For several hours penultimate Tuesday, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode stood before the residents of the state to give account of his administration’s stewardship in the past 90 days. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports
The ever-busy King’s Catholic Mission Street on the Lagos Island was beehive last Tuesday. The road literally became a terminus for all shades of vehicles that ferried people from various parts of Lagos to witness a historic moment taking place at the popular magnificent City Hall which is conspicuously located at the heart of the Island.
It was the second quarterly Town Hall Meeting of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode during which the Lagos helmsman explained to the residents, activities of his government in the past three months.
By 10:00 a.m., all guests, including federal lawmakers in the state, led by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries, had been seated and waiting for the arrival of the governor. Some 35 minutes after, the governor’s motorcade arrived at the curvy foyer of the hall, signalling the official commencement of the event.
Ambode said his first quarter in office was deployed to building an institutional framework as foundation on which his agenda to build a safe and prosperous Lagos would be placed.
The governor hinted that his administration’s policy thrust rested on the tripod of security, infrastructural development and job creation.
‘Lagos crime rate reducing’
A thunderous applause greeted Ambode’s revelation that crime rate in Lagos had reduced by 65 per cent under his watch. This, the governor said, was the result of his government’s move to improve surveillance and invest in the security of the state. He said reduction in the crime rate followed provision of modern security gadgets to the police and other security agencies through the state’s Security Trust Funds.
A safer Lagos, Ambode said, will attract more local and foreign investments to the state, which will, in turn, create job opportunities for the residents and generate more tax for the government which will be used to improve on infrastructure.
The governor said crime thrives because criminals usually hide in dark spots to launch their heinous acts. In response to this challenge, Ambode said he initiated the Light-up Lagos Project to install streetlights on highways and major roads across the state. The project, he said, is being undertaken by the state Advisory Committee on Power chaired by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, with the objective to fulfil the government’s promise to light up every nook and cranny of Lagos.
As the state is lit up, Ambode said he expected further reduction in crime rate, observing that the project would make it difficult for criminals to hide in the highway to carry out nefarious activities.
Creation of jobs
In fulfilment of his pledge to engage jobless youths in productive employment, Ambode, in the last quarter, signed the Employment Trust Fund Bill into law. The law seeks to help the government address unemployment and create jobs for the youth.
The law will also empower the government to engage willing youths in entrepreneurial development and wealth creation, with the aim to help them acquire skills that will make them self-reliant in the absence of paid employment. He said members of Board of Trustees have already been appointed by the government, awaiting the approval of the House of Assembly.
Ambode said: “We have already set aside N6.5 billion in the 2016 Budget to help the government achieve this goal. We have advertised positions in LASTMA and we intend to employ 1,300 individuals within this quarter.”
Improving condition of Lagos roads
The governor said his administration realised the importance of good roads in boosting commercial activities, which was why, he said, the government invested heavily on road rehabilitation and provision of new ones.
In the last quarter, Ambode said rehabilitation of major and strategic roads took a chunk of the state’s expenditure, adding that more isolated communities had benefitted from the government’s road project.
He said: “We have embarked on massive re-construction and rehabilitation of major roads and inner roads across the metropolis. I am delighted to inform you that over 300 major roads have been rehabilitated; 66 major roads are in various stages of completion, while 80 inner roads will soon be completed in all our local government areas (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs).”
He listed some of the roads to be rehabilitated to include Alfa Nla Road in Agege, CIPM Road in Alausa, Ijegun—Ikotun Road, First and Second Avenues in FESTAC Town, Thompson Road in Ikoyi and Oguntoye Road on Lagos Island, among others.
In addition, the governor said construction of two roads each in all LGAs was launched last week. He said 114 roads would be delivered in six months through the intervention at the cost of N17.5 billion.
Ambode added that work had already begun on the construction of flyovers in two of the state’s high-traffic zones – Ajah Roundabout in Lagos Central Senatorial Zone and Abule-Egba Junction in the West Senatorial Zone. On completion, he said rate of commuters’ accident would reduce sharply, while traffic would not be disrupted by pedestrians.
Transportation
The government’s supply of 434 vehicles to boost the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) operation in Ikorodu axis has drastically reduced rush for space and brought convenience to commuters.
The governor said his administration would make connectivity and mobility of Lagos residents comfortable.
By December, residents of Okokomaiko and Satellite Town will have cause to smile when the Blue Light Rail project that connects the area to Lagos Island is completed. The project was started by his predecessors, but Ambode promised that his administration would deliver it in the next 11 months, noting that construction work had already commenced on the project. On completion, the Light Rail project is expected to ease vehicular traffic in Mile 2, Alaba, Orile and other highly populated settlements in the axis.
