Yours is just another one of the million and one things everybody and their mama think Fashola should be doing, but who is going to give Fashola money to do everything on everybody's laundry list?

Everybody want Fashola to build new schools and make the state's education system the best in the world, they want Fashola to build the best hospitals and make the state's health care system the best in the world, they want Fashola to build drainage system in every inch of Lagos state, they want Fashola build the best road and transportation system in the world, they even want Fashola to solve Nigeria's power problem.

It's just absurd what people dump on the man's lap as if he's some kind of abrakadabra magician with superior capabilities to turn one of the most crowded and infrastructure deprived and neglected societies in the world in less than for years. 

I don't know why it's so hard for people to balance their thoughts with basic sense of practicalities, realities and fair judgment.


Yours is just another one of the million and one things everybody and their mama think Fashola should be doing, but who is going to give Fashola money to do everything on everybody's laundry list?

Everybody want Fashola to build new schools and make the state's education system the best in the world, they want Fashola to build the best hospitals and make the state's health care system the best in the world, they want Fashola to build drainage system in every inch of Lagos state, they want Fashola build the best road and transportation system in the world, they even want Fashola to solve Nigeria's power problem.

It's just absurd what people dump on the man's lap as if he's some kind of abrakadabra magician with superior capabilities to turn one of the most crowded and infrastructure deprived and neglected societies in the world in less than for years. 

Rossikk:

Eko Ile said:

This is Pompeii, Ancient Rome, which thrived around 55 AD. As you can see, It's got sidewalks for pedestrians. What's our excuse in 2011 AD, for parading stinking open gutters?

Jul 27, 2011 - In a strategic move aimed at developing capacity to fully attend to the power needs of residents and explore the hydrocarbon, oil and gas potentials of the State, the Lagos State Government has upgraded its Office of Energy and Mineral Resources to a full-fledged Ministry.

The new Ministry, which was formerly a Department in the Governor's Office, is now headed by a seasoned Energy expert, Engineer Taofik Tijani, who was sworn in on Monday as Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources during the State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

The Ministry has since swung into action as its commissioner and other top government officials joined Governor Fashola in hosting a high profile Federal Government delegation led by the Minister for Power, Professor Bartholomew Nnaji, who was in Lagos to explore areas of collaboration between the State and the Federal Government in Power generation and distribution.

After a brief introductory meeting with Governor Fashola and other State officials, the delegation was led to the Island Power Project where they were received by the Project Manager, Independent Power Project for Lagos State , Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi, who conducted the delegation round and answered questions on the operations and modality for setting up the project. The delegation later went into a strategy meeting with the State Government.

Fielding questions from newsmen after the meeting, Governor Fashola explained that it was all about exploring every possibility to improve power supply and distribution in the State in fulfillment of the promise he made to Lagosians at the commissioning of the Lagos Island Power Project recently.

Governor Fashola, who said he has been talking to the Minister for Power and related agencies like the Nigerian Gas Company and others to come on board to find solution to the nation's Power problem, declared, "You will recall that when we opened the 10 Megawatts Island Power Project here, I promised Lagosians that we would do everything that we could to scale up the Power to 114 Megawatts".

The Governor, however, explained that gas supply has been standing on the way to the fulfillment of that promise adding that the Minister for Power has been quite business-like in his approach to finding a solution to the problem.

Governor Fashola, who also explained the background to the meeting to include ways to remove barriers to investment in the Power Sector, declared, "Power is an area where currently the business end, the distribution end is no go area for states. It is a disincentive to invest in Power. If you can't distribute the Power you generate, why should you make the investment?"

"I have been talking to the Minister for Works, Professor Barth Nnaji since his appointment. This is the first of many meetings that you will see. A few problems are within reach now that I believe we can solve. The Minister has expressed his commitment to do everything to remove the barriers that stand in the way of our partners. So, I am keeping the promise I made to explore every possibility to make things better for our people", the Governor said.

Also speaking with newsmen after the meeting, the Minister reiterated that the meeting was to explore ways of collaboration with Lagos State Government in a bidto solve the power problem in the country.

According to the Minister, "We will be solving aspects of the Power problem in phases. We won't say it will be solved today. The truth is for sure, the problem of Power will be solved in Lagos sooner than in a lot of places because Lagos is nicely located".

