Sanwo-Olu’s inauguration: 3 days set aside for state-wide project commissioning in Lagos
….Sanwo-Olu has performed excellently – Omotoso
….970 roads, other iconic projects completed in first term, expect more, he says
By Moses Adeniyi
As the inauguration ceremony heralding the swearing-in of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for a second term in office kicked off on Sunday, enlisted among the series of activities lined up for the inauguration are commissioning of completed projects for which three days (Wednesday to Friday) have been set aside.
The Inauguration Committee set up by the Lagos State Government to plan activities around the inauguration Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat’s second term in office scheduled, among the activities lined up for the inauguration, the commissioning of completed projects across the State.
The commissioning of the projects spread across Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State would take three of the 11 days set aside for the maiden inauguration celebration.
At a press briefing during the weekend at Ikeja the State Capital to intimate plans for the inauguration ceremonies of Governor Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Hamzat’s second term in office, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso said the activities lined up for the inauguration are to celebrate the achievements of the first term of the Governor Sanwo-Olu led administration and the expectations of “A Greater Lagos Rising” – the thrust-slogan set for the second term.
“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.
According to him, the commissioning of the projects was incorporated as part of the 11 days long activities lined up for the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat inauguration in acknowledgement of achievements of the administration vis-a-vis promises of an improved performance with “A Greater Lagos Rising” anchor set for the incoming second term.
For Day one, Sunday (21st May, 2023), there was Youth Carnival and Robotic competition as People Living with Disability participated in the events in all the Lagos divisions
The event lined up for Day two (Today, 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 Matches 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.
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.
Some of the stride he mentioned include what he described as the sagacity of Sanwo-Olu in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic; completion of numerous abandoned/ongoing projects by previous administrations; starting and completion of new projects
Specifically, projects completed by the administration, which he touched on, include 970 roads – 34 roads in Kosofe, Somolu, Victoria Island and Ikoyi – and 15 bridges. In Ojokoro, 31 roads were completed.
On education, the administration, he said, trained 18000 teachers under the EKOEXCEL programme, set up two new universities, prevention of strike in universities of the State.
Other stride he mentioned include, four Mother and Child Centres built; completion of 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; completion of 18 housing projects.
Also were the the Blue Line; commencement of the Red Line on August 15, 2021; increase of ferries to 21; the Lagos Rice Mill Imota, among others.
“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 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.
“Our varsities never went on strike when it was fashionable to do so). 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.
According to him, it is for the achievements that the good people of Lagos came out in their numbers to cast their ballots for Sanwo-Olu on the March 18 gubernatorial election “to renew the mandate freely given to them four years ago to continue for another four year-term in office.”
Recall that the State Government had earlier announced the composition of the inauguration Central Committee, headed by Mr. Tayo Ayinde, the Chief of Staff to Governor Sanwo-Olu.
Sub committees set up to ensure that every area of the activities is well taken care of include: Events and Venue sub-committee, Protocol and Logistics sub-committee, Safety, Health and Environment sub-committee, Security and Traffic Management/Transportation sub-committee, Mobilisation sub-committee, Cohesion sub-committee and Media and Publicity sub-committee.
According to Omotoso, all the sub-committees have worked collaboratively to ensure the success of the inauguration.
