Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year - Fashola
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday declared that Lagos would become the leading referral centre for kidney, heart transplant and all kidney related diseases early next year.

Governor Fashola who spoke when he received participants in the Kidney Rejoice Health Walk at the open fields of Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja said this would be possible from the end of the first quarter of next year when work is completed on the Specialist Hospital being constructed in Gbagada, adding that the staff and consultants that would manage the facility are being recruited.

The Governor explained that there is a lot of work going on there at the moment adding that the future lies there for all medical students, and doctors and nurses in the State.

"We know that you have the capacity. We also want to bring back as many of our expert doctors, nurses who have left the country as a result of frustration.
"We are spending a considerable amount of money sponsoring people abroad to United States, United Kingdom and India for kidney transplant and replacement.
"We have also noticed that they are going to environments where their families are not immediately around them. They are also taking food after surgery that is not what they may have wanted to eat which contributes substantially to the healing process.
"We also see that it is our economy that is losing and that is why our government has decided that it will locate the kidney and heart transplant facility in Lagos and that is exactly what is going on now at Gbagada", the Governor said.

Governor Fashola reiterated that it is the belief of the administration that such a first class facility is the best asset that it can give to its nurses and doctors because they have the skills but only need an opportunity to practice the skills.

While commending Nollywood artistes who also participated in the Health Walk, for spreading positive messages in millions of homes through their films, Governor Fashola urged them to see it as an opportunity to work with the Ministry of Health to see the content of the kidney, hypertension and diabetes screening programme which the Government has committed to in the last three years.

He said the programme has screened thousands of patients across the State giving treatment where necessary but using advocacy as the most powerful tool that can help prevent the two main diseases or make it manageable when contracted.

"There is no reason why a diabetes patient should not live a useful, active and normal life if the right management therapy is put in place. Some of the things that we consider as being status significance are in fact things that hurt us, Governor Fashola said.

He called on the Nollywood artistes to consider producing what he called a docu-drama that would help in strengthening the advocacy on the need to exercise regularly, moderation in the kind of food people eat, saying such a production in English, Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin would go a long way in sensitizing the people.

He promised that the state would provide some assistance to support the production of the docu-drama, adding that this represents one of the ways they can help to spread the message about why people should change some of the life choices they make.
The Governor also advised against the use of bleaching creams saying the black skin has been particularly adapted to suit where Africans are located., "We should not try to be anybody else", he advised.

Governor Fashola said in recognition of these health problems which are fast becoming a global problem, his administration is building parks and sports centres to allow the people live an active life.

He also cautioned against the conversion of pedestrian walkways into markets, stressing that Lagos is definitive about building new roads that have walkways as it would engender the culture of people taking a walk in their neighbourhoods.

A Platinum Humanity Award was presented to Governor Fashola by the coordinator of the Kidney Rejoice programme through the President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr (Mrs.)Joe Okei Odumakin.

Speaking on the award Dr Okei- Odumakin said Governor Fashola was the first Governor in Nigeria that she would be presenting an award to.

She described Governor Fashola as action Governor as this is evident from what anyone who takes a trip round Lagos would observe as "action speaks louder than words".

Awards were also presented to MTN, Indomie Noodle, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin and Dr Adeyinka Adeshope

Our Position on Doctors' Strike, by Lagos Government

Contrary to the erroneous impression being created that the strike by the medical doctors in Lagos State had lingered because of the refusal of the State Government to negotiate with them, emerging facts have shown that doctors have consistently spurned all avenues for negotiation.

According to a Press Statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, made available over the weekend, the strike by the medical doctors has continued up till now in spite of the personal intervention from the Governor, former Governors, the State House of Assembly, elder statesmen, Senior Clergymen, senior medical practitioners and well meaning Lagosians.

The strike which the Commissioner said, has caused undue hardship for the citizenry is being prolonged because of the Doctors' insistence that all existing Establishment and Civil Service procedures be set aside by the Governor by arbitrarily directing a salary increment for doctors alone to the exclusion of other professional cadres in the health sector and service wide.

Giving an insight into the genesis of the current stand-off, the Commissioner said, Lagos State had always enjoyed harmonious labour- government relations and had resolved amicably several labour disputes .

Specifically on the doctors, Mr. Bamidele said that the Lagos State Government in 2009 effected an upward review of salaries of medical doctors which brought them at par with doctors at the federal level.

Also, as a show of goodwill and in recognition of their peculiar service, the state government approved allocation of vehicles for professionals in the health sector including doctors in phases. The first phase of 100 had been allocated while the delivery of the vehicles for the second phase is being awaited.

However, when recently the Federal Government without prior consultation with the other two-tiers of government introduced a special salary structure, for doctors in its employ , called CONMESS, some of the associations of doctors in the state especially the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and the Medical Guild, began agitations for an immediate implementation of same structure in Lagos State.

This decision of the doctors, the Commissioner said, was without any consideration for the directive of the national body of the Nigerian Medical Associations which apart from publishing in a national daily also wrote to the Governor in a letter dated August 30, 2010 communicating that no state Chapter should threaten or embark on any strike over CONMESS.

The Commissioner stated that the action of the Medical Guild also took no cognizance of the fact pertaining to the current revenue sharing formula which makes it possible for the Federal Government to take 52 percent of the country's revenue leaving the states and local councils to share 48 percent, any decision taken by the states would have severe implication for the local government which has responsibility for wages in other equally important sectors like primary education.

The Commissioner said quite contrary to the wrong impression that Governor Fashola had been rather aloof in the crisis, the Governor, apart from numerous meetings he directed to be held with the doctors, had met with them personally twice. One of the meetings the Governor, he said , lasted three hours while the other lasted five hours.

According to Mr. Bamidele, it was in the course of one of the meetings that the Medical Guild and Association of Resident Doctors’ representatives complained about the on-going matter at the Industrial Court noting their discomfiture with the order of the Judge to return to work and resume negotiations with the Government which they (the doctors) had by then breached.

To show good faith and his desire to get the doctors back to work, the Governor had then immediately directed the State's Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to withdraw the case from Court.

The Commissioner said that in the meetings, Governor Fashola had consistently appealed to the doctors that while their demand for wages review was not unreasonable, their was a need to present such demands to the Committee on the Development of Pay Policy, Review and Salary Determination in the State Public Service.

The Committee, chaired by the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mr. Jide Sanwoolu, the Government said, is to consider the issue of personnel emolument statewide in the public service with a view to permanently addressing perennial wage issues while paying attention to the peculiarities of each professional cadre.

According to the Commissioner for Information, the Medical Guild has refused to negotiate with the Committee or make any representation to it but insisted on the Governor single handedly signing a paper for them or directing by fiat, a wage increase for the doctors alone.

The statement by Mr. Bamidele, however explained that it is not the responsibility of the Governor to decide or determine a wage review for any cadre of staff in the public service adding that the process involves the Ministry of Establishment and Training, the Public Service Office, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, the Ministry of Finance and the Civil Service Commission whose recommendation will then go to House of Assembly for the appropriate legislation.

According to the Commissioner, the Governor has consistently stated that he would not be coerced or blackmailed into acting in an arbitrary manner noting that even the intransigence of the doctors and any interest group trying to make political capital out of the unfortunate development would not make him violate well established Public Service rules and the law.

According to the statement, within the health sector alone, it would be difficult to isolate the doctors for a wage review noting that other professional cadres in the medical care chain like the Pharmacists, Nurses, Radiologists and Laboratory Technologists have continued to carry out their duties.

Reiterating that the State Government won't do anything illegal because of the approaching elections, the Commissioner said Government is available and ready to negotiate with the doctors adding however that innocent people must not continue to suffer while negotiation is going on hence the need to call off the strike immediately.

The statement noted that it was most unfortunate that most of the doctors currently involved in the strike are doctors training to be Specialists (Residents), a programme, financed from State resources.

According to the Commissioner, the current situation becomes more unfortunate when it is considered that professionals in the other sectors where the Federal Government arbitrarily introduced specialized pay structures like CONMESS have continued to work while negotiations with Government continued.