"Because Lagos is near the sea, that can hasten certain solutions that you won't be able to bring inland", the Minister said adding, "We are going to explore everything".

Also present during the occasion were Engineer Femi Oladunjoye, Executive Director, Negris (the consulting company handling the Island Power Project), officials of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) like Executive Director Transmission, Engnr. Olufemi Akinniranye, CEO, Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Engnr. Chris Akamauan, CEO, Eko Distribution Company, Engnr. Ayo Obilomo, Technical Assistant, Engnr. Simeon Atakulu among others as well as members of the State Executive Council like the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamza, his Commerce counterpart, Mrs. Olusola Oworu and the Special Adviser, Public Private Partnership, Mr. Ayo Gbeleyi, among other top government officials.

Jul 28, 2011 - Eighteen finalists drawn from Primary Schools, Junior Secondary Schools and Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State on Thursday slugged it out at the grand finale of the 2011 Be Road Friendly (BRF) Competition with the State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) asserting that the children have demonstrated deep understanding of the safety challenges on the highways with their performance.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, venue of the keenly contested event which produced six winners in the three categories and who won return tickets to London added that with the knowledge of the children on issues like street lights, sidewalks and zebra crossing, the objective of the competition has already been achieved and surpassed.

"In the future, we will be able to beat our chest that but for what we did between 2009 and 2011, in terms of road safety awareness, maybe we would not be able to sit down and reflect that if we had not started early, may be the battle would have been lost.

"It is gratifying that the bulk of the students are products of Lagos public secondary schools system. At their age, I could not do what they are doing today. When they reach my age, they will surpass what I am doing today", the Governor added.

Governor Fashola said the Be Road Friendly initiative is a project to empower young people very early in life to know what dangers and risks they could constitute to themselves and other road users by being reckless on the road, "We need a nation of people who know their rights and duties under the law and also know that if they act contrary they endanger themselves and others".

He described transportation as the cornerstone of modern civilization which has enormous impact on the quality of life that people live, adding that the progress which the State Government has made in public transportation is there for everyone to see.

The Governor reiterated his message to people who come to Lagos to do business that they must be law abiding, because if they choose not to, the law will track them, it will hunt them down and bring them to justice.

While saluting the members of the transport family like the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and partners like the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), the Governor said contrary to what people think , keeping traffic moving is a sheer miracle today.

"I salute you for all your efforts, I understand it and the challenge you face. It is not by prayers alone. It is happening through hours and hours of sheer hardwork, critical planning and investment in public transport infrastructure like street lights, motor vehicles, patrol vehicles, fuel, training, installation of street lights, lane marking and continuous training of LASTMA".

The Governor said as he speaks a total of 895 LASTMA men have just completed training on service delivery, courtesy on the road and efficiency at work, adding that another batch will soon go into training for better performance by the men.

Governor Fashola also acknowledged the collaboration of religious leaders across all the divides who have been assisting in mentoring the officers of LASTMA largely because of the conduct of some few officers which became an issue during the last elections, adding that the acts of a few was being used to paint the whole lot in tar.

He gave a commitment that Government will take the responsibility to always hear the other side and understand LASTMA because several times the men have been assaulted, abused and attacked in the course of their work.

While congratulating the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport Education, Dr Mariam Masha for the success of the advocacy programme, which has just been shortlisted for an international award, the Governor said the programme is the story of the success that comes out of Lagos time after time.

He said projects like the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has become a World Bank model for Public Transportation in Africa, just as the Security Trust Fund has been adopted as a United Nations model for crime prevention in urban setting, revealing that British Prime Minister who was in Lagos, recently was in the State to see its tax administration policy as part of his engagements in the country.

The Governor explained that given the odds that the State faces and the successes it is recording in public transportation, it is a sheer miracle that the State has achieved that much because the cities which it is compared with like Cairo, New York, London and Paris all have advanced means of transportation.

"They don't convey petrol on tankers by the road but on the rail. As long as the Federal Government cannot deliver rail line where millions of tonnes of goods from the ports can be moved will so many roads remain a challenge", he said.

Governor Fashola also explained that no other City State with a population as high as that of Lagos moves millions of tonnes of goods from the ports across the roads and still keeping the roads motorable and keeping traffic moving.

