Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

Eight months ago, precisely on May 29, 2019, Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu assumed office as the 15th Executive Governor of Lagos State, succeeding Akinwunmi Ambode, whom he defeated in the governorship primaries of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sanwo-Olu’s emergence as the governor of Lagos state was like a fairy tale story. While busy discharging his duties as the Managing Director/CEO of Lagos State Property Development Corporation (LSPDC), some party elders in the Lagos APC, especially the Mandate Movement who felt slighted by Ambode’s policies that they claim had gravely injured their economic lifelines, approached him to pick the party’s governorship form.

Despite high-level interventions from prominent Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, the party elders wouldn’t budge on their determination that Ambode will not secure a second term in office. It was a situation that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos and national leader of APC couldn’t help as the leaders vowed to work against Ambode’s reelection if Tinubu decided to back him. The rest, they say is history.

The impression many political analysts had was that Sanwo-Olu will be a puppet who will dance to the tunes of the political leaders in Lagos. They believe he will not want to toe the path of his predecessor who was dealt a lethal blow by the political leaders in Lagos APC and as such will dance to their beats. He literally prove them wrong!

Sanwo-Olu’s litmus test came even before he was sworn-in as governor. He had already penciled Gboyega Akosile, a thoroughbred, versatile and highly experienced journalist who effectively managed his media team during the electioneering campaign as his Chief Press Secretary (CPS). However some hawks approached the governor, saying the party will be the one to nominate the CPS.

In deference to them, Sanwo-Olu, a day after his inauguration named Akosile as his Deputy Chief Press Secretary. This set tongues wagging especially among journalists in the state as to who will emerge the CPS to the governor. Having waited for few days and realising the ulterior motives of those who want to foist a spokesman on him, Sanwo- Olu on August 21 2019 confirmed Akosile as the CPS. By defying the odds and sticking to his guns, many hailed the governor’s decision as a masterstroke given how effectively Akosile has managed the governor’s relationship with the media since assumption of office.

In choosing his cabinet, Sanwo- Olu also places emphasis on professionalism above party affiliations. Though the party leaders in the state made some input in the list of Commissioners and Special Advisers, majority of the people who made the list are technocrats who were sought by Sanwo-Olu across the length and breadth of Lagos, even overseas to come and join him in the task of taking the Centre of Excellence to greater heights.

The governor, like most of his colleagues upon assumption of office also experienced some teething problems but gradually, he has managed to stabilised and some of the problems are being frontally addressed. One of the challenges he inherited from his predecessor is the loads of refuse that littered the streets of Lagos and potholes that ‘adorned’ most of the roads even in Alausa, the seat of power. Sanwo-Olu has effectively addressed these two major challenges through the emergency declaration on Lagos roads and waste management.

Speaking on the governor’s achievements in the last 200 days, Gbenga Omotoso, the Commissioner for Information said the Sanwo-Olu administration has been fulfilling its campaign promises, despite the daunting challenges.

He added that the administration has lived up to expectation in the areas of transportation and management, health and environment, education and technology, making Lagos a 21st Century economy, and security and governance.

According to him, the agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is anchored on ‘THEME’ which stands for Traffic management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, and Entertainment and Tourism which he said the governor is committed to.

“The THEMES agenda of the government will be achieved. Under the First Pillar; Transportation and Traffic Management, various steps were taken to aggressively address the challenge of bad roads and ease movement across the State. Eight Multi-national construction firms were mobilised to carry out massive repair on critical highways in what we christened Operation 116.

This was followed by extensive palliative and maintenance works, especially by the Public Works Corporation, which has rehabilitated hundreds of roads and cleared several drainage channels in various parts of the State.This was taken further with the flag-off of the reconstruction and upgrading of strategic roads in Ikorodu.

The project comprises 6.05 kilometres Phase One road from Itamaga to Ewu Elepe town; 7.8 kilometres Owutu-Agric-Ishawo road Phase One and Bola Tinubu-Igbogbo-Imota road”.

“The Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is bringing about a renaissance in the state’s public health sector. Under Pillar H, which stands for Health and Sanitation, the 149-bed Maternal and Childcare Centre, MCC, in Alimosho General Hospital was commissioned.