The statement noted that rather than blame the Lagos State Government for not negotiating with the doctors as being mischievously projected, all men of goodwill should prevail on the Medical Guild and Association of Resident Doctors to call off the strike forthwith and resume negotiation with the Government in the interest of the good people of Lagos State and the Hippocratic Oath they took as care givers.

HAKEEM BELLO
SSA TO H.E ON MEDIA
NOVEMBER 06, 2010

Lagos State Nutrition Programme

If health is said to be wealth, then Governor Fashola is on a mission to make Lagos State mega wealthy. One of his efforts is ensuring proper nutrition for citizens of the state because a well-fed community is much more productive in all spheres than a malnourished one.
The programme’s goal is to initiate, develop and implement policies, concepts, strategies and plans to meet the nutritional needs of the State’s citizenry, particularly the most vulnerable members’ of the society such as children and older people.

Lagos State actively promotes appropriate maternal nutrition practices, nutrition education for the nursing mother, and advocates increased commitment of policy makers and other relevant stakeholders on the centrality of nutrition to health and development. The State government has also sustained implementation of school milk programme from 2003 till date.

The income level of most parents in Nigeria keeps millions of children out of school in spite of the 1999 launch of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) and the enactment of the UBE Act in 2004 aimed at achieving the United Nations Millennium Development goals of Education for All (EFA) by 2015.
Lagos State is making a valiant effort to meet these goals, by launching the school-feeding programme with a view to attracting more children to school. As part of this effort, the state has been distributing 'Cowbell' milk to pupils every Tuesday and Thursday and the children are always looking forward to those two days to come to school.

The provision of milk has boosted pupils' enrolment along with the state’s collaboration effort with some philanthropists to provide free meals for pupils under the "Adopt-A-School programme". As a way of confirming its efficacy, a study was carried out to determine the effect of School Feeding Programme (SFP) on primary school children attendance in Epe Local government Area (LGA) of Lagos. Information was collected from 220 school pupils in the state and the test revealed that the school-feeding programme [SFP] succeeded in increasing parent’s net income.

The result of the test of structural difference in the two samples taken using the chow test revealed that SFP improves attendance of children in school and that there was significant difference in attendance of children in class with and without SFP.
Whilst the school milk and school feeding programmes take care of the school age children, the state launched other programmes aimed at the nutritional health of the other age groups. For infants, the State actively promotes exclusive breastfeeding, including supervision in designated baby friendly health facilities.

This is part of the nutrition programme started on Mar 17th 2010 and which will be sustained into the future. Some of the other actions to be taken include distribution of vitamin A, Iron and folic acid tablets and salt testing kits to mothers and children in all the LGAs of the State; establishment of an inter-ministerial State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN); training of health workers, teachers and mothers on essential nutrition package, dietary diversification and growth monitoring; collaboration between and within different sectors and networking among principal partners in nutrition in health program for technical assistance and sustainable financing.

Though there have been several initiatives on the benefits of nutrition both at the state and federal levels, Governor Fashola has gone one step further by putting the efforts under one programme so that the monitoring and coordination can be more effective and statistics will be more available when required for effective decision making.

Fashola Bans Misuse Of Lagos Seal

As part of efforts to guard against the misuse of the Lagos State government seal for fraudulent activities, Governor Babatunde Fashola has signed into law a bill banning the use of the state's seal of authority without approval.
Before signing the bill into law, Fashola emphasized that the purpose of the law was to ensure that the seal is not misused or used in any manner that will tarnish the name of the state.

According to him, "This bill is meant to regulate the seal of Lagos State which has become a much-sought-after brand not just locally, but also internationally, and it is important that as we build on the Lagos brand, we must control and ensure that its use is not brought to any disrepute or used in any manner that would embarrass or threaten the common brand and the common patrimony that the seal represents for the people of this state".
Fashola noted that the seal, which according to him contains the symbol of the authority of Lagos State, has been in existence since the state was created in May 1967.

“when the state was created on May 24, 1967, the state went ahead to design this symbol of authority which was well received by the public, so much so that Governor Mobolaji Johnson, in his letter dated December 28, 1967 and addressed to Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, a member of the committee on the symbol, commended him on the artistic design and the interpretations ascribed to the features as being a true reflection of the characteristics of the people of Lagos State", the Governor said.

"It is therefore, appropriate and timely to ensure that its uniformity in appearance is maintained and its respect and dignity are upheld by the passage of an appropriate legislation to protect what for us is a very worthy legacy of heritage". He noted that each of the features that make up the seal has a colour code applicable to it, which has been set out in the law, adding that the purpose was to ensure that nobody uses any other colour to represent any of the features.
According to the governor, "this is essentially a law to protect the brand of the seal of the government of Lagos State, pointing out that a lot of devices currently displayed as the seal of the government of Lagos State does not conform to the actual symbols and the colours in the seal," he added.
He said there are also uses to which the seal has been put into, especially at events, to suggest that the state government is participating, but most times the government does not have any information about the event at all. People use the seal with no prior information or authorization sought for and obtained through the government.

Community Based Insurance Scheme.

Healthcare for all citizens of Lagos State regardless of financial status is one of the dreams of Governor Fashola for the state. There have been several projects initiated by the Lagos State Government towards achieving this objective and the Community-Based Health Insurance system is one of them. This scheme is expected to provide social health protection coverage for the poor, informal sector population as well as underserved communities state-wide.

Health insurance is just becoming widespread in Nigeria and Lagos State is no exception. President Olusegun Obasanjo launched the National Health Insurance Scheme in June 2005 to increase the opportunity to improve on our health indicators and increasing access to healthcare. Prior to this there have been private sector Health Management Organizations like Hygeia. In this vein, the Lagos State Government commenced a pilot program for the health insurance program in the peri-urban Olowora community.

The Ikosi-Isheri Mutual Health Plan was launched on Wednesday, July 23, 2008 and completed 1 year of operations in July 2009.The peri-urban Olowora community, with an estimated population of 70,000 persons, consists mainly of informal sector workers such as petty traders and labourers. The pilot scheme offers a package of prepaid healthcare services for enrolled members of the community and the target coverage for the scheme was set at 5,000 persons or 833 families. The scheme’s concept represents collaboration between the State Government, the Local Government and the Private Provider which is providing an element of Public-Private-Partnership (PPP).

The government provides maintenance services for the facility and security, ensures the availability of an ambulance for emergency services and assists in monitoring to prevent interference or disruption of the services rendered by the provider. For their own part the Private Provider staffs and manages the health facility, provides drugs and consumables, offers prepaid primary health care services to the registered enrolees, provides and maintains documentation to assist in monitoring and evaluation of the scheme and is charged with the responsibility of adherence to given quality of care – personnel, drugs etc.

The Ikosi-Isheri Mutual Health Plan provides a primary healthcare benefit package at a price of N800.00 per family of six persons per month or N400.00 per single person per month. The benefit package offers enrollees and their dependents basic outpatient care at the Olowora Primary Health Centre with treatment of common ailments such as Malaria, Respiratory Tract Infection, Diarrhoea Diseases, Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus. Other services provided are prescribed essential medicines, immunization, maternity care, health education, short-stay admissions and access to economic empowerment.

The members of the scheme have membership cards to present at the 24-hour Olowora Health Centre and if unable to be given adequate treatment there, the member can be transferred to Gbagada General Hospital for more specialised treatment. Members who do not qualify for free health under the Lagos State’s Free Health program are entitled to a 25% discount.

Three administrative staff deployed by the Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, manage the daily activities of the Ikosi-Isheri Mutual Health Association office located within the Olowora Primary Health Centre complex. There has been a steady growth in enrolee population on a monthly basis with current number (as at February, 2010) of registered members at 9,120 persons. This is an obvious indicator that the scheme is working and a much needed one in the community. Providing basic healthcare at an affordable price is a wonderful idea. Coupling this with PPP assures longevity and makes it a win-win situation for all concerned. Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and his administration deserve two thumbs up.

Foreign Investment Campaign

Every community that needs to grow must reach out to foreign investors and Lagos State is no exception. Foreign investment helps to drive economic development across the world and it is common for economies in need of high growth rates to reach out to foreign investors for relevant economic input.