"It will be impossible to have pot hole free roads without an efficient rail system as it will continually shorten the lives of the roads", the Governor said.

The Lagos State helmsman also urged the LASTMA men and women to ensure at all times that they are firm but fair and very courteous to members of the public, adding that there uniform must not be used as an authority to brutalise people whose taxes are being used to pay their wages.

Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Transportation, Hon Kayode Opeifa had said with successful organization of the programme, the State has once again proved that there is hope for the younger ones.

He added that after three years of the competition, it has surpassed the target set for it at its inception and has just been nominated as one of the entries to change the face of public transportation in the world.

Also speaking through video conferencing one of the Ambassadors of the Competition, Miss Maria Anifowoshe who is undergoing a course in the United States of America courtesy of the Schools Advocacy Programme commended the finalists for their efforts which saw them making it to the final stages of the competition.

She also gave kudos to the State Governor for his efforts in promoting School Advocacy programme which has enabled her to be chosen to attend a programme in the United States.

A cheque to cover an all expenses paid trip to London for the six winners made up of the first place winner and first runner up in each of the three categories was later presented to the Governor and the lucky pupils by the officials of Arik Air.

Governor Fashola was also decorated with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety lapel by a Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations called Safety Beyond Borders for his leadership role in promoting road safety awareness.

The winners are Primary school category- Master Adedunmoye Ayomide from Oluwalogbon Primary School, Ketu, second position and Master Oyinlola Alabi from Community Primary School, Mushin clinched first position. For the Junior Secondary school category -Paul Jonah from State Junior Secondary School, Alimosho took second position while Miss Ogunbayo Oluwabukola of Eva- Adelaja Junior Girls Secondary School, Bariga placed first while in the senior secondary category Miss Grace Adesina of Ansar-Ud- Deen Senior Grammar School, Okota was second while Miss Temiwunmi Akinmuleya of Queen College, Yaba placed first.

The ceremony was attended by members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, stakeholders in the road safety awareness sectors, pupils in primary and secondary schools in the State and their tutors.

dplordx:

@ Ekoile

Abeg who is that chic in that tight executive skirt and top. Can I get her phone number?

Desola:

EkoIle,

any news on what's been done about the drainage system in Lagos?

I would rather have an update on that, please.

    Effects Of Flooding: FG's Assistance For Lagos An Urgent Imperative - Fashola

    Says President Jonathan has shown concern as he tours affected areas for third day running

Jul 13, 2011 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday continued his on the spot assessment of areas affected by last Sunday's heavy down pour in Lagos State saying the State would seek assistance from the Federal Government to address the effects of the flood which now has a national impact.

Governor Fashola who toured flood affected areas in the Eti-Osa local Government Area, including the Alpha Beach where erosion had been further aggravated, said the Atlantic Ocean was currently redrawing the geographical map of Nigeria adding that the State Government would do an estimate of the cost of providing palliative measures to stem the encroachment of the Ocean and present same to the Federal Government for assistance.

According to the Governor, who spoke in an interview with newsmen at the back of NICON Town in Ajah after the inspection, "I am told that we need to put a shoreline protection like we did at the Bar Beach over a minimum area of three metres on the Alpha Beach. We are going to do an estimate and expect that we should get support from the Federal Government and the President".

He said President Goodluck Jonathan has been very concerned and has called him to express concern and sympathize with the Government and people of Lagos State, adding that the next step was to do the financial costing which would be sent to the Federal Government.

On what the State Government is doing on its part, Governor Fashola disclosed that 10 major storm channels are under construction in the area, adding that the storm channels would assist in draining water from the Atlantic Ocean side of Eti Osa into the lagoon across the expressway.

The Governor explained that the storm water construction would ensure that year in year out and going into the future there is a reliable drainage infrastructure for Lekki and Eti-Osa region of the State.

Governor Fashola, who inspected the Alpha Beach which has been severely eroded, explained that what has been witnessed at the beach was a natural erosion which, according to him, "is a consequence of the rise in water level which is a result of global warming".

"What we need to do there is to reclaim the beach. We have lost about 50 metres of land to the ocean and it is continuing. You could see that the road has begun to cave in there. It is a natural disaster which is not as a result of the rain", the Governor said.

