month. It is instructive that the state’s revenue, particularly the IGR component, has been on a steady rise since 1999 and the magic is just a sound financial reengineering and prudent management of resources, in spite of ever-growing demands.
This is the secret of the state’s plenty at a time when most other states are crying for funds. It is true that not many states are as endowed as Lagos, the point remains that many too are not as resourceful to see the areas where they can make money because of the assured monthly hand-outs from Abuja. Perhaps now that that source is becoming threatened, some of the governors would wake up from their slumber.
It is from these resources that the Ambode government has been doing the good works it has been doing, in continuation of the trend that has been on ground since 1999. The 20 Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICU) ambulances and 26 transport ambulances that the government has bought to bring quality healthcare closer to Lagosians as well as extend the coverage of emergency services to the rural areas were all funded from the state resources. Education is not left out, with a good chunk of the budget allocated to it so the government could fund its a-meal-a-day project, Ibile tablets for secondary schools, among others. The government has also inaugurated mobile courts to summarily try traffic as well as environmental offenders and mete out immediate punishments to those convicted, in order to reduce the congestion in the regular courts.
If Ambode sustains the tempo, there is no doubt that the state would have witnessed even more unimaginable development by the time he would be seeking re-election in 2019. A pointer to the fact that more surprises are under way is the 4th Mainland Bridge that the state government has just signed the Memorandum of Understanding for its construction, through Public Private Partnership (PPP). The ambitious project, valued at a cost of N844billion will open up many parts of the state as well as decongest the ever-busy Ikorodu Road. For a government that has gone this far in one year, then not even the sky is its limit.
Permit me to end this write-up by canvassing, once again, for a special status for Lagos. Although the state has long seized to be the federal capital, its role as the industrial hub has not diminished. This is why more and more people troop into the state daily in search of the proverbial greener pastures. The state deserves special federal attention.