In order to be on course for the next level of economic growth in Lagos, Governor Babatunde Fashola and a team of experts from Lagos arrived in Paris on 17th December 2009, to seek meaningful investment support from French businesspersons. Lagos State is on the threshold of becoming a megacity and undergoing economic transformation dream. The trip to the capital city of France afforded the Governor and his team the opportunity of meeting with major investment facilitators in France.

Governor Fashola presented the ideas and investment possibilities in Lagos State to the Mouvement Des Enterprises De France (MEDEF), the leading club of French investors. During the presentation, Governor Fashola explained areas of investment opportunity in Lagos State and gave an abridged background of his administration's development drive and its development vision for Lagos centres on making the city a model African mega-city that will be synonymous with efficient public infrastructure, reliable security and high economic growth rate.
The Fashola administration, unlike others is interested in investment possibilities of businesspersons rather than loans to the state that will become a liability in the future. There is a lot of work that still needs to be done to successfully birth the megacity vision in realistic terms; a fact which he said is essentially an indication that there is a lot of money to be made from investing in the city's various areas of need.

Some of the areas of possible investments by foreign investors include power generation, transportation, tourism and housing which are viable and mutually enriching investments. The Lekki Free Trade Zone and the seaports in Lagos are also two advantages Lagos State has to attract investors, along with the imminent Lekki Airport on the Lekki Peninsula. Lagos State, with a population of over 17 million people, and still growing, stands out as a dependable business turf, which the French business community is invited to tap into, under the auspices of mutually benefitting arrangements.

For their own part, The French businesspersons were visibly impressed by the detailed presentation of the governor and his team and expressed interest in working with his administration in the areas mentioned, pointing out that they are aware that over 60% of French businesses in Nigeria are based in Lagos which is strong evidence of the huge commercial profitability of the City of Lagos.
There are many projects initiated in Lagos State by Governor Fashola in an endeavor to improve the physical, environmental and economic well being of the citizens of the State. Transportation, water, education are all areas that have improved. Methodically, this administration has worked on improving the economic status of Lagosians with investments both within the state and internationally.

Eye Health

As part of the activities to round off 2009 World Glaucoma Day Celebration in Lagos State, about 800 people in Badagry were treated free of charge for various eye-related conditions under the Lagos State Government Blindness Prevention Programme (LSBPP). LSBPP was started in 2000 as a result of the Federal Ministry of Health initiative to curb the high prevalence of preventable blindness in the nation. Some of the diseases causing preventable blindness include diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, refractive errors and childhood blindness.

In order to further enhance the program and strengthen the delivery of eye care in the State, in 2008 an action plan was articulated to develop a comprehensive eye health care system in the State at all levels. This action plan was based on the findings of a situation analysis of eye care services delivery in the State. This plan is to ensure the long term sustainability of the program and improve efficiency of existing eye care services.

During the World Glaucoma week celebration in Lagos, 440 of the patients were given recommended glasses while 103 underwent surgical operations stressing that the three-day free eye treatment programme is targeted at the treatment of sub-normal eye conditions with the sub objective of the complete eradication of avoidable blindness and the overall objective of the prevention of blindness amongst Lagos populace.

Glaucoma is a disease in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to progressive, irreversible loss of vision. It is often, but not always, associated with increased pressure of the fluid in the eye. Glaucoma is the world second leading cause of blindness and second common cause of blindness in Nigeria. The disease is symptomless in its early stages which makes it deadly. There is no pain in the eyes and one’s eyes would not be red and in the early stages, it would not affect vision. This is why a lot of people go blind from the disease as that is usually the first indication of any problem. Glaucoma is a commonest cause of irreversible blindness, as mentioned in a recent national survey in Nigeria in 2007, it was discovered that about 16.7 per cent of Nigerians from 40 years and above are blind from Glaucoma and Lagos state anticipates that the LSBPP will reduce these figures drastically in the very near future.

The Primary Health Care Centres in the state have now been structured to undertake treatments for minor sub-normal eye conditions and enlightenment point adding that more critical cases and those requiring surgeries are referred to the seven fully equipped eye care centres within the premises of the General Hospitals at Ajeromi, Gbagada, Isolo, Orile-Agege, Ikorodu, Epe and Lagos Island.

Finally, all the eye care centres at primary, secondary and tertiary levels have been fully equipped and have well trained staff to provide not only qualitative free eye care treatment programme but also serves as an enlightenment point wherein patients are provided within basic information regarding the care of the eye.

Lagos Health Sector Training

Lagos State government has been unrelenting in the quest to ensure that, within the health sector the staff is competent and well trained such that the health of its people, especially the mother and her child is not jeopardized. To this end, the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) organized the International Obstetric Skills Drill that was held between 21st and 22nd July, 2009 with, training and retraining at the forefront. The workshop was for the State’s medical personnel with affiliations with obstetric care, included medical doctors and midwives from the General Hospitals across the State.

The International Obstetrics Skills Drill was first introduced in 2008 to Lagos State Obstetric health workers to instruct them on practical manoeuvres used in emergency obstetrics. These courses were taught by trainers from the United Kingdom who are instructors of the renowned ALSO (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics). The ALSO course is accredited by the American Academy of family Physicians, U.S.A and is designed to assist health professionals to manage emergencies that may arise in maternity care. Seventy-four health workers were trained and the course was designed to be a skill based, hands-on, do it yourself training to enable the participants function better in real life situations.

Modules within the workshop structure included didactic lectures with the use of visual aids, practical demonstration at work stations with the use of life size mannequins, interactive class discussions, and questions and answers session.

ALSO helps physicians, midwives, labour and delivery nurses and other health care providers develop and maintain the knowledge and skills they need to effectively manage potential emergencies during the prenatal period. The program additionally serves as an aid for training residents in obstetrics as well as family medicine. Administered in 47 countries, ALSO is structured, evidence-based and multidisciplinary.

The facilitators of the training imported with them all their wealth of knowledge and expertise put together from a system that works, with some of the lowest maternal mortality figures in the world to impart on the obstetric workers of Lagos State.

Reduction in maternal mortality is a prime target of the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola so it has been important to identify effective solutions to improve the maternal mortality figures in the State.

Some of the solutions proffered include building infrastructure, re-orientation of the Lagos mother to the import of ante-natal care, mainstreaming of the Traditional Birth Attendants into the Obstetric circle of the State and so on, but probably one of the surest interventions is to build competence of the obstetric staff of the State such that when the expectant mother does visit the hospital, she can meet with fully equipped and skilled health professionals who are up to date with the latest modalities and best practices globally. Though no figures are available yet, it is certain that the training received by the health care workers in obstetrics will have a positive impact on maternal mortality in Lagos State.

Megacity

The pursuit of sustainable growth and development with policies that are favourable to the economic, social and ecological dimensions of a society may sometimes bring these three areas into contention, and so the policies guiding each one must not be made in isolation, but must strike a balance between all three dimensions. For example, when industries that will lead to economic growth of the state are being planned, the geographical location should not have adverse effect on the social well being of the populace nor affect the ecological well-being of the host communities.

Globally, guiding principles of development of cities and nations have undergone drastic reorientation to include harmony with nature as one of the key factors that must be considered.

Sustained migration out of the country and into the city has given rise to the megacity, a term typically used to describe a city with a population of over 10million inhabitants. Due to the population and the complexity of Lagos, it is one of the 25 megacities in the world. Megacities tend to have problems with slum areas due to high congestion and traffic issues, among others. Recognizing Lagos as a megacity by Governor Fashola has enabled the government to focus on the needs peculiar to megacities.

Previous methods applied to fix the problems in Lagos using the template for an average city or state has not been as effective because, simply put- it was like using painkillers to treat an ailment that requires surgery. As a megacity Lagos State can compare notes and discuss with other megacities in the world that are having similar issues. This move by Governor Babatunde Fashola has being of immense help to the people of Lagos State as solutions to the problems being addressed are proving effective because the approach is the correct one.

The State government is coordinating the concerted effort of all stakeholders, including the local governments to meet the challenge of 2015 Millennium Development Goals set out by the World Health Organization as it affects the population explosion of the Lagos megacity region. Areas of concern include the settlement development, agriculture, industry, tourism, energy, traffic and solid waste management sectors. The challenge has been addressing these issues whilst ensuring the ecological dimension of growth is not compromised.