Governor Fashola, who also spoke on health risks to the residents of the flooded areas, said Government was concerned by the body of water brought into the area by the flood which may carry some dangers in terms of water borne diseases.

"We are just appealing to the citizens to be extra careful. As much as possible, wash your hands and feet regularly if you have to walk through the water, using regular soaps. Our health workers have been mobilized and will go round in the fullness of time to assist in the sanitization and also give you disinfectant where it is possible across communities", the Governor told the residents.

He appealed to local government chairmen and community leaders to help and support the people in the area of hygiene, adding that the State Government has opened collection centres in the Ministries of Health and Special Duties where public spirited people who want to donate relief materials to the people could go and donate.

Governor Fashola who also responded to a question on whether activities of some traditional rulers may have been impeding the construction of some of the drainage channels, said he would rather not identify the problem as the challenge of traditional rulers alone.

The Governor who spoke specifically about the NICON Estate in Ajah, said it does not have a traditional ruler yet adding, "Government is having challenges about building a storm water channel through the estate to drain water into the lagoon".

"It is a judgmental call really about the value you put on land and I think that really is the issue. People place so much value and premium on their land, but at the end what is the value of a flooded land and a depreciating real estate. So, it is a question of real judgment to say, let me yield some of this land because Government has no interest to take your land except to build a storm water channel through it so that your property is secured and safe and that is our responsibility", the Governor said.

According to him, "One way to do this is by building storm water channels and if you say we cannot use your land to build the storm water channel, maybe in 10 years time you will have no land at all. If I were in a position that I would give away some land to keep more land instead of putting the whole estate at risk, I would do so. These are the kind of proposals that we will make".

He added, "We have a similar problem with Chevron Estate at Okun-Afa and Igbokuta where the water drains from the drainage we are constructing from Silver Bird Television area in Maiyegun. This is the final outflow into the lagoon. If we can't cross through here, we can't solve the problem of that side".

Continuing, the Governor said, "The water has to come through this storm channel to get to the final drain which is the lagoon. So, if estates like NICON and CHEVRON and all of those community interests stand in our way, clearly they would have helped to endanger this whole community because we are ready to go".

Other places visited by the Governor during the tour include Ilasan where he inspected the channels at Igbokusu and Silver Bird Road where he stopped by to address the residents to be ready to remove some of the buildings that are on the drain line.

He sympathized with residents who lost properties during the 16-hour rain, adding that there is a need for the people to respect the drain line and have patience with the contractors who are working on them to complete the contract.

He urged the land owners to desist from selling land indiscriminately especially those on drain lines, adding that when they do this they set off a chain of action which causes anguish to the whole community.

Governor Fashola also visited the Maiyegun Beach to see the suspended alignment to drain Igbo Efon, Alpha Beach to inspect Coastal erosion and also inspected the 11.8 kilometre culvert point Channel 7 near UBA.

At the Agungi Channel where he inspected construction alignment on Channel 6 and was briefed that some residents are preventing the contractor from going ahead with the work, Governor Fashola gave a directive to State officials to remove any culvert that is disturbing the progress of work on the alignment insisting that Government will establish all drainage channels to safeguard life and properties of the residents. He also visited Osapa London where he inspected the drain along the community.

The Governor was conducted round the affected areas by the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainages in the Ministry of the Environment, Engineer Muyideen Akinsanya, Other officials who accompanied him on the tour include the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Remi Ibirogba, Special Adviser on the Environment, Dr Taofeek Folami, House of Asembly members representing Eti-Osa I and II, Hon. Kazeem Alimi and Hon. Gbolahan Yishau, their counterpart representing Ibeju/Lekki I, Hon. Mojeed Fatai and officials of the Department of Drainage Services.

Desola:

Glad to know work has commenced.

Thanks for your response Ekoile and for your input, Lukkie.

September 15, 2011 07:49PM
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The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAN) has charged state governments nationwide to adopt the waste management initiatives of the Lagos State Government.The AWAN president, Adegboyega Adepitan, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the ongoing 2nd National Waste Management and Environmental Conference in Lagos.
[/b]
He commended Babatunde Fashola, the state governor, for dedicating 10 percent of the state government's recurrent expenditure to waste management issues. Mr Adepitan said the initiative had provided an enabling environment for waste management practitioners in the state to be able to evacuate over 75 percent of the 900 tonnes of waste generated daily in the state.

