Nigerian NewsDirect Man-of-the-Year: Legendary strides of Sanwo-Olu in 2020
By Moses Adeniyi
Questions as to whether Lagosians made the right choice or not in 2019 at the polls of the gubernatorial contest of Lagos State has come to better light with clear equations. The practical evaluations of the governance of the State in about 19 months glaringly shows the evidence of the assessment of piloting the state’s affairs in the light of the standards of what a responsive and responsible government should be. The arrival of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos State seat of power was on itself a phenomenon of brave adventure, which to many appears on the platter of proven track records. His profiles in private and public offices have been noted to have always been filled with outstanding performances. Coming to the seat of power as the Governor of the State of Excellence (Africa’s most complex city), no less is expected from him.
The experience so far has therefore reflected with clear results that the right man came at the right time. Year 2020 has been one coloured with several dynamic challenges which requires only a man working at the peak of dexterous managerial capacities to stand to pilot a state already saturated with arrays of complexities. The challenges that confronted Lagos State in 2020 was manifestly a storm that if handled by a mediocre in government, the State risk staring at its woes in the present. However, the reality of the standing and growing posture of the 5th largest economy in Africa draws relevance to the acknowledgement of the helmsman steering the wheel of the State.
The responsiveness of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to State matters has indisputably been reckoned with, to be second to none. Many have continued to wonder what a “workaholic man” whose firmness over state matters gives full response to matters as they unfold without lacuna and time lapses. The utmost responsiveness to matters of urgent importance and the effective grip on accountability with proper communication to the public exhibited by Governor Sanwo-Olu, has been recognised without second thought with the reality of the scarcity of such dexterous approaches in the governance of States across the Nigerian Federation.
The promptness of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu since an unexpected pandemic struck Lagos in March has received global commendations. Against the projection of a deadly rampage tied to the congesting population of Lagos, the astonishing feat achieved in recording less than two (2) per cent fatalities from the deadly virus is a feat which has attracted global attention, placing Lagos at the modelling vantage of COVID-19 management. The incontestable records within Africa, significantly positions Governor Sanwo-Olu as the “Most Responsive COVID-19 Incident Commander” in the African region. The State’s containment strategies have been observed to be rolled out and implemented with monitoring efficacy that guarded against a catastrophic blow.
While the administration of the COVID-19 management lasted with Lagos as the epicenter, the coming of the #ENDSARS protests with its strongest impact felt on Lagos, owing to the complexity of the State, was another force that proved the prowess of Governor Sanwo-Olu in his dexterity to firmly manage State affairs. The ability to simultaneously handle the situation with prompt and responsive communication with the angry youths, amidst the demands of several other pressing State matters, remains evidence of built capacity to manage State affairs.
Economic Records
The manifest records of grandeur which have come to establish the fact that Governor Sanwo-Olu is the “Man of the Year” for 2020 is the development strides recorded in the State, irrespective of the chains of challenges that confronted the State in the year 2020. Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Public Private Partnership policies ideology have yielded fruitful results in the development course of the State’s economy, finding expression in the THEMES Agenda; the Administration’s policy thrust.
The track records of the ease-of-doing business enhanced within the short period of Governor Sanwo-Olu in office, has sustained the State as the headquarters of Capital Investment in Nigeria, despite the economic downturn owing to the lockdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. As at the third quarter (Q3) of 2020, the report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed Lagos state as the top destination of Capital Investment in Nigeria. The State alone contributed about 82.7 per cent or $1.21 billion out of the total $1.46 billion capital importation into the Country in Q3 2020.
According to the report, “By destination of Investment, Lagos state emerged as the top destination of capital investment in Nigeria in Q3 2020 with $1.21billion. This accounted for 82.71 of the total capital inflow in Q3 2020.” In the second quarter (Q2) amidst the turbulence of COVID-19 lockdown, Lagos similarly by ranking emerged the top destination of Capital Investment in Nigeria in Q2 2020, with $1.130.49m of the entire $1.294.94m value of Capital Investment into Nigeria. This accounted for 87.30% of the total capital inflow in Q2 2020.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Administration has pragmatically leveraged on the private sector, which controls about 80 per cent of the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as a crucial strategy in the drive to bridge the infrastructure gap and build the smart city dream, encapsulated in the THEMES Agenda.
Profile on Projects Across Sectors
The profile of commendable projects recorded in works, housing, agriculture, and education sectors among others, even while the COVID-19 and #ENDSARS protests challenges lasted in 2020, is a clear reflection of utmost readiness and capacity to manage pressing challenges while other State demands do not suffer. With the continuous expenditure and commitment to critical projects in 2020, no less than 377 projects spanning across works, housIng, agriculture, and tourism sector now awaits commissioning in few months in 2021. The projects targeted at improving development drive in the State in line with the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration’s policy thrust — THEMES Agenda, will no doubt contribute to the profile of enhancing conditions of living in the State.
These projects as gathered, include the 52 Tonne Per Hour Imota Rice Mill, in Ikorodu; the Pen Cinema Junction Flyover and Ramp in Agege; the Restored Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos Island; the Ariyo (Mile 10) – Ira – Muwo Bridge Phase 1 in Ojo; the remodeled Youth Center in Abesan, Ipaja.
The housing projects include the Lagos State Affordable Public Housing Scheme in Idale, Badagry, comprising 252 units of 2-bedroom bungalows; the LagosHOMS Housing Project in Iponri, comprising 132 housing units; the LagosHOMS Housing Project in Lekki Phase 2, comprising 84 housing units; the LagosHOMS Housing Project Phase 2B in Igbogbo, comprising 84 housing units. Recall that as at May 2020 alone, marking just one year in office, no less than 1,576 home units had been delivered by the Governor Sanwo-Olu led administration.
