•Why He Wants A 2nd Term
Lagos State since its creation has been governed by 15 civilian and military governors, who did their best for the commercial capital of Nigeria. But one man that has distinguished himself as the Governor of Lagos State is the incumbent Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, a seasoned administrator, exemplary public sector reformer and astute politician.
Since his assumption into office on May 29, 2019, Babajide Sanwo-Olu not only stands tall among his contemporaries but remains a model to his generation. He is reputed for his people-centered ideology and passion for public service, which is about him doing something for his country (Lagos) and not waiting for his country to do something for him in line with President John F. Kennedy’s expectations of a citizen.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in the last three years of his stewardship in Lagos State has kept to his campaign promises in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S. developmental agenda for ‘Greater Lagos.’ Sanwo-Olu’s remarkable achievements are visible in the areas of Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, and Security and Governance, which are the 6-pillar programme of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration for millions of Lagosians.
In the area of Traffic Management and Transportation, Sanwo-Olu is not losing sleep in ensuring that Lagosians enjoy good roads and an inter-model transportation system. One of the major projects of the administration is the ongoing Red and Blue line rail, which is expected to be completed before the end of the year for Lagos residents to ride on a rail by the first quarter of 2023. As part of measures put in place to make the project a reality, Lagos State Government a few months ago acquired two sets of brand new 10-car Metro trains and another three trains for the rail project.
Sanwo-Olu administration also commissioned the Agege Pen Cinema Dual Carriage Flyover with adjoining roads in Agege; constructed and rehabilitated 301 inner roads in 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), and other major network roads across the State, commissioned Mafoluku Bus Terminal, Airport Road and Yaba Bus Terminal, Yaba. It also flagged off Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge and Approach Roads; launched the 1,000 Cars for Lagos Ride Taxi Scheme; hundreds of First and Last Mile Bus Scheme, Seven New High Capacity Boats and Cowry Card for Water Transportation.
There was also junction improvement and reconfiguration at the 1st and 2nd Roundabouts in Lekki, Allen Avenue, Ajah and Igando, as well as improvement of 28 traffic junctions with retrofitted street lights across the State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration does not pay lip service to health and the environment, which is the second pillar of the Greater Lagos developmental agenda. The governor was commended locally and internationally for his proactive and efficient management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He commissioned Mother and Child Centres (MCCs) in Eti-Osa, Igando, Badagry and Epe, School of Anaesthesia at Badagry General Hospital and Regional Emergency Infrastructure (New LASEMA Response Unit) at Epe. There was the comprehensive renovation of medical facilities at Ebute-Metta Health Centre, Harvey Road Health Centre, General Hospitals at Odan, Isolo and Ketu-Ejinrin, and the development of new facilities, such as New Massey Children Hospital; New General Hospital in Ojo and a Rehabilitation and Mental Health facility in Ketu Ejinrin.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also invested significantly in the waste collection capacity of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) with the delivery of 102 Brand New Compactor Trucks and 100 Double Dino Bins for placement across the State. The incumbent administration has also completed the channelization of several ferry routes and jetties, notably 6km Ijede-Badore, 7km Bayeiku-Ajah, 16km Ebute Ojo-Marina and 16km Ijede-Marina routes.
Education and Technology are also paramount to Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration and that is why there is increased budgetary allocation to education and integrated technology in the State annual budget. Within three years in office, Sanwo-Olu’s government commissioned a newly built Elemoro Community Junior Secondary School, Ibeju-Lekki and a block of classrooms and other facilities at Lagos State Model College, Igbokuta, Ikorodu. It also completed about 2,000 school projects, provided over 100,000 tables and chairs, built 450 classrooms and provided 2,000 hostel beds in our model schools. It also introduced EKO EXCEL – an education reform programme targeted at developing highly skilled teachers through training, support and motivation.
Over 2000 teachers were recruited for public secondary schools and Governor Sanwo-Olu also presented Car Gifts to 13 Outstanding Teachers at the Lagos State Teachers Merit Award 2020. The State Government also established two new universities – Lagos State University of Technology and Lagos State University of Education. The administration has also embarked on laying over 3,000km fiber across the State.
Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy is the fourth pillar of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration. It is of note that the incumbent government repealed the 2018 Land Use Charge Law, which was replaced by a 2020 Property Land Use Charge Law and Regulations. The administration completed and commissioned hundreds of LagosHOMS housing units in Ikorodu, Badagry, Lekki, Iponri, Igando, Ajah and Ikate, among others.
On Food Security and Agriculture, the administration launched a five-year Master plan for Agriculture to boost food production and strengthen the sector. It handed over cheques to 1,340 beneficiaries of the World Bank-assisted Lagos Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project. It has also assisted thousands of Lagos residents, especially youths across the state with skills acquisition and empowerment programmes, including the empowerment of 600 residents with ingenious business ideas to the tune of N4 billion through the Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund (LESTF) W-initiative in collaboration with Access Bank and commissioned the FADAMA Food Market at Agbalata, Badagry to promote the structuring of agricultural produce marketing in the State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration is also committed to facilitating the development of the entertainment and tourism sector through empowerment and partnership. Aside from landmark facilities and initiatives like the J.K Randle Centre for Yoruba history, Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Theatre in Badagry, Badagry Museum and major Tourist attractions in Badagry, the administration is also working with the Federal Government to rehabilitate the National Arts Theatre Iganmu into a world-class entertainment, fashion, music and technology and cultural hub as a deliberate and purposeful mission to boost the tourism appeal of Lagos State.
It commissioned the revamped Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos Island and created an empowerment drive through partnerships with the Ebony Life Academy and Del York Creative Academy, where no fewer than 2,000 youth are receiving training in different aspects of Cinematography; such as Scriptwriting, Directing and others, with the aim of unlocking the huge talent and potential in the creative arts space. It also launched the Lagos Creative Initiative (LACI) for the focused development of the creative industry, which has birthed the 100-hecterLagos Film City in Ejinrin and gave financial support in excess of N1billion to operators to cushion the effect of COVID-19 on the industry.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration has also done a lot in the area of Security and Governance. He has made Lagos safe and secure for many through his administration’s investment in security matters and this is one of the reasons why crime has reduced in the state. The incumbent government’s decision to ban motorcycles and tricycles on highways and some roads within the state has also led to a reduction of accident victims in the state.
Lagos State Government has handed over operational vehicles, communication gadgets, ballistic vests and helmets, anti-riot water cannon vehicles and Armed Personnel Carriers (APCs) to various security operatives to further enhance and improve their operations which will ultimately have a positive impact on the security status in the state. It has also done a lot for the youths in the state by building Youth Centres in Ipaja and Ikorodu, as well as the mini stadiums in different parts of the state. Governor Sanwo-Olu has also met the needs of some Lagosians, especially the vulnerable and less privileged through the Sanwo-Olu Listens’ Initiative.
He got his second term ticket on the platform of APC as a reward for good performance and he is expected to be re-elected during the March 11, 2023 governorship election because many people believe that One Good Term Deserves Another.
–By Gboyega Akosile, the Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
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