"The association has been able to achieve the feat in Lagos because of its persistent dialogue with the state government on areas requiring the intervention of government," he said.

The AWAN president added that many of the economic problems now plaguing the country could be easily resolved, if other state governments emulated the stand of the Lagos State government.

"The sooner other state governments are able to adopt the position of the Lagos State government on waste management issue, the better for us all," he stressed, pointing out that the initiative would also enhance employment. "If the Lagos State government has been able to engage about 30,000 people in the sub-sector alone, you can then imagine what will happen if all other 35 state governments are able to adopt the initiative."

Mr Adepitan said that the ongoing conference with the theme: "Professionalism in Waste Management: Prelude to Waste to Wealth", would highlight the significance of Public/Private Partnership in waste management. It would also explore other opportunities and establish standard practices in waste management, including the handling of medical and e-waste.

Over 5,000 participants are expected at the three-day conference which ends on Thursday.

Dec 20, 2011 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday flagged off a one-day Leadership Training for members of the State Executive Council reiterating that his administration has embraced training as one of its core priorities in order to increase knowledge among other benefits.

The One-Day training on "LEMON Leadership for Members of the State Executive Council" was conducted by Mr. Brett-Johnson founder of Brett Johnson & Associates, Institute of Innovation, Integration and Impact, USA.

Governor Fashola said the training was also aimed at sharing experiences and adopting and adapting best practices wherever they could be found adding that in the course of the last four and a half years, one of the training sessions the administration has partaken of was the Lemon Leadership Training.

He told the participants, "I found it particularly instructive, but perhaps this training, among many others, has come back because of its instructive nature, its ability to help you lead better", adding, "one of the things I found particularly illuminating is that nobody is absolutely useless".

"You may find that there is a member of the team who really is not contributing anything. His contribution may just be to tell you that this is not the way to go. So he has contributed something. So instead of getting angry or frustrated, you will simply know that that contribution will not take you there", the Governor said.

Expressing the belief that the session would be a refreshing exercise, Governor Fashola declared, "Many people are shutting down for the year, this is our own shutting down, preparing to quickly scoop up in the New Year the challenges that we would face to respond to service delivery to Lagosians who employed us".

Earlier in her opening remarks, the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase, said the training would help the participants to realize who they are and how they can improve on their weak points.

According to her, "The programme will help us determine our primary and secondary leadership skills to give an understanding of the capabilities of the various Executive members to work together, learn together and succeed together".

"We will be able to leverage on our strength and weaknesses for the benefit of Lagos and Nigeria in general. It will also afford us the opportunity to understand the various types of leadership groups that we have", she said.

Present at the session were Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, Head of Service, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaiye among other members of the Executive Council.

Dec 22, 2011 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Thursday urged communities to collaborate with the State Government in the development of the State saying all of the aspirations of the people for water, qualitative education, electricity and others are possible if the power that the communities bring is utilized.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Police College, Ikeja, venue of this year's Community Development Day of the State with the theme "Optimizing Community Resources for Job Creation and Self-Reliance, said if every member of the communities in the State contributes to the commonwealth of the State, all the dreams of transforming the State into a model mega-city would be realizable.

"Let me say that communities would play, as they have done, a most important role in the developmental aspirations that we all share. Communities will be critical in making Lagos a safer place", the Governor said adding that although the Government would lead the way, what needs to be done would require every member of the communities in the State.[b]

According to Governor Fashola, "It will require every member of this commonwealth to make a contribution. Therefore, if we build drains, I am sure the communities will agree that drains are not places to drop refuse and therefore, we will need the communities to continue the advocacy down to every home, down to every household, that we should all refrain from dropping our wastes in our drains".

"We need members of the communities to recognize also that this is a commonwealth and that everybody who expects to benefit from the commonwealth must contribute to the commonwealth where he is able to do so. So we expect every person who has a job, who has an income, to pay something by way of taxes so that we empower the powerless, strengthen the weak and support the poor", the Governor said.

Noting that Nigerians have suffered from many years of failed promises by the central government, Governor Fashola pointed out that in the last 12 years it has been in power, the Action Congress of Nigeria controlled Government in Lagos State has lived up to its promises to the people.