Recall that between May 2019 and May 2020, no less than 37 road projects were delivered, in addition to repairs and sectional rehabilitation works done on more than 354 roads across the metropolis. Most recently in September 2020, the Governor had commissioned the popular Victoria Island-Lekki Traffic Circulation Project, which was flagged off in December 2019 as a Public Infrastructure Improvement Partnership (PIIP) programme in conjunction with Access Bank Plc.
In May 2020, Governor Sanwo-Olu had commissioned no less than 18 projects across sectors of the State which included a concrete jetty with shoreline protection at Ikorodu; rehabilitation, upgrading and construction of road projects at Somolu, Mushin and Badagry; over 500 houses and apartments in various parts of the state and construction of classroom blocks in both primary and secondary schools in different local government council areas of the state.
A breakdown of the commendable projects completed and commissioned in 2020 by May include the 360-unit Lagos Homes, Ikorodu; Igbogbo Baiyeku IIB Estate, Lekki; Courtland Villas on Femi Okunnu Estate which constitute enhancement on the stride to reducing the housing deficit in the State.
In the education sector, Governor Sanwo-Olu had virtually commissioned completed classroom blocks in Maya Secondary School, Ikorodu; Eva Adelaja Junior School, Bariga; and Saviour Primary School, Ifako-Ijaiye, among others.
Completed works also commissioned within the same period include the Concrete Jetty in Baiyeku, Ikorodu; Aradagun-Ajido-Epeme Road in Badagry; and the Maryland Signalisation project. The approach to address challenges of bad roads and ease of movements across the State by mobilizing eight multi-national construction firms and the Public Works Corporation to carry out repairs on about 116 deplorable major roads and critical highways in the State has been reckoned to be commendable. The initiative to kick start the construction of the 37-Kilometer-long 4th Mainland bridge which has reached advanced stage through negotiation with local and international construction giants, remains efforts in 2020 by the Administration which have attracted commendation.
On agriculture, no fewer than 2,743 farmers in the state in August 2020 were empowered with agricultural inputs and assets under the 2020 Agricultural Value Chains Empowerment Programme initiative. Farmers, agro-processors, fishermen, butchers and marketers had received significant boost in their ventures through the Initiative. This is just as no fewer than 800 rice farmers were empowered with preferred high yielding FARO 44 seeds, brand new high quality knapsack sprayers, rain boots and farm coats.
Projects which include the provision of 149-bed space Maternal and Childcare Centre (MCC) in Alimosho, two additional MCCs in Badagry and Epe; increase in funding of public schools across the state; rehabilitation of several public school buildings; graduation and empowerment of no-less than 4,885 youths from the State’s Skill Acquisition Centres; several other empowerment schemes under the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), have been on the profile of laudable records. The Administration had in November 2020, commenced a structured Training and Capacity Development Programme for 2,200 of its workforce across all cadres in the 27 Secondary healthcare facilities of the State towards effective service delivery.
On security and governance, applause has been given to efforts to boost security architecture through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), to strengthen the capacity of the State to respond to security breaches timely for assurance of the safety of Lagosians.
Distinguished Leadership Qualities
While the paucity of responsive leadership in Nigeria has been sending a dampening of hope to many Nigerians, the commendable firmness of Governor Sanwo-Olu to governance have begun to restore light that there are still charismatic leaders with evidence of vibrant acumen to drive government in line with the best global standards. The civility, accountability, and openness of Governor Sanwo-Olu have been reckoned with as leadership qualities which bear relevance to the demands of 21st Century liberal democratic principles and practices. The virtue of continuity which has been found to be lagging in Nigerian political culture, have found space of life with Governor Sanwo-Olu in his approach to governance. Against the usual practice of abandonment syndrome of projects of a previous administration by a successive one, quite a number of uncompleted projects left by the immediate past Akinwunmi Ambode administration have been continued to completion. The gesture has also been extended to the far end of abandoned projects which were left uncompleted by the Raji Fashola led administration.
The personality of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State speaks to the reality of what is demanded of a 21st Century democratic leader. The Governor is one among very few reformed personalities whose virtues of sacrificial leadership embellished with the character of openness, inclusiveness, accountability and thoughtfulness gives breath to the sense of true leadership.
As Nigerians begin to lose faith in the leadership pattern of power-drunk selfish individuals who spend their time in office and utilise the same for personal self-aggrandizement, the arrival of Governor Sanwo-Olu as the Captain steering the affairs of Lagos State gives breath to the hope that there are still a few amongst numbers who still nurture the feelings of humanity when assuming the seat of power. While the unexpected circumstances posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and #ENDSARS protests have come to utter strains of disburbances into the broadbased development plans of the Governor Sanwo-Olu led Administration which is envisioned towards transforming Lagos from a mega-city dream to a Smart-City of 21st century economy, the emblem of a concerned leader who is working round the clock to see that circumstances do not truncate the vision could be sensed and perceived even from afar. Those who have had the opportunity to get close to the Governor would certainly tell of the heat of the passion they feel from the Governor’s heartbeat to transform situations to the betterment of the common man. Eyes that have seen will tell of Mr Sanwo-Olu’s socialist philosophy for the welfare of citizens. It is therefore on the compendium of all the evidence of these dexterity, passion and unbeatable charismatic leadership, that it is deserving and incontestible that Nigerian NewsDirect announces Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Executive Governor of Lagos State as the “2020 Man of the Year”.