One of the ways the government is addressing this is in encouraging Lagosians to plant trees, in recognition of the fact that the utilization of renewable natural resources must not exceed their rate of regeneration in the long term. Sustainable economic growth that does not harm the environment must ensure that non-renewable natural resources should be utilised at a rate equivalent to the creation of a substitute that is renewable and making certain that pollutant emissions do not exceed the self-regulating capability of the natural environment in the long term.

It is imperative that the citizens are informed, and indeed they are key participants, to assure the developments are sustainable. The Lagos state administration has done a great job of communication and participation of the citizens in all projects, whether to offer constructive criticism or approval.

State Pride And History

Lagos is essentially made up of settlers from different parts of the world and Nigeria, and because of this, many residents do not really know the history of Lagos and its migrant populations. Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is changing this through effective information dissemination about local lore and culture. Not only is the Fashola administration streamlining many cultural ceremonies in Lagos State, it is also educating the populace on how the ceremonies originated.

Governor Fashola is not only intent on making huge leaps in the renewal of infrastructure in Lagos State but also in the knowledge of culture, tradition and history of its people. Lagos State administration has involved older Lagosians in activities or projects that require knowledge of the history of Lagos with the hope of bringing the formal and oral history of Lagos to the people and encouraging their sense of pride and belonging.

The carnival that took place in April 2010 is a good example. A commemorative magazine of the Lagos Carnival was published to inform Lagosians about the carnival, the history behind it and the preparation process. The magazine itself should become a family heirloom because of the gem of information it contains. It includes the formal history of the Lagos State carnivals and interviews with older Lagosians who know and may have lived during some of the events. Lagosians have learnt that the Carreta carnivals originated from celebration of religious practices in Brazil, such as Lent which marks the beginning of the Christian Lent (time of fast and abstention from eating meat).

The celebration was to initiate the last days to eat meat and that was how the word carnival was eventually coined- ‘carne vale’ means ‘farewell to meat’. This practice was imported to Lagos by the returning free slaves and their families from Bahia and Salvador, Brazil in the late 19th century. The earliest recording of a carnival in Lagos was 1881 after the completion of the Holy Cross Cathedral on Lagos Island. The parades were called Carreta and traditionally held three times a year-Easter Monday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The settlers in the Lafiaji area of Lagos originated Fanti, another carnival, in the 1930’s in Lagos. The settlers in this area were mainly from Nupe, Hausa and Yoruba tribes in Nigeria; and Ghanaian and Togolese nationals who spoke Fanti, from which the carnival derived its name. The first Fanti carnival was in 1936. There were also several smaller carnivals in Lagos State from other communities of settlers. The Sierra Leonean immigrants (known as Saros) also evolved their own carnival in the 19th century in the Olowogbowo area of Lagos, which is where they settled. Sierra Leoneans usually had elaborate ballroom parties and their carnival reflected this with its beautiful gowns.

The magazine also touches on the West Indian immigrants who held carnivals until the mid-1980 ‘sand the Meboi masquerade parade by the Brazillian returnees. More recently, new carnival groups have emerged from more recent settlers. These include Ebute Meta, Mushin, Ikeja, Oworonshoki, Ilasamaja, Idi Oro, Araromi and Epe, each group composed to reflect the character of the different communities they represent.

The information in the magazine was an eye-opener to several generations of Lagosians who did not know all the details of their origin.

Clampdown On Fake Drugs

The sale of fake drugs and dangerous, sub-standard food has been a problem in Lagos State along with the rest of the country. The Federal Government of Nigeria and subsequently Lagos State had decided in 1999 to set up organizations to combat the problem. The Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods is responsible for regulating the drug distribution system within Lagos State and is charged with getting rid of illegal pharmaceutical premises.

The Lagos State chapter of the Task Force was set up under Decree 25 of the 1999 constitution by the Federal Government. Despite this, there have been many completely unnecessary deaths associated with these illegal practices in Lagos State and the state government has taken a tough stance towards the unsavoury element perpetrating these atrocities.

The Task Force is empowered to seal up any premises that is being used in connection with drug offences, with seizure of their product and their subsequent destruction. These powers are being utilized in Lagos State now as a deterrent to the owners of these criminal business organizations. Appropriate surveillance and mapping of an area is normally done before the Task Force goes out on raiding activities.

Task Force raid is conducted in conjunction with the NAFDAC officials, Representative of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Representative of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, including a legal officer, Public Relations officer and Policemen of the Lagos state Rapid Response Squad. One such raid took place in June. The Lagos State Task Force on Counterfeit, Fake drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods shut down 20 illegal pharmaceutical outlets and destroyed drugs worth N50 million.

The raid on illegal pharmaceutical outlets was carried out at Agboyi-Ketu and Onigbongbo Local Council Development Areas of the state at the weekend. The closure was part of the government’s efforts at dissuading owners of fake, substandard and illegal drugs’ businesses and outlets as well as ensuring high drug quality through streamlining of drug distribution system in the state. In spite of this, the State Task Force realizes that the cosmopolitan nature of the state and continuous influx of Nigerians from different parts of the Federation, coupled with their quest to survive at all costs, repeatedly compounds illegal drug operations.

Therefore, aside from the raids on illegal drug and food establishments, the Lagos State Task Force with the support of the Fashola administration has embarked on education of the populace as to the adverse effects of buying these products. The public awareness and enlightenment campaigns are designed to educate the general public on issues relating to fake drugs and sub-standard foods, primarily to curtail demand of such bogus products.

These campaigns have been taken to specific targeted stakeholders for a better grassroots effect. This way, by simple economic supply and demand principles, the illegal drug and food stores will not be as lucrative or attractive to the persons who own them. The Fashola administration is also educating residents of the state to always purchase their drugs from duly registered pharmacies or patent medicine stores. These can be identified by a signboard indicating that such pharmacies or patent medicine shops are properly registered and licensed.

The Lekki Airport

When the only international airport in Lagos State; Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), was built, Ikeja was a suburb of Lagos and not the bustling commercial centre it is today. All the neighbourhoods and communities around the airport, like Oshodi, Isolo, Mafoluku have become heavily built up and highly populated. These lead to sporadic and disruptive traffic congestions. Despite the fact that the Lagos State government has made heroic efforts to make the Oshodi access to the airport better by clearing the Kaiyero Market area, there is still traffic leading up to the airport itself, especially at peak hours in the morning and evening.

This scenario and several other factors like the number of passengers flying in and out of Lagos (5million per year) have made the need for another airport in Lagos State imperative, in anticipation of further economic growth in the state. The Lagos State Government established the Lagos Airport Development Company (LADC) solely for the purpose of managing the development of the proposed Lekki Airport with a primary objective of complementing and supporting the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

Forward thinking as usual, the Governor through the state Ministry of Commerce and Industry is developing a masterplan for the new international airport to be built by the state in Lekki. The new airport is expected to cost $600million and will be built adjacent to the 16,500 hectare Lekki free trade zone to further catalyse the ongoing development of the southeast region of the State.
The Lekki corridor is considered one of the most dynamic future growth areas in Nigeria. The new airport will provide much needed facilities for air passengers travelling to or via Lagos and also ease congestion at the MMIA.

The Lekki Airport is a complex project, which is why the state government engaged the best international consultants available to develop the Lekki Airport Master Plan. The study will be completed in four (4) separate stages and each stage requires approval from the Lagos State Government before proceeding to the next level.

The first stage comprises of the client’s brief; establishment of the project team; visit to the proposed site; air traffic analysis and critique for passengers and cargo; planning parameters and key facilities; yardstick measurements and airport schematics; development of airfield layout options and evaluation options and assessment.
During the second stage of the master plan, the team wrote about the passenger terminal sizing; concepts and assessment; preferred airfield and terminal options; architectural treatment options; conclusions and recommendations; development budget estimate; strategic programme options and procurement options.
For stage 3, the team will develop selected options; landside access – road & rail; prepare phasing strategy, amongst others.
The fourth and last stage will include the creation of a 3D model; presentation material; final master plan report and presentation to Governor Fashola and Lagos State Government team and the Master Plan study approval.