"Many of you here will remember that all of the promises made to us in the past that everything going wrong in Nigeria would be well by 1990 never came to pass. When we got to 1990, they said it would be well in 2000, when we got to 2000, they moved the goalpost to 2010; now the goalpost has been moved to 2020", the Governor said.

He added, "But when you look back to the last 12 years that we have embraced democratic governance in Lagos State, there have been no empty promises. You have seen progress day after day. This Government is in every Local Government in the State doing one thing or the other to make life better".[/b]

Governor Fashola, who attributed the failed promises to insincerity on the part of the central government, declared, ""As a leader of this Government, I will continue to tell you honestly what it will take to get to our goal; I will continue to lead from the front; I will continue to deal with you truthfully, telling you what we can do and what you need to contribute", the Governor said adding, "This is the power of the community".

Noting that not all right decisions by the Government are popular with the people, Governor Fashola said, "I would rather be right than be popular because in those popularities many lives were damaged and goods were lost. We came upon 1990 and nothing happened. We came upon 2000, nothing happened and we came upon 2010 and nothing happened. If you work with us, if you collaborate with us, I am sure we can overcome the entire problem together".

"It will therefore take a community to make change; a community in which everybody contributes. If you trust that you have responsibilities and you are ready to deal with your own responsibilities in the way the Neighbourhood Watch has dealt with its own responsibilities and we are safer today than we were 30 years ago, I am sure this State will be the better for it", he said.
[b]
The Governor said the commitment made to the people by his administration to use the rural communities to drive the Lagos Economy was already being implemented adding, "Today in Ajah, we have a 120 hectare vegetable farm being farmed by indigenous and neighbourhood villages. We have a vegetable farm in Iya-Afin and a farm settlement in Ajara".

"In Ikoga area of Lagos State, we are farming 75 hectares of rice. In Imota, the rice mill that we promised you has been installed and currently being tested to be commissioned very early in 2012. In Ajia in Badagry, we are already developing a 200 hectare farm settlement along the Songhai model which was recently approved by the State Executive Council. The same thing is happening to a 380 hectare site in Araga where we have started an Agric Youth Empowerment programme that is employing young graduates and enabling them to take up a new life, a new occupation, a new profession in farming and explore all of the value chains of farming as an occupation", the Governor said.[/b]

Other areas where Government present is currently being felt, according to Governor Fashola, include Gberigbe where there is a Piggery farm that has an investment of about N2 billion, employing about 2, 300 pig farmers, Araga, where Government has a Ram Ranch and building poultry as well as culturing and nurturing rams for sale in the market and Ibeshe where Government is implementing its commitment to the community to replace their pylon and electricity supply that was destroyed.

"Our commitment to the Ilashe Community has also been approved by the Executive Council where we will be developing a first class beach estate as a model of what the opportunities we have for tourism in this State and on our coastal waters should look like. We are bringing security closer to our people. The five Area Commands that were approved for the State are located in many of our communities like Ijede, Elemoro, Ilase and Morogbo in Badagry to mention but a few", the Governor said.

He said the rural people have also benefitted from his Government's policies with regards to the upgrading of traditional rulers adding, "Many of your Baales have been upgraded into First Class and Second Class Obas in the Lagos State Council of Chiefs and there will be more of such to come as we go into the New Year".

Commending the Ministry of Rural Development "for being able to mobilize all of us in such large numbers, Governor Fashola thanked the people for the rousing welcome and rousing attendance saying it is an indication of their readiness "to participate in the building and development of our State".

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Rural Development, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, the Community Development Day was an initiative of the United Nations which set aside November 8 of every year to celebrate, appreciate and reward communities for contributing their quota towards the development of their areas and implicitly the State.

According to the Commissioner, the celebration of the Day in Lagos State is in line with the vision of the Government of integrated approach to sustainable rural development, adding that the Ministry has been creating programmes and activities that are community driven through the CDAs and the CDCs and by harnessing all resources within its disposal towards improving the standard of living of the rural dwellers and stemming rural urban drift.