Education for all
The governor did not mince words while explaining his administration’s effort to maintain quality education in the state. He said his government has taken drastic steps to improve the standards by embarking on rehabilitation of existing schools and construction of modern classrooms. The investment, Ambode said, is to the tune of N2.5 billion and it is being jointly funded with the Federal Government through Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) scheme.
The state-owned tertiary institutions are not left out in the government’s education programmes, Ambode said. He noted that the amended Lagos State University Bill, which he recently signed into law, would address issues that usually lead to crisis in the school.
Health care reforms
In the last quarter of last year, his government had put a stop to the controversial casualisation of doctors working in the state-owned hospitals and health centres.
Ambode promised to complete rehabilitation work in Ayinke House, the state maternity hospital, noting that it would be ready by the next quarter.
He added: “We have also extended the Accident Insurance Policy for the state’s entire workforce that will cover accidents recorded outside working hours. The rehabilitation and re-equipping of Ayinke House–our baby factory on the Mainland-will be completed in the next quarter.”
Residents’ comments
Some residents who attended the Town Hall Meeting had the opportunity to directly engage the governor and his team on pertinent issues in their communities. Ambode, who was clad in blue babanriga, sat on the podium, fielding questions from the participants.
Mr Charles Olaoni of Justice for All, a non-governmental organisation, asked how the governor would address the rising number of street urchins known as Area Boys and proliferation of shanties on Lagos Island.
Ambode said: “Beyond the fact that we need to clean up our streets, we also plan to engage the Area Boys in drainage cleaning and other vocations. With time, this problem will be a thing of the past.”
Mrs Victoria Eze of Igbo Coalition Group asked to know Ambode’s view on indigeneship.
Ambode said: “We have pledged that we will pursue all-inclusive governance and take every resident as partner. We are for inclusion, no matter what your gender or tribe is.”
A physically-challenged, who gave her names as Mrs Kudirat, asked the governor about his programmes for residents who are physically-challenged.
Ambode said: “Lagos is the first to create an office to address the needs of the physically-challenged people. Beyond this, we are scaling up our attention to their plight. We have already declared that all physically-challenged people will board the BRT buses free.”
Caleb Awolola, a resident of Apapa Iganmu LCDA, asked how the government would improve on public health and make potable water available in Ijora-Badia axis.
Responding on Ambode’s behalf, Dr Adebule said: “This administration knows the importance of water to the well-being of residents. Provision of potable water will reduce illness and improve the health of our people. We have noted the challenge people of Ijora Badia are facing to get water. We will extend water supply to the area and also provide health care centres in the neighbourhood.”
Jimoh Olawale, a Sari-Iganmu resident, urged the governor to build schools in Apapa Iganmu LCDA, noting that construction of roads had consumed two of the three secondary schools in the area.
Responding, the Deputy Governor said: “Sari Iganmu is one of the areas being considered for construction of modern schools, which the government will embark on this year. We understand that the road construction has left huge impact on the populace, but we assure that we will bring back schools to the area.”
Will Ambode carry Computer Village traders along in the move to relocate the market? Onuaha Okeze of Igbo Coalition Group asked.
Dr Adebule said: “Relocation of Computer Village is an ongoing project of the government. A site in Aboru area has been designated as Computer Village and we believe it is a place all the traders will like. We are not going to move the traders without consulting them. They will all be informed of the government’s move.”
Senator Tinubu drew the governor’s attention to the poor state of pedestrian bridges on the Mainland and asked how individuals could partner with the government on the Light-up Lagos project.
Responding, Ambode directed the Commissioner for Works to deploy the ministry staff to carry out assessment on the pedestrian bridges on the Mainland. The governor added that people willing to partner with the government on Light-up Lagos project should go the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources handling the project.
On the problem of gang wars raised by Alhaji Surajudeen Abeja from Eti-Osa Local Government, Ambode said his administration was taking measures to address the problem of street gangs and secret cultism ravaging some Lagos communities.
Mrs Hannah Adewole, a member of Farmers’ Forum, caused a stir when she informed the governor of cronyism in the process of distributing incentives reserved for low-income farmers in the state.
Ambode said his government would not condone unfair treatment of farmers, noting that improved agricultural production remained a priority of his government. The governor directed the Commissioner for Agriculture to directly deal with farmers who showed interest in getting the state’s incentives.
Minutes after the meeting, King’s Catholic Mission Street returned to its usual status, with the heavy presence of security agents thinning out. But in a long while, the area will remember that Ambode was here.