The Master Plan is currently at stage 3 is due to be completed by June this year. The Governor expects the airport to be operational by 2013.

Youth Empowerment

The peculiar nature of Lagos State as a former Federal Capital and the economic hub of the country has led to continuous influx of people into the metropolis. Some of the migrants are young and others are families with young children. Either way, there has been an immense increase in the youth population of the state, which has led to a lot of pressure on the social facilities available to them.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Development was founded to address these issues. Some of the objectives of the ministry include interfacing with the Ministry of Education to lay a solid foundation for our youth through functional education curriculum with a strong moral and civic content; promoting the New Face of Lagos Youth- Educated, Clean and Upwardly mobile and re- orientation of the Youth to redirect their vision and goals to give them hope for sustainable self development.

Regarding youth education, the youth empowerment initiative of the present administration in the state has commenced the rehabilitation of technical and vocational schools. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), inaugurated the pioneer Board of Technical and Vocational Education, to facilitate the empowerment of the youths and the eradication of poverty in the State. Over the last three years, a lot of work has been done to improve the conditions of the five vocational and technical schools that exist in the State by law. The first step was to rehabilitate the schools into functional, attractive and comfortable learning institutions and to restore the equipment and libraries to an acceptable level. The State is also pairing up Lagos Technical and Vocational Schools to similar vocational schools in the United Kingdom and other parts of the world for the benefit of the youth.

The youth empowerment programme gives the youth in Lagos State the confidence to help themselves and each other. Many non-governmental organizations (NGO) are being initiated by the youth of the state. One of these is the Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF). YEF started a Nigeria HIV/AIDS telephone hotline. The primary target of the hotline is youth between 15 and 24 years and using a form of access that is universal in Lagos. Everyone either has a phone or can use one for a nominal fee. Awareness of the hotline was done through the television and radio at the peak periods and also in the print media and billboard adverts. Posters were placed in markets and bus terminals where out-of-school youth work or congregate. It was (and still is) imperative that the information about the hotline reaches as many young people (between 10 and 24years) as possible because the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria is twice that of the rest of the world.

These are only two of the many programmes embarked upon by Lagos State to ensure the empowerment of the youth of Lagos State.

Lagos To Monitor Council Projects

Lagos State government will ensure that the projects carried out by the 20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) conform with the laid down regulations, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, has said.

The commissioner who spoke on the guidelines for project implementation at the grassroots said that adherence to them would enhance service delivery.
‘We need to make sure that supervision and monitoring of projects for effective service delivery at the local government level conforms to the laid down principles and standards of the state.

‘We must not allow mediocrity, negligence, non-challant attitude and recklessness to and threaten the survival of our dear state’, Agunsoye told reporters in Ikeja.
The commissioner said that the Project Monitoring Department was created to insist on the regulations for the purpose of ensuring even development for the wider segment of the population.

Agunsoye stressed that the department which has been receiving petitions from the councils about project execution would guided by the rules and regulations that stipulated the conditions which must be met to secure approval for the implementation of projects and programmes.

He said that the ministry had issued out comprehensive guidelines and specifications of works and materials to be usd by the councils in the construction of roads, drainages, buildings and other infrastructure to ensure standard and durability of projects.

‘Local governments in each senatorial district have been advised to hold consultations with relevant professional bodies to raise joint teams of construction and industrial professionals, including architects, engineers, builders and quantity surveyors to profer solutions, monitor and certify infrastructural projects on behalf of the councils’, Agunsoye added.

Lagos Rail Project

Transportation has been a problem in Lagos State for over 30 years. The mass influx of people into Lagos from the hinterland beginning in 1971 when Nigeria was benefitting from the rise in world oil prices has continued unabated until today. For instance, according to the census of 1991, the population of Lagos was just over 5.7 million and this had grown to over 18 million in 2006 census.

Lagos is one of the fastest growing cities in the world in terms of population and the infrastructure in place has not kept up with this pace of growth. The convenience of communication with the introduction of cell phones reduced the amount of cars on the road slightly because some trips became unnecessary, but there is still an urgent need for augmentation of the current systems of transportation.

The Lagos State Government under Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has made a huge dent in this problem with the introduction of Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (Lagos BRT) buses on 17th March 2008 but it is still insufficient to solve the Lagos transport problem. The average number of vehicles per kilometer on Nigeria’s roads is 11, but Lagos, has a figure of 224, which goes to show the extent of the crisis.

The administration also introduced the waterway transportation. The routes are to be developed using the Public Private Partnership (PPP), with the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) representing the state and private investors being in partnership. Priority routes include Ikorodu to Marina; Ebute Ojo to Marina, via Satellite Town and Ijede-Badore to Marina via Lekki and Falomo. This is helping but there is still a lot that can be done.

This is why the mass transit rail system is of particular interest to Governor Fashola. The rail system will ease the transportation woes of Lagosians and provide jobs too. The rail system concept was initially the Metroline project that was conceived by the Jakande administration in 1983. Rather than reinvent the wheel, Governor Fashola has revived the project and made some necessary modifications because of the time lapse and technological advances. The project, now called the Light Rail Project was officially started on 15th May 2007.

The Lagos State administration commitment to the project is a clear evidence of the governor’s intention of keeping all his campaign promises of improving the quality of life of the struggling masses in the state. The Light Rail will run using colour configurations that will assist in distinguishing the different routes. The two colours will be Red and Blue. For instance, the Blue Line will run from Okokomaiko to Marina. The rail system will boost the urban image of Lagos State. And provide at least 4,000 jobs, mostly for Lagosians. CCEC rail construction will be responsible for the development of the project and will train Nigerians to operate the system

Nigerians with experience working abroad in the underground or rail system have also expressed interest in using their expertise and be part of the operational team, which is encouraging in itself. It is also heartening that Lagosians abroad are willing to be part of Governor Fashola’s vision of the new Lagos.

Fashola Seeks Peace Between Stakeholders and Concessionaire Of Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has brokered peace between stakeholders of Ibeju-Lekki and the Concessionaire of the Lekki-Epe Expressway over issues arising from the landmark project.

The peace meeting resulted in the setting up of a Committee of all the stakeholders comprising traditional rulers, elders of Eti-Osa, Iru and Ibeju-Lekki as well as the concessionaire – Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to work towards the amicable resolution of all the issues at stake.

Giving an insight into the immense benefits of the Lekki-Epe Expressway project after listening to representations made by the stakeholders, Governor Fashola who spoke at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Alausa venue of the meeting on the 22nd of July, explained that the tolling of the road is in order to enable the concessionaire recoup the investment it made adding that although it may not be easy initially, the long-term benefits to the community far out-weigh the challenges.

Citing an example with Boston in the United States of America, Governor Fashola said although it is a novel idea in Nigeria, tolling has been employed across the globe to execute multi-million dollar projects with far-reaching socio-economic gains adding that the Boston Underground Road which initially raised agitations and resistance from the people has today become a place to behold.

“Change does not come so easily, but the gains outweigh the pains”, the Governor said adding that the road will open up access to the on-going Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Lekki Seaport including the refinery which the Federal Government plans to site in the area.

“I implore us, we are not building only road; our agreement is more than just building a road. It is not for the development of Eti-Osa alone but the entire Lagos State”, the Governor pleaded pointing out that the Concessionaire sought assurance from the State Government that there would be no breach of agreement.

According to Governor Fashola, even after the assurance by the State Government, the Concessionaire still did not commence work until the Government supported the agreement with a law passed by the representatives of the people in the State House of Assembly and the Federal Executive Council deliberated and passed a resolution on it.


On the gains already being recorded as a result of the road, the Governor said the road project has led to the appreciation of property value in the area adding, “The completion of the road is what the area is expecting. It is for the future development of the area”.

On the likely consequences of any breach of the agreement on the side of the State Government, Governor Fashola warned, “If we say we do not want the project to continue, it is not about money alone; it is about our reputation. The project is funded by international finance institutions. A breach of the contract will not be good for Lagos or Nigeria”.

