Lagos state has remained by far the richest state in Nigeria. Some observers argue that as the seat of political power in the country for past decades, it was well placed to attract local and foreign investments. Even when it lost the status of being the country’s capital city, it continued to be the hub of commercial activities in Nigeria. But that is merely historical. There are certainly man-made factors that have contributed to keep Lagos state ticking. The state has always been lucky to have focused leadership. Whether during the military era or civil rule, the state has been led at the helm by people referred to Action Governors.
The current governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, served in the executive cabinet of the immediate past governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, who wore the tag, Action Governor, for the eight years he held sway at Alausa, Ikeja. News in Africa Online is turning its searchlight on Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.
Political observers say that Lagos State, under Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has made remarkable achievements in two years, despite initial challenges that confronted the administration. Many Lagosians who expressed anxiety over the initial challenges of the government by its delay to appoint members of the state executive, and implementation of campaign promises had a change of mind when the governor swung into action. Realizing the importance of security to the mega city status of Lagos, the governor donated security equipment worth N4.756 billion to the state’s Police Command.
The equipment included three helicopters, two gunboats, 15 armed personnel carriers (APCs), 100 salon cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-ups, 10 Toyota Land Cruiser Pick-ups, 15 BMW power bikes and 100 power bikes among others. This intervention, which was the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria, became imperative because the Federal Government could no longer fund the Nigeria Police effectively. The governor’s donation by official statistics showed the reduction of crime rate in the state by 65 per cent in the last quarter of 2015, with Mr. Ambode stating enthusiastically that Lagos “is a lot safer and more secured.”
Apart from donating security gadgets, the governor’s “Light Up Lagos Project” was designed to bring the beauty of the city at night and also reduce crime. The governor introduced the project with the belief that crime thrives best in darkness. Consequently, the State Electricity Board rehabilitated public street lighting in 366 locations covering a stretch of 600km of roads.
During the electioneering period, Mr. Ambode promised to construct two roads in each of the 20 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to mark his first anniversary in office. In this spirit, he inaugurated the construction of 114 roads at the cost of N17.5 billion. The projects are now at different stages of completion across the local councils and many of them have been commissioned.
The administration rehabilitated about 500 major roads which, Governor Ambode said, largely unlocked intractable gridlocks that almost crippled the state’s economic activities in his first year in office. His government has also started constructing fly-overs in two of the state’s high traffic zones namely, Ajah roundabout and Abule-Egba junction in the Lagos Central and West Senatorial Districts respectively.
In addition, Mr. Ambode initiated different mega projects, which he said, would be executed under the public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement. Some of these projects include Fourth Mainland Bridge, Marina-Ikoyi-Lekki Monorail, Oshodi Transport Interchange, Lagos Medical Park and 8-lane Ikorodu-Epe road. Although the state is faced with the challenge of sourcing funds, the governor said he was resolute in his commitment “to serve and justify the trust Lagos residents reposed in me.”
Beyond the development of infrastructure, Governor Ambode is forward looking, especially in the realm of affirmative action, giving women their due share in the scheme of things. He is one of the few State Governors in the country who picked women to serve as their Deputy. He believes that women should aspire higher.
Governor Ambode has expressed optimism that in no distant time, Lagos state would produce its first elected female Governor. Mr. Ambode, who made the prediction when he received the One-Day Governor of the State, Miss Zuffon Bukola, and members of her cabinet at the Exco Chambers, Lagos House in Ikeja, said that the emergence of Miss Zuffon and the One-Day Deputy Governor, Miss Rosemary Ogidan, was a signpost to what the future portends for the State.
Miss Zuffon, a 16-year-old SS 2 student of Awodiora Senior Secondary School, Ajegunle, emerged the One-Day Governor of the State after she won the keenly contested Spelling Bee Competition in June 2017, while Miss Ogidan, an SS 2 student of Methodist Senior High School, Badagry finished as runner up.
According to the Governor, the emergence of two females as One-Day Governor and Deputy Governor of the State clearly indicates that a female can likewise be elected soon as the Governor of the State. “This is a significant day for Lagos State and it also signals what the future actually holds for thestate in which we have seated here, two female strong members of the new State Executive Council and we have a female Governor and a female Deputy Governor,” he said.
“It is also telling us a story about what the future of Lagos is all about, that one day we would find seated here, not just a day governor, but for a period or tenure of four years, there would be a female governor in this State. We have had female Deputy Governors in this State, but it also says something that these younger ones are telling our women in Lagos to rise up and actually take their due position.”
In order to encourage their efforts, Governor Ambode awarded a full scholarship to the One Day Governor, Miss Zuffon and her Deputy, Miss Ogidan while also announcing a cash donation of N1million each to them.
Earlier, Miss Zuffon while addressing Governor Ambode and members of the State Executive Council commended the Governor for his visionary leadership and numerous achievements especially in the educational sector, saying that despite the economic challenges, teachers’ salaries, and entitlements were being paid as at when due.
Miss Zuffon, who is aspiring to become a lawyer, also seized the occasion to request for a school bus, renovation of the school’s multipurpose hall, as well as construction of drainage channels in her school, which Governor Ambode expressly granted.
