Six years on, can Fashola sustain the tempo?

Gov Fashola

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola SAN recently gave account of his stewardship in the last 1,800 days to Lagosians, who commended his achievements and highlighted the areas the administration should improve upon, reports Deputy Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU.

 Since the mantle of leadership fell on his shoulders, Babatunde Fashola, a former Chief of Staff under the Tinubu administration, has been building on the foundation laid by his political leader in Lagos State. There has been no lull in performance. This, according to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has made Lagos State a model and Fashola government a reference point for others in the country. 

However, the state has become another mini-country, shouldering enormous responsibilities as a supposedly haven for citizens seeking greener pastures. The former federal capital territory, which has been denied a special status, hosts Nigerians from over 250 ethnic nationalities. The huge population and pressure on the infrastructural facilities have increased the challenges of governance.

The challenging unemployment index triggered by the collapse of the manufacturing sector has turned warehouses and bandoned factory premises to worship places. Housing has remained a major headache to the state, despite government’s spirited efforts. The Fashola administration has an unprecedented record of heavy investment in security, but crimes have not taken a fainal flight from the state. Water schemes have been commissioned by the governor, but residents complain about dry taps once in a while. 

Across the 20 local government areas and the 37 local council development areas, rehabilitation projects are on going in public schools. Since this achievement is not adequately publicised, many parents are not even aware of the turn-around maintenance in the schools. More classrooms are being built, yet it pales into a drop in the ocean, owing to the ever-increasing population of pupils now gravitating towards government schools.

As people gathered to vet the governor’s scorecard, it was evident that, in spite of the celebration of 1,800 days, Lagos had been thrown into turbulence by the resident doctors’ strike, which paralysed public hospitals. Government’s pleas to them fell on deaf ears. As the doctors apparently shunned dialogue, unless their demands were met, government also turned the hit on them, announcing their sacc and replacement with new doctors.

Fashola has been unrelenting in his infrastructure battle across the state. More roads are either being built or rehabilitated. But residents point out the stride is not being complemented at the grassroots by council chairmen, who hinge their lack of performance on limited resources.

Lagos monarch, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who was at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium at the Alausa, during the presentation of the “1,800 Days in Office”, lamented neglect of the nation’s economic hub by successive Federal Governments, following the relocation of the political capital from Lagos to Abuja. 

“The ports in Lagos are critical to the nation’s fortune. Here is the commercial nerve centre, but President Jonathan has not fulfilled his campaign promises to Lagosians”, he said, stressing that the state is in need of federal assistance to cope with the challenges of catering for diverse Nigerians living in the state.

Fashola, who was accompanied by commissioners, special advisers, legislators, party leaders and other aides, submitted his administration to scrutiny. Since he dedicated the 1,000 days ceremony to professionals, it was witnessed by artisans, peasants, plumbers and other members of the informal sector; accountants, engineers, doctors, bankers, architects, town planners and other members of the formal sector.

With delight and sense of fulfillment, the governor told the gathering that his administration has not let the state down. 

“We have completed and commissioned a number of projects, starting from the Lagos Archives Bureau to the headquarters of the Office of Public Defender, Security and Command Centre, roads in Adelabu, Ogunlana and Akerele in Surulere,Iponri Mini-Water Works, and Maternal and Child Care Centre, Gbaja,” Fashola said.

In Agege, a Lagos suburb,  the government is making progress with 14 out of the 15 inner roads earmarked for rehabilitation. Also, in Badiya, Ijora area, 16 community roads are being rehabilitated. Fashola said that he had completed 11 drainages in Lekki, adding that attention has now shifted to Agege, Somolu and other parts devastated by last year’s rain.

In the last 100 days, the state commemorated the 10th anniversary of the bomb blast which wrecked havoc on the state with the contract award for the construction of the Ajao-Ejigbo Link Bridge. But government has problems constructing similar bridge and roads linking Ijegun, Isheri-Oshun and Isolo/Jakande Estate. “This project is enormous. It is a 5.5 kilometre road with a bridge of 500 metres that will require 1,018 piles driven to a depth of 19.5 metres. This project will cost not less than N10 billion, which we are working assiduously to provide so that work can continue”, said the governor.