Governor Fashola later presented the key to an 18-seater bus to the winners of the first prize of the Best Community Development Award, Omole Phase 11 CDA, the key to a Toyota pick-up van to the second runner-up of the Award, Agbado Oko-Odo Community CDA, and a key to a Tricycle to the third runner-up, Isokan Olorunda CDA.

Also present at the occasion were Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, Head of Service, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe, Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Hon. Oyinlomo Danmole, his Special Duties counterpart, Dr. Wale Ahmed, Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mrs. Florence Oguntuase among other members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries.

Pig production business in Lagos state has the potential of generating about $2 billion (N300 billion) annually. Gbolahan Lawal, the commissioner for agric, Lagos state revealed this recently at a forum in Lagos organised by the Commercial Agric Development (CADP) team.

He said currently two piggery estates exist in the state. These are Oke Aro and Gberigbe in Alimosho and Ikorodu local government areas respectively) with a total of 250 pens being managed by 1200 farmers of the total 2,350 pig farmers in the state.

In addition, he said there are pockets of pig farmers spread across Ojo, Alimoso, Badagry and Ikorodu local government areas; that the state has a total of 205,696 pigs of which about 43 percent are reared in the Oke Aro and Gberigbe estates.

He added, “Oke Aro Pig Farm Estate has the largest concentration of pig farmers in the West Africa Sub region and has patronage from as far as Republic of Benin. Leveraging on this huge potential in piggery value chain will increase pig production by 20 percent, increase sales by 30 percent as well as employment generation by 30 percent in the next five years.” In view of the enormous advantage of the state in the production of pigs and vegetables, he said the ministry of agric intends to solicit for consideration of the inclusion of these two value chains under the CADP project which is a World Bank sponsored project with five states in Nigeria being involved. In Lagos state, the project has been focused on development of farming in the areas of rice production, fish farming and poultry.

Francis Bamidele Ajiteru, president of the Pig farmers’ Association of Nigeria, Lagos chapter confirms the enormous potential of pig farming in Lagos, he said, “Pig farming is big business and there are lots of other businesses associated with it.

Apart from the actual business of farming and direct farm labour, we have artisans such as carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers that work on contracts, we have haulage of inputs, we have milling, sales of drugs, catering for the thousands of people that get incomes directly or indirectly from the farm and so on.” Olatunbosun Akinbode, a former president of the pig farmers association in the Oke Aro Pig Farm estate said The Oke Aro Farm Settlement has been a good source of income for men and women that come from Oke-Aro itself, Agbado, Ope ilu and other surrounding towns and villages. Lanre Akinola, the secretary of the Pig Farmers Association in Lagos state said not less than 20,000 people earn income directly and indirectly from the pig farming activities in Oke Aro alone.



culled from www.businessdayonline.com

Gone are the days when mountains of refuse dotted the streets of Lagos. To clean up the metropolis, the government established the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA).

And today, the harshest critic of government will agree that the agency has kept its promise of cleaning the environment.

The agency procured additional 100 units of refuse compactor for domestic waste collection and pollution prevention equipment for three dumpsites in Olushosun, Ojota, Solous two and Solous three on the Lagos Island, according to a statement on its activities last year.

It also constructed integrated solid waste facilities at Epe and Badagry, Transfer Loading Station at Oshodi in addition to the Earthcare Project on compost production.

On the outlook for 2012, the statement said the agency will establish new compost plants at Epe and Badagry and pursue the conversion of pure water sachets to shoe soles and pellets.

Others are gas capturing project at Olushosun, enhancement of the operation of Highway Managers for better performance, strategic logistics to increase night sweeping capacity through mechanised sweeping and strict enforcement of protective covering for street sweepers and other members of staff.

The agency has also put plans in motion to procure 100 refuse static compactors for markets, especially those on Lagos Island, to protect the investment in the Central Business District.

There are also plans for the introduction of tricycles in slum areas, training for street sweepers, soft loan for sweepers, capacity building and training to adopt best practices in waste management.

The statement also said there is the collaboration with relevant NGOs and Community Clean-up Campaign (3C) in Makoko, Otumara and Obalende.

On challenges, the statement cited un-abating littering by residents, heavy downpour that hampers turnaround time, poor containerisation which is only about 65 per cent compliance and a complete zero compliance by roadside shop owners and mechanics.



culled from www.thenationonlineng.net