He recalled the multi-billion dollar metro line project proposed for Lagos by former Governor Lateef Jakande pointing out that when another government truncated the contract even after the design had been completed; the State Government not only lost the project, it also lost money because the contractor went to court and sued the Government for breach of contract.

“Stopping the Concessioning agreement of the Lekki-Epe Expressway now will obviously affect other concessioning agreements in Nigeria”, Governor Fashola said adding that the Federal Government has already given a guarantee on the project.

Promising that all grey areas on the issue will be resolved soon, Governor Fashola called for nominations into a committee being set up by the State Government for that purpose adding that the Committee would comprise of stakeholders, traditional rulers, and elders of Eti-Osa, Iru and Ibeju-Lekki.

Earlier, a representative of the stakeholders, Mr. Adewale Sanni, had articulated their grievances to include the erection of three toll-gates and the fencing off of some communities in the area.

Present at the well attended meeting which lasted for over two hours, were stakeholders, elders and leaders of thought, traditional rulers and representatives of Lekki-Epe Expressway concessionaire as well as State Government officials including the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Town Planner Francisco Abosede, the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Olalekan Ifemode.

The meeting attended by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, also had in attendance a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jide Akinloye and the local government chairmen of the area.

Among the traditional rulers present were the Alara of Ilara, the Ojomu of Ajiranland, the Aladeshoyin of Odo-Naforija, the Onilekki of Lekki, the Onibeju of Ibeju, the Alaketu of Ketu, the Onise of Ise, the Onitedo of Itedo, the Olofin of Orugbo, representative of Oba Oniru of Iruland, representative of Abowa of Agbowa and the Omola of Odomola, Chief Razaq Falana, Chief Mudashiru Lawal, the Baale of Aromire, among many other traditional rulers and chiefs.

On the stakeholders’ side were Hon. Yahaya Adeniyi Dosunmu, Major General Paul Toun (rtd), Mr. Lawal Fatai Olalekan, among others while the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) had in attendance its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma, among other officials.

TAX LAW REVIEW

Lagosians are slowly getting used to having a voice and knowing the government is willing to listen and not only look into their request but act upon it and change the law to make it fair. On July 5th 2010 there was a newspaper article about Lagos commercial shop owners complaining over the random levies imposed on them, insisting that it is double taxation.

The shop-owners and artisans condemned the conduct of the officials who stormed the shops and insisted the owners pay a new levy of N2500, or have their shops closed. Some other areas visited were Igando-Ikotun, Isolo, Egbe-Idimu, and Ejigbo. The exercise was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and the Lagos State Council of Tradesmen and Artisan (LASCOTA).

Currently, shop owners pay ₦2,500 as tax to the state, through the LIRS, but the additional levy of ₦2,500 brings the amount to N5,000 annually. Two receipts were issued to the shop owners for the new levy; one is written LASCOTA for ₦2000; and another, a payment of N500 for identity card from the State Treasury Office.

Less than ten days after, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola signed into law a bill that is expected to effectively eliminate multiple taxations in Lagos State. The bill, recently passed by the state’s legislature, has 15 sections and one schedule which contained the 16 levies collectible by the local councils and the administration of the levies. The schedule to the law listed all the 16 levies that local governments can collect, thereby eliminating inexplicit charges that are forcefully collected.

The law excluded motorists from the payment of Radio and TV licence by limiting the collection to residential apartments alone. However, it means Lagos residents will henceforth pay to obtain the domestic animal licence before they can have a pet. Annual levies will be combined on a single assessment notice in order to harmonise all the levies into a singular payment.

The law is of public interest because it solves a problem that has long been a thorn in the flesh of Lagos State. It will sanitize the system and lay to rest the issue of multiple taxation and use of touts. Mr. Fashola proposed the bill after listening to the complaints of people and the need to demonstrate that the administration is serious in addressing the complaints of the people, especially because of the misgivings arising from activities of touts who do not have our mandate.

The law establishes a State Joint Revenue Committee, comprising local council chairmen and state officials, which will annually fix the rates of the approved levies which may vary depending on the cosmopolitan nature of each local council. From now on, a chart listing the approved levies and rates must be conspicuously displayed at the revenue office of each local council, and any local government official or approved revenue agents must be clearly identified with name badge. Penalty for collection of levies without remittance, touting and collection of rates higher than prescribed ranges from ₦500, 000 fine to 3 years imprisonment.

The administrations swift response to the public is one of the characteristics that set it apart from others.

Fashola Signs Law To Standardize Tourism, Hotel Practice In Lagos

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday, July 19th 2010, signed into law a bill for the regulation and standardization of the tourism sector including hotel practice in the State, saying the future holds much more than oil for major oil producing countries.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja added that this explains why such oil producing giants are now investing their oil proceeds to diversify away from oil and move into other sectors like Agriculture, knowledge based economy like Information Technology, Green Energy and Tourism.

According to Lagos state helmsman, “Lagos is one of those States that have the capacity to really diversify their economies towards the area of tourism and that is why we have spent so much of tax payers’ money trying to provide the environment that would support a growth of tourism”.

The Governor explained that tourism is about destination, saying if the people cannot get there, there is no tourism.

He added that this explains the massive construction of road network such as the Lagos Badagry Expressway and the Lekki-Epe Concession which are strategic investments to boost tourism and improve the economic possibilities that lie there.

“We have the same Atlantic Ocean that goes all the way round the West Coast and as far as Brazil; he also said “If Brazil is making money from the Atlantic, why are we not doing the same thing. Laws like this also exist in all those jurisdictions”.

Governor Fashola acknowledged that the tourism and hospitality sector of the economy is looking up and getting better by the day, citing the instances of many businesses that hitherto closed at 7pm but now extending till late in the night.

“More hotels have opened in Lagos in the last three years and more are still coming. It is important for us to be able to measure this growth. Legislations such as this will enable us, apart from reviewing some of the prescriptions here to bring them in conformity with current laws and have a data where it is possible to enable us know how many new people come into this economy or how many people it is employing”, the Governor added.

The Governor said in addition to the fact that it represents a way of self benchmarking; it would also help measure how many people are being employed in the tourism industry in order to empower Government to know how much more it has to do.

He also stated that, “We complain about unemployment, but we have not really opened up the economy of this state and its possibilities. For example, our Green Campaign has employed over 5000 people. We are also looking at solid waste management, waste water treatment and similar ones that have to be opened up. This is also an economic policy that can expand the economy”.

Governor Fashola thanked the members of the State House of Assembly for enacting the useful piece of legislation.

Earlier, while giving an insight into the bill, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Legislative Matters, Hon AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef said the law will standardize the tourism sector as well as regulate hotel practice by amending the provisions of the hotel licensing law of 2003.

Hon AbdulHakeem disclosed that immediately the Governor assents to the bill; the hotel licensing law of 2003 becomes amended, adding the law has been expanded to include the regulation of tourism practice.

He explained that the former law which stipulates that no person shall operate or keep any brothel without obtaining license or permission from the Hotel and Tourism licensing authority has been amended to read that no person would be allowed to operate a hotel establishment or practice tourism in Lagos State in any premises without first obtaining the license of the authority.

He explained that the penalties prescribed under the former law are so outdated that it has witnessed high level of disobedience with maximum penalties ranging between N100 and N200 for offences.

The Special Adviser also said the new law has also given power to Hotel and Tourism Licensing Authority to standardize, regulate and grade the various hotels and tourism businesses operating in Lagos State in line with best practices.

He said the Commissioner responsible for managing the provisions of the new law is the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations.

The event was witnessed by members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, the Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Hon Onibiyo Adelabu, representatives of the National Association of Travel Agents and Association of Lagos Hoteliers.

Fashola Appeals To Lagosians On Bad Roads

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on the 14th of July, 2010 reiterated his appeal to the people of Lagos to be patient, to forbear and understand that Government is mindful of the problems which the rains have brought on the condition of some of the roads in the State.

The Governor, who spoke at the Local wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport on his return from an official trip to Abuja, added that government is working very hard and will soon deal with the problems.

He said road maintenance is a continuous process which validates the position of the Government right from the outset that work can never finish as long human beings exist, saying: “When you finish one road, a new one will always exist. Some of them are feeder roads, while some are main arterial roads”.

