Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured Lagosians that his administration was on course to deliver the ‘Greater Lagos’ he promised residents at inception.
He said the ‘Greater Lagos’ is a Megacity that is fully and confidently a 21st century economy with modern infrastructure where everything works.
The governor reiterated his promise in a statewide broadcast to celebrate June 12, Democracy Day on Friday, titled: ‘Great Leap Towards A Greater Lagos.’
Sanwo-Olu said much has been done in fulfilling that promise in the past one year and that more still remains to be done to take Lagos to that envisioned great heights.
His dream of a greater Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said is hinged on his THEMES developmental agenda, which covers Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century state; Security and Governance.
“Dear Lagosians, the future, no doubt, looks bright. We are taking sure and steady steps towards the realization of the ‘Greater Lagos’ of our aspirations.
“While we are not yet where we want to be, it is clear that we are not where we used to be. We must use the successes we have recorded in the last one year, to inspire us to even greater collective effort to make life better for all of us.
“And as we make progress in our quest for a ‘Greater Lagos’, certainly more challenges lie ahead. Of what essence is life without obstacles?”.
On Security and Governance, Sanwo-Olu said the goal is transformational security, using technology. “We are revamping our Security Command-and-Control Center, and investing heavily in security cameras and improved data-gathering and processing, to stay permanently ahead of crime and criminality.
“By this, we are sending a strong message of deterrence to all potential criminals. The Lagos State Security Trust Fund will continue to be the arrowhead of our interventions in security in Lagos State.
“We are also partnering with neighbouring States, and one important step in this regard is the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), which has been codenamed ‘Operation Amotekun’. You will begin to see the full operationalization of the scheme in the coming months.
Sanwo-Olu expressed satisfaction with the quality and progress of work on the transport infrastructure projects across the State, urging the people of Lagos to remain patient as “we work to complete all of them to give you a better motoring and commuting experience.
“In order to sustain current momentum in the public transportation sphere, we ask for the cooperation of every resident of the State, especially in obeying Traffic Laws, for our collective good.”
“In the area of agriculture and food security, we have done so much, with initiatives such as the Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS) which is designed to build the capacities of actors in the Rice, Aquaculture and Poultry Value Chains, enabling them to become large scale producers and processors of rice, fish, eggs, and poultry. When the Imota Rice Mill is completed at the end of this year, it will be a game-changing addition to Nigeria’s ongoing rice revolution.
“Being the smallest State in Nigeria, we may not have the land potential that other States have, but that will not stop us from maximizing the development of what we have as well as the full development of our great potential as a processing hub with ready access to the largest market in West Africa.
“We are also strengthening the capacity of our farmers through the Lagos Agripreneurship Programme (LAP), the Sea Food Festival and the Eko City Farmers Food Market. The provision of extension services to farmers is also a priority,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor said It has been a very challenging period because of the covid-19 pandemic as Lagos State remains the epicenter of the pandemic in Nigeria.
“We are still seeing an increase in infection figures, and this trend is likely to continue for a while longer, before we are able to succeed in flattening the curve.
He however advised residents that there is no reason to panic or be alarmed as the current situation does not mean that things are out of control. “It rather reveals the effectiveness of the new testing, tracing and tracking approaches and strategies we are adopting.
“One clear testimony to our doggedness in combatting this pandemic is in the over 555 patients we have discharged since the Index case.
“Between now, and the months ahead, we need to be very cautious in the way we act and attempt to resume life and business. We cannot afford, at any time over the next few months, to make a mess of all the hard work we have done,” Sanwo-Olu said.
