Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun sign MoU on infrastructures, taxation, others for joint development
…charges other State Governors on greater collaboration
By Moses Adeniyi
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has signed a Joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Joint Development Commission to facilitate economic development in both States through harmonised policies on infrastructures, agriculture, and taxation, among others.
The Joint Memorandum of Understanding signed by the duo on Monday, is a sustainable development agenda under which Lagos and Ogun States will combine resources to meet the present socio-economic needs and prepare for the future.
Areas where the synergy enivisions include Infrastructural development, (the development of boundary town roads, water works, mass transportation); as well as Revenue and Taxation (including PAYE remittances, and boundary town revenue management and collection).
Other areas encapsulated in the Joint Memorandum of Understanding include: Trade and investment; Resolution of boundary disputes; Security (including intelligence sharing and gathering); Environmental and physical planning activities (including urban renewal, emergency and disaster management, inland waterways management and traffic management); and Agriculture/food security.
The implementation, it was gathered, would take effect following the formal establishment of a Joint Development Commission with the approval of both the Lagos and Ogun States Houses of Assembly.
According to Governor Sanwo-Olu at the signing occasion of the MoU, at the Ogun State Capital, Abeokuta, the next step on the development is to establish a Joint Committee that will implement the terms of the Joint Memorandum of Understanding.
In Governor Sanwo-Olu’s word, the Memorandum of Understanding is “a game changer that will transform the urban agglomeration that Lagos State has become.
“We are driven by the desire to stimulate socio-economic growth, bridge development gaps and ensure that Lagos State’s megacity status is complemented by pervasive infrastructural development even in boundary towns.”
According to him, the Memorandum of Understanding precedes the Joint Development Commission that will be established to mutually tackle some of the issues prevalent in key economic sectors like transportation, the environment, housing, health, infrastructure, and security.
“The emergence of Lagos as a megacity with a population of over 22 million people reaffirms the need for greater synergy with other States especially our immediate neighbours for sustainable socio-economic development.
“Our commitment to ensuring that Lagos becomes a 21st century economy makes it imperative for us to strategically collaborate with our closest neighbour, Ogun State, for the joint development of our States, the continued growth of our cities and the co-creation of value that encompasses good governance and urban regeneration,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
He mentioned that: “Regardless of the challenges, we are determined to build more livable and stable cities. Our goal is to build sustainable urban cities, where the residents of Lagos and Ogun States have a sense of belonging, embrace participatory governance, and recognize their role in achieving solid urban economies in both States.
“In light of current global practices in managing megacities, it has become obvious that the best way to accelerate socio-economic development in Lagos and Ogun States is by embracing a more collaborative approach for growth, development, and urban sustainability.”
The Governor who reiterated the call for greater collaboration among the 36 States of the Federation, said “the common goal is to provide good governance and make life more meaningful for the electorate, and that should be our driving force.
“We must never forget that, as Nigerians, we are all interconnected in one way or the other, and the fastest way to accelerate socio-economic growth and create an equitable society is by uniting to combat our challenges.”
He however urged the people of Lagos and Ogun States to key into the synergistic vision for both states.
“I am confident that the proper implementation of the collaborative projects captured in the Joint Memorandum of Understanding will stimulate economic growth, accelerate the transformation of both states, and lead to the integrated urbanization of our cities,” he assured.
According to the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission “is the obvious resolve and the deliberate and methodical efforts of two forward thinking Governors.”
“I called this bilateral event a success story because whereas in the past, there might have been some initiatives between our two States but this is the first time that we will have a formal, structured framework of bilateral engagement that will be legislative backed.
“What we are signing today, is a historic Memorandum of Understanding that takes cognizance of what had been envisioned, leading to the establishment of the Prof. Akin Mabogunje’s Committee on Redeployment of Lagos Megacity Region Plan in 2005-6,” he said.
He added that: “It is a mission accomplished and dream come true to put into action the thought about our two States forging a common alliance to jointly tackle issues bordering on security, sanitation, traffic and transportation, waste management, water supply, land use planning, infrastructure development and maintenance, urban renewal and slum upgrading for the mutual benefit of our people and the generality of Nigerians.
“All these development imperatives have to be streamlined for us to be serious and focused. Law is not just a mere tool for development, this Joint Development Commission will function better to sustain these common goals and there is no better time than now to deepen not only the relationship between our two states but within any contiguous States in the country.
“What is more. This MoU we are signing is a culmination of various efforts by State and non-state actors who have seen beyond the geographical delineation of our States.
“Whichever way we look at it, Ogun State has a larger percentage of the population over-spill into Lagos State as witnessed in many of our border communities in Ota; Akute Alagboole; Lambe; Ojodu; Agbado; Mowe; Warewa; Isheri and indeed all the eight Local Government Areas that share boundaries with Lagos State.
“This MoU, is therefore a manifestation of the common dream that the Nation’s largest economy and the Nation’s Industrial Capital are forging because both are deliberate, focused and methodical to governance.”