The specialist centre, facilitated through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, is evidence of the working partnership between the Federal and the State Governments”

The third Pillar E is an acronym for Education and Technology. In the education sector, a new primary classroom block, with computer laboratories and outdoor recreational facilities, was commissioned at Ajegunle. The functional school building is not just a model, it signposts what is to come in this important sector.

The rehabilitation of public schools has begun, with the inauguration of a Special Committee. No fewer than 5000 primary school teachers will be trained to complete the three-pronged education strategy of fixing the infrastructure, fixing the curriculum and fixing the manpower through recruitment, training and development of teachers.

In making Lagos a Twenty First Century Economy, which is the fourth Pillar, M, the administration witnessed a milestone in infrastructural development,t with the signing of the six hundred and twenty nine million dollar funding of the Lekki Seaport project. Funded by China Development Bank, the project will invigorate the Lagos economy and push it up in the index of largest economies in the world.

Through the last pillar S, which stands for Security and Governance, the administration has kept its promise for continuity by holding this year’s edition of the annual Town Hall Meeting on Security. Stakeholders came together to review the successes recorded in past years and strategise against emerging security challenges. As it is the practice, the event was also used to appreciate individuals and corporate organisations for supporting the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, LSSTF.

Many political analysts believe that one advantage Sanwo-Olu enjoys is having a loyal and dependable ally in the person of Engr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor. Alongside, the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the trio are always together at major inspection sites and events , a testimony to Sanwo-Olu’s belief that he will not make the governance of Lagos a one-man show but as a collective responsibility.

During the January 19 pipeline fire in Abule Egba, Hamzat visited the scene of the incident as Sanwo-Olu was on a week-long working visit to the United Kingdom (UK). Upon his arrival to the country on Friday night, the governor on Saturday visited the victims of the inferno who are resettled in Igando Emergency Relief Camp in Alimosho by the State Government. On Sunday, he also visited the Amu Timber market in Mushin which was razed down by fired at the weekend.

As Sanwo-Olu recently said “We can do a lot more. A lot of things are happening in the backroom. We don’t need to make a lot of noise about it. What Lagosians want is results. It’s a marathon, it is not a sprint. I can assure you that Lagos will not only be greater, Lagos will see a level of development that it has never seen before.”

https://www.independent.ng/how-has-sanwo-olu-fared-in-eight-months/

He has done nothing. He's just sharing money

Samwo olu has done well

It seems he would be a good governor.
He is trying. But should work harder.

By the way, we have a very good governor in kwara state.

Thanks to buhari and apc that gave us the Otoge man. Thank you apc.

I don't reside in Lagos but I get to visit Lagos often and I can say the problem of Nigeria and her states stems from failed planning.
Lagos is a failed state in terms of planning, but what is the government doing?

And then it's quite unfortunate that, in Nigeria, we experience the disadvantages of democracy more than the advantages.
1. Electing anyone into power even if we can't test his knowledge of critical thinking, economies, security and diplomacy. We vote based on who has money and party.

2. Excessive sympathy on the people. "They voted me into power, so if we take the right step, I'll hurt them''.

Each time I'm in Lagos, I'm usually angry because no matter how much we praise a governor, none of them has been able to offer a lasting solution as regards traffic management.

If you are pressed in a bus in Lagos, be rest assured that you will poop right there because there's no escaping from traffic.
And then I begin to wonder why Lagos traffic has never reduced.
Does it mean that the government doesn't have the power to demolish encroaching properties and build new lanes?

Abuja residents will forever be thankful to El-rufai because he solved the traffic problems of abuja in a short time as an "ordinary FCT minister"

-Let the state governments review their master plans if it's no longer workable.
-Build underground drainage in respect to the future
-Enforce movement times for each vehicles using plate numbers and their types.

People will grumble but they will thank you later.

[s]

Officialgarri:
I don't reside in Lagos but I get to visit Lagos often and I can say the problem of Nigeria and her states stems from failed planning

[/s]

Hasn't really disappointed. I score him 6/10 so far

He shared to you? Havent gotten my own share oooo

OcVoice:
He has done nothing. He's just sharing money

hisexcellency34:
He shared to you? Havent gotten my own share oooo

I weep for Negro area

Sanwo-Olu needs to wake up. Lacklustre performance so far given that we are talking about Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat tag team, a.k.a two governors in one. No new policies in critical areas. No new initiatives in improving education and health. No new ideas for flooding control given that soon rainy season will arrive in its glory.

