Babatunde Fashola: The man with giant steps at 58
The appointment of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) as a Minister in 2015 to handle three sectoral spheres of endeavour was one subject that drew attention. The appointment of Fashola with a portfolio to oversee a combined Ministry of Power, Works and Housing 2015-2019, kept people talking. The decision informing the development could not be far from his antecedents in holding several public offices and milestone achievements in office as a two-term Governor of Lagos State (2007-2015). Observers had had it to say that it takes only an individual with a broad heart to oversee such combined spheres of endeavours with managerial acumen. Following the unbundling of the Ministry of Power from Works and Housing, retaining his position as a second time Minister to oversee the later speaks volume of his working capabilities.
Public Service
Babatunde Fashola has served in various capacities in public offices from State to Federal levels. He had served in Lagos state in various capacities, including: Secretary of the Lands Sub-Committee of the Transitional Work Groups – 1999; Member of the panel of Enquiry into allocation of houses on the Mobolaji Johnson Housing Scheme at Lekki.- 2000; Member of the State Tenders Board – 2002– 2006; Member of the Lagos State Executive Council – 2002-2006. Others are: Member of the State Security Council – 2002-2006;
Member of the State Treasury Board – 2002-2006; Chairman Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of Asset distribution among Local Government.
At the Federal level, he was appointed the Minister of Power, Works and Housing in 2015 for a tenure which lasted till 2019; and serving presently as the Minister of Works and Housing – 2019 to date.
Fashola, who is now 58 was born on 28 June, 1963. He practiced as a lawyer to the height of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He served two terms as Governor of Lagos State from May 29, 2007 to May 29, 2015. As a candidate of the Action Congress party, now known as the All Progressives Congress, Fashola succeeded Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on 14 April 2007 and was sworn in on 29 May 2007. Fashola was re-elected on 26 April 2011. On November 11th 2015, he was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to be the Minister of Power, Works and Housing; he was reappointed Minister of Works & Housing on 21 August 2019.
Legal Career
Fashola was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in November 1988 after completing the professional training programme at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos which he undertook between 1987 and 1988. His legal career of over one and a half decades, commenced in the law Firm of Sofunde, Osakwe, Ogundipe and Belgore, where he cut his legal teeth as a litigator over such wide-ranging areas of specialisation such as, intellectual property (registration of trade marks), commercial law, covering general contracts, company activities, mergers, acquisitions, right issues, ownership of shares and equity of corporations, as well as land disputes, criminal law and chieftaincy matters, in all of which he has come to acquire appreciable expertise and vast experience.
Fashola, a Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has been variously honoured with awards and certificates of merit including the Distinguished Alumnus Award conferred on him by the University of Benin Alumni Association in recognition of contributions to the Alumnus association and humanity. He is also a recipient of Lagos State public service club Platinum Award for outstanding contribution towards development. As well as “Alliance for Democracy Igbogbo Bayeku Local Government Award” in recognition of activities towards the success of the party.
Babatunde Fashola is also a Patron of the Law Students Association of the University of Benin and he is the second law graduate from the University of Benin and the first member of the Nigerian Law School graduating class of 1988 to be conferred with the professional rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Fashola is also the First ever Chief of Staff to be so honoured. Babatunde Fashola is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the International Bar Association and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
Antecedents in Office and Political Career
Fashola served as the Chief of Staff to his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Fashola, had during his tenure as Chief of Staff, also dubbed as the Honourable Commissioner to the Governor’s office. Babatunde Fashola was the first person to hold both offices simultaneously.
Babatunde Raji Fashola commenced a four-year tenure as the Executive Governor of Lagos State in Nigeria on 29 May 2007. In June 2007, Babatunde Fashola appointed former Inspector General of Police Musiliu Smith head of the Lagos State Security council, a body charged with taking a holistic look at the anatomy of crime in the state.
Babatunde Fashola vowed to rehabilitate the state’s public schools, long being neglected with time. Among the schools being habilitated included the governor’s alma mater, Birch Freeman High School, which is located at a busy metropolis of Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria.
The biggest task Babatunde Raji Fashola faced in office as the Governor of Lagos State was his visionary project to transform Lagos into a mega city, the first of its kind in Lagosian history. Although initialised under the former governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in June 2002, the mega project task accelerated under Fashola’s governorship. Both private and public sectors are involved in fulfilling the project.
The crucial part of the mega city project is the rehabilitation of Lagos’ infrastructures and districts. Formerly taken care of by the federal government, they were immediately neglected, as Abuja was declared Nigeria’s new capital since 1991. According to Lagos Rail Mass Transit, proposed light railways will be consisted of the outskirt blue-line and inner red-line destinations. As part of the project, the Badagry Expressway, which links Lagos directly to the south-eastern border of Benin Republic, is currently being rehabilitated by various contractors, with BRT and railway networks being established.
Another ambition is to recover lands at Victoria Island, being lost to erosion for decades.This artificial terrain is the location of the proposed Eko Atlantic City. This wad also to support housing project that would accommodate up to 25 million Lagosians by 2015, a population growth from 15 million that could turn Lagos into the world’s third largest city.
In May 2014, Fashola announced the compulsory use of life jackets on Lagos waterways. In a 2012 accident, ten children from Ijora Awori, Lagos State, drowned while they were being ferried to school, because they were not wearing life jackets.
Fashola’s achievements as Minister in the Federal Republic of Nigeria are on counts with commendable strides. The achievements have made some political pundits to consider him a marketable candidate who has potentials of ruling the Country.