Governor Fashola explained that in every situation where human beings exist, the needs would always be more than the resources available.
He added that this explains why the State Government started first by applying the resources in the most judicious manner to the roads that carry the greatest traffic and the roads that help the people get to work.

He listed the roads to include Third Mainland Bridge, Alapere and Funsho Williams, Ikorodu Road, and Agege Motor Road among others.
He said there is no point in rehabilitating the road in the streets or neighbourhoods and neglect the major ones that will result in people not being able get to work to earn livelihood because of the poor state of such major roads.

According to him, “Where the resources are not infinite, we must continue to manage. There are also plans to address the feeder roads as many as possible but also we live in this period when the weather is not our friend”.

“The production at our bitumen and asphalt plant is also hampered by the weather. The material, the sharp sand has to be dried before we can put it in and manufacture bitumen. This is nature at work”, he explained.

On what his administration has in stock for Lagosians for the remainder of the year and especially as electioneering period is approaching, Governor Fashola said electioneering campaign should not be an excuse not to work.
He said the present administration has a four year mandate which it will finish with the same zeal and energy that it started; stressing that nothing less is good for Lagosians.

Lagos State Rural Transport Initiative

The Lagos State government issued ownership documents to beneficiaries of its Transportation Initiative (LARUTI), who had completed their payment within the stipulated period.
When the Lagos State Government in 2009 launched the tricycle scheme tagged Lagos State Transportation Initiative (LARUTI), not too many people believed that the project would achieve its objective of reducing the widening poverty gap in the country.

But one year after, LARUTI has not only succeeded in creating employment opportunities for Lagos residents, but it has increased economic development at the grass roots. It was in celebration of this success story that the government through the ministry of Rural Development celebrated some of the beneficiaries of the scheme who completed their payment within the stipulated period.

The beneficiaries assembled at the government seat at Alausa and were presented documents which henceforth would serve as proof of their ownership of the tricycles.
The Commissioner for Rural Development, Prince Lanre Balogun, while presenting the documents, assured residents that government remains committed to implementing programmes and projects towards achieving the state’s mega city objective.

He commended them for keeping to the agreement, which he described as a proof that the people at the grassroots can be trusted to honour business agreement.
The Commissioner, who handed over the keys of 10tricycles to representatives of the Igbatuntun City Bus Co-operative (ICBC), Alimosho, Lagos, however warned beneficiaries yet to pay up their loans to do so or risk losing their tricycles.

He explained that inability of most individuals to comply with the payment necessitated the state government’s dealing more with cooperatives from various communities than individuals.
"If you don’t pay for certain period and we are not informed of why you are not paying, we are at liberty to recover the vehicle and give it to another person who will be willing to take over from where you stopped and that person would now take over your assets and liabilities’, he warned.

He added that the development was hindering others from benefiting from the scheme as the loan is a revolving one.
He explained that the state government is in talks with the manufacturers to set up an assembly plant in Lagos to enable beneficiaries to enjoy easy access to spare parts of the tricycles as well as reduce the cost.
He noted that this would also solve the problem of demands, revealing that the present demand for the tricycles has hit 5,000, while the state could only get about 300 tricycles.
"If people pay back as we expect, it’s a revolving loan, the more they pay, the more we can revolve it to enable others to benefit from it, but if its truncated and people refuse to pay and we cannot recover and hand over to others, obviously the funds would be depleted and people who are waiting cannot benefit as more people are showing interest," he added.

The commissioner also reminded the beneficiaries that the LARUTI scheme is meant to service the rural areas within the state, warning them to desist from plying urban areas.

A beneficiary from Ikorodu North division, Mr. Samuel Benson, who spoke on behalf of others, commended the government for the scheme, which he described as a pride of the state and worthy of emulation by other states.
"When I got the information about the project, I called a meeting of the people in my Community Development Association (CDA) and encouraged them to subscribe to it because I saw the economic benefits that could be derived from the project. Some of the people there discouraged me from subscribing, because they said it was government’s project and were not too certain whether it would see the light of the day," he said.

Fashola And His Legacy

The Lagos State Government has put in place a government that is genuinely committed to managing the state resources for the common good of all. Wherever you go in Lagos, you can see the administration of Babatunde Fashola at work without seeing his face on billboards. He is quietly charting a new course for the State without ranting about it. His work simply speaks for him. There is a general consensus across the land that government is working for the good of the people in Lagos.

In Lagos, capital expenditure is given prominence over re-current expenditure as only 30% of the budget is committed to the latter and the results are there for all to see. New blocks of classrooms are springing up in public schools, books are given freely to public schools’ pupils and students while government has continued to pay the NECO exam fees of SSS3 students in the public schools even as it has continued to employ hundreds of them for holiday jobs to avoid the idle hands syndrome through the youth empowerment programme, new roads and bridges are being constructed and commissioned while existing ones are being re-habilitated in different locations of the state with quality delivery being the watchword, first class health facilities now adorn most of the public hospitals.

Similarly, over seven years arrears of the state pensioners money were paid, the Operation Green Lagos project has transformed the environmental landscape, against all odds the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system has become a relative success as its scope of operations is being expanded to other parts of the state, there is renewed genuine efforts to transform the rural areas through provision of access roads, electricity and water. Equally, new sporting facilities have been provided across the state while more opportunities for employment now abound for all.

Despite the relative success of his administration, the Governor is not resting on his oars. Fashola has the right kind of vision. His dream of a new Lagos transcends the present. He wants to build a Lagos that is similar to reputable international cities like London, Mumbai, Istanbul, Sao Paulo, Jakarta, Delhi, Dubai, Bangkok, and Cairo among others. Fashola’s government is working with the Organized Private Sector (OPS) to realize the $1.5 billion Lagos Energy City Project as well as the audacious $3.5 billion Atlantic City Project which intends to accommodate over 250,000 Lagosians who are to live and work in the city.

Part of the objective for bringing the city on board is to relieve the pressure on the ever enlarging population of the state. Equally, the emerging city is expected to overturn the ecological harm on Victoria Island and environs brought about by years of coastline erosion.

Also, the ongoing construction of the Lekki Free Trade Zone is another project offering tremendous developmental opportunities for the state.
Already, a Chinese firm has taken up 1000 hectares of the 6000 hectares of land available at the Zone for the establishment of industrial enterprises. Equally, the Managing Director of Jianging Industrial Zone in China, Mr. Yang and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria , have visited the zone while over 40 Chinese firms have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the State Government for the establishment of Industrial Park and City, which will be known as "China City.

Perhaps more significant is Fashola’s success in tapping into the resources of the business community in Lagos, the commercial hub of the country. Lagos State has cleaned up its finances to the point where it can now convince investors to take up a series of bond offers designed to raise N275bn to fund infrastructure works. Nigeria’s fast-growing banks, demonstrating their belief in the Fashola government, snapped up the initial tranche of 50bn naira to pay for government’s bid to transform the state’ infrastructure.

A leader is not successful until he has gotten for himself worthy successors. Therefore, the success account of the Fashola’s administration is a critical lesson in progressive political engineering. As the Fashola administration approach the final lap of its mandate, there is reason to believe that, no part of the state will be left untouched in its developmental efforts.

This is what the people wanted. This is what they voted for. This is what they deserve.
Eko o ni baje o…

Please find attached the new initiative for Nigerian Higher Education,

Regards,

F.J.

Abimbola Fashola Condemns Nollywood's Image of Women

The First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, has joined other Nigerians to condemn the exploitation of women in Nollywood. She therefore wants an improvement on the prevalent themes in our movies.
Mrs. Fashola’s call to "do something about this in the near future" set the pace for the series of sessions at the first African Women in Film Forum (WIFF), at the Colonades Hotel, in Ikoyi, Lagos on the 17th of June, 2010.

Convened by the African Women Development Fund (AWDF) and organized by the Lufodo Academy of the Performing Arts (LAPA), the two-day event brought together practitioners from within the industry and members of the academia as discussants in various sessions of the programme.

Zimbabwean film maker and writer, Tsitsi Dangarembga, a highly anticipated discussant at the forum, was unavoidably absent.
Other foreign based speakers in attendance were Dr. Abena Busia who delivered the lead presentation; Akin Omotoso South (Africa based filmmaker); as well as Bunmi Oyinsan and Nollywood scholar Onookome Okome (both based in Canada).