It is little less than a year in office so I am still hopeful they will improve state of things

It's normal in a megacity like Lagos. You want to compare Lagos to Abakaliki or Ado Ekiti??

Officialgarri:
I don't reside in Lagos but I get to visit Lagos often and I can say the problem of Nigeria and her states stems from failed planning.
Lagos is a failed state terms of planning, but what is the government doing?

And then it's quite unfortunate that, in Nigeria, we experience the disadvantages of democracy more than the advantages.
1. Electing anyone into power even if we can't test his knowledge of critical thinking, economies, security and diplomacy. We vote based on who has money and party.

2. Excessive sympathy on the people. "They voted me into power, so if we take the right step, I'll hurt them''.

Each time I'm in Lagos, I'm usually angry because no matter how much we praise a governor, none of them has been able to offer a lasting solution as regards traffic management.

If you are pressed in a bus in Lagos, be rest assured that you will poop right there because there's no escaping from traffic.
And then I begin to wonder why Lagos traffic has never reduced.
Does it mean that the government doesn't have the power to demolish encroaching properties and build new lanes?

Abuja residents will forever be thankful to El-rufai because he solved the traffic problems of abuja in a short time as an "ordinary FCT minister"

-Let the state governments review their master plans if it's no longer workable.
-Build underground drainage in respect to the future
-Enforce movement times for each vehicles using plate numbers and their types.

People will grumble but they will thank you later.

I think he has woken up from his slumber..

He has started road rehabilitation in some parts of Lagos that I drive on daily..

In fact, presently, my street is experiencing drainage enlargement and road rehabilitation..

Given time, I think Mr. Sanwo will work

I rate him 2/10...a very sleeping and lazy governor...

1. Roads are bad
2. Poor security...
3. Traffic on d rise..
4. No new policy to address issues in health and education sector ..



Lagos has turn scalar......

Without the train, he is a failure im waiting if by next year I don't see the train working I will start my own campaign.

Bros na wetin What then will you score Yahaya Bello?

REDshouse:
I rate him 2/10...a very sleeping and lazy governor...

1. Roads are bad
2. Poor security...
3. Traffic on d rise..
4. No new policy to address issues in health and education sector ..



Lagos has turn scalar......

Sanwolu is yet to get to the class and pace AMBODE set, we are still watching.

hisexcellency34:
Bros na wetin What then will you score Yahaya Bello?

I only score base on revenue per development index...

Do u know how much Lagos raked in per day/month/year and compare with the standard of infrastructure we are getting ... and lots of white elephant projects....

At this century we are having worst road networks with potholes.... street light not fully functional...owomida boys filled every junctions... Lastma arresting private car owners but leaving commercial drivers to perpetrate all forms of traffic offenses...etc...

I agree with you

REDshouse:
I only score base on revenue per development index...

Do u know how much Lagos raked in per day/month/year and compare with the standard of infrastructure we are getting ... and lots of white elephant projects....

At this century we are having worst road networks with potholes.... street light not fully functional...owomida boys filled every junctions... Lastma arresting private car owners but leaving commercial drivers to perpetrate all forms of traffic offenses...etc...

This reads more like a propaganda piece for image bolstering rather than an objective question.

Let your works speak for you, not some paid media piece

He has spent 7 months and 2 weeks pointing while the other 2 weeks he spent constructing wacky roads

Go and see the quality of roads the fool is constructing in Ikeja

He is trying his best on roads and sanitation

He has done a lot in serving Jagaban. I am sure Tinubu is pleased cos he has rubbed his hands more than Fashola and Ambode combined within few months in government. That alone is a great achievement.

Worst governor after Yeye Bello

He has been up and doing, paying the highest minimum wage in the country; even higher than what federal government offers. Expanding roads and decongesting blockages that always cause gridlock on Lagos roads. Banning Okada and Marwa from plighting some roads; thereby preventing the miscreants from waging havoc, so far so good Sanwo-Olu is performing. I'm

No comment! He's struggling...

ok

S

failure