Historic! That is just the way to describe the emerging development strides of Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In keeping to campaign promises, Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, flagged off the execution of 377 state-wide projects across all wards.
The intervention, first of its kind in the State, was initiated at the instance of the Governor. It will bring about the construction of over 250 roads and installation of 23 power projects across the State.
State cabinet Members, Council chairmen, Councillors and party stalwarts including Tunde Balogun, State chairman, graced the flag-off ceremony in Alausa.
Sanwo-Olu said the intervention was initiated in response to specific challenge requests by various communities across the State. He said the execution of the projects would change the narrative about what grassroots development and Government’s responsibilities are all about.
377 PROJECTS
He said: “The state-wide 377 ward projects being launched today are state intervention projects in grassroots development. The projects are conceived in response to requests by the various communities across the State to address specific challenges. These projects are not universal; they are diverse, reflecting the needs of each ward across the state.
“The implementation of the projects will commence immediately as contractors have been fully mobilized to move to site. I urge residents who are the ultimate beneficiaries of these projects to take ownership by monitoring the implementation process. They should ensure that the job conforms to quality and standard specified in the project design.”
Sanwo-Olu said the process of identifying the needs and the design of the projects was in line with the concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and participatory governance in which the people were considered as key stakeholders.
The Governor described grassroots as “the bedrock of development.” He stressed that the projects were strategic in promoting the wellbeing of the people across communities. He said his Government would continue to give residents a voice on issues that affect them.
Said he, “This administration’s development agenda is driven by the spirit to build a Greater Lagos. A Lagos that is livable, and conducive for the growth and development of enterprise. The dream of a greater Lagos is not exclusive. It is predicated on the principle of inclusiveness. By that, development is not considered satisfactory until it has addressed the yearnings of greatest number of people. They contribute to the commonwealth.”
Sanwo-Olu charged all elected and appointed officials in public offices to be responsible in dealing with people. He noted that governance would be meaningless without people’s input of the on whose mandate public officers derived their powers.
WORKS BEGIN MONDAY
Chairman of the Projects’ Implementation Committee and Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, said all contractors would mobilise to sites next Monday. He noted that the intervention was in demonstration of the Governor’s campaign promise to run an inclusive Government.
He said the projects’ selection followed a meeting between the Governor and all 377 Councillors across the State. Governor Sanwo-Olu asked them to nominate specific projects that could be executed in their wards.
After the identification, Hamzat said Economic Planning and Budget Ministry including professionals in public service evaluated the projects cost. This effort, the Deputy Governor said, was followed by a re-evaluation exercise by an independent consultant.
Giving the breakdown, Hamzat said the State Government would be constructing 257 community roads and drainages across the State. He added that 86 public buildings would be rehabilitated. Two jetties, nine water projects and 23 power projects will be installed across the wards.
All the projects, the Deputy Governor said, are distributed across the three senatorial districts in the State. He disclosed that wards across the Lagos Central will be having 94 projects. Wards in Lagos East will have 99 and wards in Lagos West , 184 projects.
Hamzat said: “The projects will be implemented by contractors in collaboration with Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies. This includes the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs. Others are the Directorate of Technical Service, Lagos State Electricity Board and Public Works Corporation. Supervision and monitoring of the projects will be done in collaboration with the ward Councillors and party executives.”
APC CHAIRMAN
The APC chairman, Tunde Balogun described the projects as historic and grassroots-focused. He confirmed that Sanwo-Olu’s administration is the first to embark on such massive projects across wards in a single move.
By directly engaging Councillors in the execution of the projects, Balogun said Sanwo-Olu has established a strong connection with the grassroots.
“The State Government has been investing in provision of infrastructure to make the State’s economy stronger. Despite these efforts, the Governor still found the reason to touch the grassroots by initiating these 377 projects. With this, Sanwo-Olu will be leaching lasting impact on the grassroots,” he said.
APC Chairman, Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Prince Abiodun Abu, spoke on behalf of all the party chairmen. He described the intervention “a new dawn” in the history of governance in Lagos.
He said the projects would accelerate development across communities in the State.
Nurudeen Alimi, spoke on behalf of 377 councillors. He said Sanwo-Olu’s action is historic. He has taken dividends of democracy to the grassroots in a way never seen before.
Honourable Dauda Mustapha, a Kaduna based politician who has lived many years in Lagos described the projects as historic.
Speaking with OpenLife, Mustapha said “What Governor Sanwo-Olu is doing in Lagos is historic.”
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