Fashola also spoke on plans to alleviate the suffering of those plying Mile 12-Ikorodu Road, a 13.19 kilometre road, which includes several bridges. This project will cost N30 billion.  “Tenders have been called for which have been reviewed by the Lagos State Tenders Board, and very shortly, the final award will be made,” he added. 

To the delight of Lagosians, the governor disclosed that contracts for 177 inner roads have been awarded statewide. This is in addition to contracts for the construction of 17 new schools, renovation of 282 classrooms in seven schools, renovation and furnishing of 44 science laboratories, and provision of 15,000 students’ furniture and 1,986 teachers’ furniture.

Housing, which is capital intensive, is a critical issue in Lagos, a water-lodged environment where land owners threaten government with litigation over court cases. Fashola has managed, nevertheless, to provide 1,980 housing units. His efforts are being stalled by communities in Agbowa, where certain people have taken his administration to court over the land that had been acquired many years ago. “The implication is that the 660 housing units meant for people in that community cannot start, until the case is resolved,” he lamented.

The governor alerted Lagosians to the temporary discomfort that may accompany construction and rehabilitation of roads. In utter sensitivity to cries of despondency from the grassroots, Fashola has constructed  297 local government roads and work is on-going in another 103 roads. To improve the traffic situation, there is an increase in the number of street lights, lane marking and provision of other infrastructure.

Fashola said, despite these efforts, maximun cooperation has not been forthcoming from transporters, from motorcyclists to truck and trailer drivers, who violate laws by turning the highways into parking lots. He promised to bring violators to book. 

besides, he labelled those fond of looting cables for street lights as security risks that must not go unpunished.

The governor drew further applause when he announced that LASUTH, following the flagship of its new medical facility, has successfully performed a coronary artery bypass graft to save the life of a Lagosian, Cynthia Onwurah, who may either have been taken abroad at great expense or lost her life. Fashola disclosed that pensioners in Lagos would not suffer again, disclosing that N1,720,596,964.28 bond certificates have been issued to 350 retirees, following verification in their local government areas.

Fashola told the stakeholders that the state has fought unemployment by employing 647 sanitation managers to keep the schools clean, adding that he has also increased the monthly wages of street sweepers. 

On the issuance of new Certificates of Occupancy (CofO), the governor said: ‘The new certificate will be more secure, tamper and forge-proof document that is bar-coded and electronically readable.”

The governor spoke on plans to revolutionalise education by also emphasising vocational training. Also, he stressed that, in the last 100 days, the state recorded 65 per cent budgetary performance. He recalled that, during the recent Lagos State Economic Summit, the focus were agriculture, transportation and housing, urging the professionals to tap the vast investment opportunities in this sector.

The Publicity Secretary of the ACN in Lagos, Joe Igbokwe, who thanked the governor for doing the party proud, advised him to sustain the tempo of achievements to the end. “When you are a governor in Lagos State, it is like you are catering for 36 states. Look at the way people troop into Lagos everyday. How many of them go back? Therefore, Lagos deserves a special status,” Igbokwe said.

However, the party’s vice chairman, Alhaji Akanni Seriki-Bamu, highlighted “some areas of neglect in the state, which should be covered”. He said certain rural areas are suffering from years of neglect, urging Fashola to alleviate their suffering. 

Citing Epe as an example, he said: “There is no infrastructural development in Epe. It is the most backward local government in the state. Poverty is growing in leaps and bounds in Epe. Our children now leave home for Ikorodu to reside and build houses there.The government is trying, but I demand for more attention for Epe.” 

Like Igbokwe, Seriki-Bamu flayed the Federal Government over its indifference to the plight of Lagos, despite warnings by world bodies that the city state of Lagos is critical to its economic survival. 

Oba Akiolu shared his feeling. He lamented that federal roads in Lagos have become death traps which the state government cannot ignore. 

“That is why I continue to insist that President Goodluck Jonathan should fulfill the promises he made to Lagosians. As the former federal capital of Nigeria, Lagos deserves better assistance and recognition,” the monarch said.