Lagos residents have commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy ,Obafemi Hamzat for their developmental strides in the State.
Residents also lauded the state governments’ commitment to digital engagement, critical feedback, accountability, and transparency while describing Lagos as “becoming a nation within a nation”, owing to its scale of development.
This was the outcome of ASK LAGOS, a weekly X-space discussion aimed at bridging the engagement gap between the State Government and residents.
Speaking on the topic “Scorecard of the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat Administration: Triumph and Trials of the Second Tenure in Office, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso highlighted tangible milestones achieved under the T.H.E.M.E.S PLUS Agenda.
Omotoso spoke of massive improvements in transportation Infrastructure, notably the operational Blue and Red Rail Line, the proposed Green Line, the purchase of new BRT buses, and junction improvement.
In his words, “When we look at the first pillar, transportation, for example, the whole world can see today that the blue line and the red line are up and running. The blue line, as we all know, is the first of its kind anywhere in Africa, running on electric power, and moving people from Mile 2 to Marina, a journey that used to take about two hours of sweating, running, and jumping up and down. It's now very smooth, less than 30 minutes. And the same way, the red line, running from Agbado to the outskirts of Lagos in Ogun State to Oyingbo, in the heart of Lagos mainland, a journey that used to be, in the best of times, about three hours. Today, for 35 minutes, 40 minutes, you can do the journey. And eventually, the plan is for it to link up with the blue line, so that the circle can be completed. And already, we know that the green line is also on its way, the one that will run from Lekki-Epe Expressway to Victoria Island. Before, we used to have about 14 ferries. Today, we have over 25 ferries. By May 29 last year, we commissioned 15 brand new ferries. And those ferries were built right here in Lagos by our young engineers. And there are 10 that are ready now to be commissioned. And in terms of buses, we have CNG buses running on Lagos roads now. And all of these that we are talking about, they've been able to reduce traffic congestion. They've been able to make journeys more predictable.”
In the Health sector, Omotoso said projects, such as the new Massey Street Hospital, Maternal and Child Care Hospitals in Badagry, Eti-Osa, and a new General Hospital in Ojo, are taking shape to take care of the health challenges of Lagosians.
“People have seen what we've been doing with the Massey Street Hospital, which is going to be the largest pediatric centre in sub-Saharan Africa when it's completed. They have seen the General Hospital in Ojo that we are building, which is also the first General Hospital to be built in a very long time in Lagos; in over a decade that we have not built any General Hospital, he concluded.”
He also mentioned that over 2,000 education projects and the promotion of a tech-driven learning environment have made it easy for the students and teachers to thrive both locally and internationally.
He said that Lagos has just been declared the world's best technology innovation center in the world, adding that there is a Lagos Science Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC) fund that has about $1 billion to disburse to anybody who has any innovative idea for start-ups in the state.
Reeling out other achievements of the Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat Administration, the Commissioner said that Lagos has positioned itself as the safest state in the country, deploying innovative efforts to address food security, with the construction of the largest food and logistics hub in Sub-Saharan Africa, and several middle level food hubs across the state.
He said over 21 housing estates had been delivered, and many low-cost housing projects are ongoing, adding that with the support of the private sector, the entertainment and tourism sector is growing tremendously.
Beyond the accolades, Lagosians raised concerns around uneven development, uncompleted roads in Badagry, Ibeju-Lekki, and Ajah, underwhelming budget implementation, discipline in public schools, and other germane issues critical to the average residents in the state.
In his response, the Commissioner acknowledged all concerns and assured Lagosians of the government’s commitment to inclusive development. He cited real-time budget tracking, monitoring of contractors, and community-based interventions as part of ongoing efforts.
Omotoso reiterated the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat administration’s commitment to completing all ongoing projects while ensuring that Lagos remains Africa’s model megacity. “We will not raise our hands and surrender. We will continue until we achieve a Lagos that works for everyone,” he affirmed.
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