970 roads, other iconic projects completed in Sanwo-Olu’s first term – Omotoso
…..expect more, he says
By Moses Adeniyi
No less than 970 roads, among several other iconic projects, were completed by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration in its first term in office, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso has disclosed.
According to Omotoso, the State Government would be embarking on a 10-day inauguration to celebrate the giant stride and the expectations of the promises of the second term of Sanwo-Olu in office.
At a press briefing at Ikeja, the State Capital on Friday, to intimate on plans for the inauguration ceremonies of Governor Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat’s second term in office, Omotoso said the achievements informed why the good people of Lagos came out in their numbers to cast their ballots for Sanwo-Olu on the March 18.
Omotoso who reeled out some of the achievements of the Governor Sanwo-Olu led administration in his first term, said the second term of the administration would be eventful with life impacting projects.
He said the administration tackled effectively the COVID-19 pandemic; completed numerous abandoned/ongoing projects by the previous administration; started and completed new projects
The projects completed by the administration, he said, include 970 roads – 34 roads in Kosofe, Somolu, Victoria Island and Ikoyi – and 15 bridges. In Ojokoro, 31 roads were completed.
He disclosed the administration trained 18000 teachers under the EKOEXCEL programme and set up two new universities.
“Exactly 1,451 days ago, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his partner, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, took the oath of office before thousands of people who were gathered at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos and millions more who watched on television and various media channels across the globe. That day marked the beginning of A Greater Lagos journey, which was embarked upon by the administration and anchored on the six pillars of development tagged the THEMES Agenda. It is also an important date in our democratic experience.
“Four years after, the promise of A Greater Lagos has been fulfilled in many areas of life through the delivery of several life-impacting projects, social investments in our people as well as economic development of our dear State.
“The social contract between Governor Sanwo-Olu and the people of Lagos was never taken for granted and, for that reason, the Governor and his team proactively tackled head-on all the challenges that confronted the State within the four-year period.
“Nobody could foresee the COVID-19 pandemic; it came like a thief in the night. Experts predicted that we would be picking bodies on our streets, This never happened because Mr Governor led a fierce battle against the pandemic.
“The administration, in line with its campaign promise, ensured that all abandoned/ongoing projects too numerous to mention here, were completed; started and completed new projects and worked on a sustainable and enduring future for the State through several bold and audacious policies and projects.
“We can safely state here, gentlemen of the press, that it is not by accident that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration continued the Blue Line Rail project and completed it. It also started the Red Line Rail project that is nearing completion amid global economic challenges.
“The Sanwo-Olu administration completed 970 roads-34 roads in Kosofe, Somolu, Victoria Island and Ikoyi – and 15 bridges. In Ojokoro, 31 roads were completed. It trained 18000 teachers under the EKOEXCEL programme, set up two varsities – our varsities never went on strike when it was fashionable to do so) and built four Mother and Child Centres.
“There are a number of road projects spread across Lagos State, such as the Agege Pen Cinema bridge, the Eleko Junction to Epe rigid pavement roads, the Oba Sekumade and Ijede roads in Ikorodu as well as several hospital projects spread across the State. We completed 18 housing projects. This administration also prioritized technology, entertainment and arts and the preservation of our historical and cultural heritage.
“The Sanwo-Olu-Hamzat administration changed the face of governance in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.
“The Blue Line has been commissioned and any moment from now passenger operation will begin. The Administration began the Red Line on August 15, 2021. It is almost completed now, with engineers putting finishing touches to the iconic project.
“There are 21 ferries on our waterways, which more Lagosians are embracing to commute from one part of the state to the other. The Lagos Rice Mill Imota is in operation. The achievements are, no doubt, numerous and significant because they touch the people’s lives directly,” he said.
He disclosed that commissioning of projects spread across Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State would form a part of the activities lined up for the maiden inauguration celebration.
“This inauguration is important to us in the State as it is a celebration of A Greater Lagos Rising!,” Omotoso who is the Chairman of the Media and Publicity Committee said.
On the activities lined up, he disclosed that for Day one (21st May, 2023), there will be Youth Carnival and Robotic competition as People Living with Disability will participate in the events with the event holding simultaneously in all the Lagos divisions from 10:00am.
The venue include: “Ikeja Division: JJT Park, Alausa- 10.00am; Badagry Division: Badagry Grammar School, Badagry- 10.00am; Ikorodu Division: Ikorodu Town Hall Premises- 10.00am; Lagos Island: Muri-Okunola Park, VI- 10.00am; Epe Division: The Recreation Centre, Epe- 10.00am.”
The event lined up for Day two (23rd May, 2023) include Public lecture to be delivered by Prof Adigun Agbaje, former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan on the theme: THE MAKING OF A BEACON- LAGOS AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF A DEMOCRACY THAT WORKS FOR ALL.
Also would be a Book launch and Photo Exhibition; Stage drama performance at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
Scheduled for the Day three/four/five are the State-wide commissioning of the projects.
It was disclosed that on Day three (24th May, 2023) projects around Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Alimosho, Ikeja would be commissioned, while completed projects in Kosofe would be commissioned on Day Four (25th May, 2023):
On Day Five (26th May, 2023) completed projects around Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Surulere would be commissioned.
On Day Six (27th May, 2023), Omotoso disclosed that activities would be centred in line with the Children’s Day, including Novelty Match in five divisions of Lagos.
Scheduled for Day Seven (28th May, 2023) are Pre-inauguration rehearsal; Day Eight (29th May, 2023) Inauguration Day; Day Nine (2nd June, 2023) Post inauguration Jummat Thanksgiving service to hold simultaneously in all the five divisions’ Central Mosques; Day 10 (3rd June, 2023) Cultural display at Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena, Onikan, Lagos (Time: 10.00am to 3pm), Inauguration Dinner at Eko Hotel scheduled to start at 7pm; Day 11 (4th June, 2023) Post inauguration church service to hold simultaneously across the five divisions in Lagos
“As always, the central working committee has through some of the sub-committees made adequate arrangements for a hitch-free and seamless inauguration ceremonies,” Omotoso said.