The various discussants during the two- day forum included Tunde Kelani, Mahmoud Ali-Balogun, Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, Emem Isong, Amaka Igwe, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, Biodun Ibitola, Omoni Oboli, Dakore Egbuson, Reuben Abati, Funmi Iyanda, Iretiola Doyle and Emma Isikaku.
Also in attendance were Nollywood stars such as Chioma Chukwuka, Bimbo Manuel, Uche Mac-Auley, Monalisa Chinda, Saheed Balogun, Rose Odika, Carol King, Ego Boyo and Dupe Jaiyesimi.

In a paper titled 'Women and the Dynamics of Representation', Dr. Abena Busia called for proper representation of women in Nigerian movies saying, "There is a need to redress the discrepancies about how we are seen.

We should never underestimate the differences between how we are seen and how we see ourselves because when it becomes abuse, we fight."

Fashola Signs Building Control Bill Into Law

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, on Monday, July 5, 2010 signed into law a bill for the administration of physical planning, urban regeneration and building control. The law, which aims at regulating the construction of buildings in the state, prohibits the activities of roadside block makers.

Governor Fashola, after assenting to the bill at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said that it marked the beginning of his administration’s promise to regulate building construction in the state. The bill is a fallout of frequent building collapses recorded across the state.
The Governor said that interactions with artisans, bricklayers, sand miners and others in the construction industry showed that building collapse was a result of poor quality materials. He stated that artisans in the construction industry had assured him of their support and cooperation to remove roadside block makers and allow legitimate stakeholders to service the public needs in the sector.

Lagos State helmsman said that through the law, the life-span of developed property and the lives of residents would be prolonged, noting that the law would enforce urban and regional planning in the state to ensure safety of lives in the case of emergencies or fire outbreak.

“It will also assist the state in planning the infrastructural needs of the citizens such as in the provision of electricity, water, hospitals and schools, and ensure that building contractors and developers abide by the building codes, by using appropriate building and electrical materials,” the Governor said.

Building for the disabled
Mr. Fashola added that the law also provides that all buildings being constructed in the state must take cognizance of the physically challenged, while provision for the role of insurance firms in the construction of buildings right from the outset by visiting construction sites, was also accentuated in the law.

“They will ensure that buildings are built to right specifications, with right materials for the safety of the workers and fit for tenants’ habitation on completion. When insurance companies are involved, they would be responsible for the payment of compensation to victims of any collapsed buildings if such eventually happens,” he said.

Governor Fashola further explained that landlords with buildings above two floors must obtain certificates of fitness from the Building Control Board. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Legislative Powers Bureau, Abdullatef Abdulhakeem, said that the law had provisions for preservation of the trees within construction sites. “This is to ensure that developers are friendly with their environment, to guide against flooding,” he said.

He explained that under the law, agencies such as the Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Authority (LASPHDA), the Lagos State Building Control and the Lagos State Urban and Rural Agency (LASURA), had been harmonized “to reduce the apprehensions the public used to have when it comes to issues relating to building permits in the state,” he said.

According to Mr. Abdulhakeem, the law stipulates that compensations would be paid to landlords whose certificates of occupancy were revoked in the public interest.

Lagos Inter-Tertiary Games: School Officials Commend Fashola

During the final ceremony of the 2nd edition of the Lagos Inter-Tertiary Games, most of the senior officials present at the ceremony commended the state governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), for his initiative to organize the competition.

Princess Adetope Kosoko, Registrar of Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu Campus, said she was happy with the organization of the championship and that Governor  Fashola did a good job by backing the tourney.
“I want to thank the Governor for this wonderful competition he put in place for our students. It has created healthy competition in the higher institution in the state,” she said.

The Sports Coordinator of Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Victoria Island, Lagos, Mr. Bankole Adekunle said his school was unknown in sports before now but the Lagos Inter-Tertiary Games has exposed his institution. “This competition is the best thing that could happen to tertiary schools in Lagos. We are unknown to most people, but our participation in this tourney this year has really brought us to the limelight. I want to thank the Governor for this contribution to the development of sports in the country. Though we did not perform well in the just concluded tourney, we’ll improve our performance in the next edition,” he said.

Dr. A.F. Orukotan, Chairman, Sports Council, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin, was so excited with the football gold medal his school won. The school defeated Lagos State University, LASU, 4-2 through a penalty shoot-out after they played 1-1 at regulation time.

“I’m happy with the performance of my school. They really made us proud. My commendation goes to Governor Fashola for the foresight to come out with this kind of arrangement. This will go a long way to develop sports in the state, especially within the schools system,” he said.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr. Kunle Ajanaku, Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, who represented the Lagos State Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Sosan, said the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is aware of the talents in the higher institutions in the state that was why the Inter-Tertiary Games was organized to discover these talents and reward them. He noted that the government has plans to consolidate on the achievements of the competition.

Fashola Advocates Derivation On Revenue

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has advocated an increase in revenue accruing to states with natural resources, saying every state should be entitled to 25 per cent of what it has.

He faulted the present arrangement where revenue allocation to states is determined by the number of local governments and said allocation to states should not depend on number of local governments in a state.
Fashola also reiterated call for state police, stressing that political and true federalism should be taken seriously in Nigeria where local governments should be within the jurisdiction of states.

He made the call during a public hearing on a bill for an act to alter the provision of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and for other matters connected thereto at the Lagos State Assembly Complex Alausa, Ikeja on the 21st of June 2010.

The governor, who was represented at the event by Abdulateef Abdulhakim, said, "Every state should be entitled to 25 per cent of what it has, local government should be within the jurisdiction of states and revenue allocation should not depend on number of local governments in a state."

Fashola also faulted the present arrangement where democratic structures are affected during state of emergency and called for its amendment, saying state of emergency should not affect democratic structures in a state where such was declared.

While calling for state police, Fashola contended that such would give boost to crime prevention at the grassroots as such arrangement would enable state executives to combat crime upsurge in their respective states.

Echoing similar sentiment, Senator Biyi Durojaiye in his submission said the present constitution which was documented by the military could not reflect the wishes of Nigerians.
He said: "The constitution of today lies against itself because it was put up by the military. That is the reason we at NADECO have been calling for Sovereign National Conference (SNC). Section 215 (4) does not give governors power over the commissioner of Police; it should be looked into for amendment.

In his keynote address, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Ikuforiji Adeyemi said the House would never pass a bill without listening to the inputs of those that elected them.

"We will always do things that will please the interest of the 18 million Lagosians. Though, it is not from either the state Executive or Legislature but from National Assembly, we can either accept or reject it and there are about 41 amendments. The constitution of a country is a law binding everyone together in that nation and if there will be any amendment, the people need to be carried along," he said.
He continued: "As lawmakers, we believe that lots still need to be done; your opinion will be transmitted to the National Assembly. Your opinion is what will guide our responses to the National Assembly. Our opinion here today will go a long way in the final decision at the National Assembly."

The public hearing attracted politicians, civil society groups, market leaders and other members of the public.

Lagos State Ten Point Agenda

The Lagos state government has the following ten point agenda to meet the needs of the citizens of Lagos State.

Roads - Aggressive road rehabilitation in all local government areas; construction of new roads and bridges, construction of coastal roads, dualisation of Ikorodu-Itokin-Epe and LASU-Iba roads, expansion of Badagry expressway, and construction of Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge.

Transportation - Integrated Mass Transit Programme with emphasis on road, rail and water transportation services through LAMATA via a private public participation consisting of: strengthening of traffic management mechanisms, execution of the first state run rail services, construction of light rail and stimulation of private sector investment.

Power/Water supply - Lagos IPP (Emergency Facility) – 270MW (1st phase); Lagos IPP (Permanent Facility) – 540MW (2nd Phase).
Environment/Physical planning - Making Lagos a model city state; introduction of community-based for sustainable development; establishment of a Disaster Management Agency (“DMA”); and aggressive implementation of emission control standards.

Health - Deepening of current free health-care programmes; expansion of primary health-care programmes; pursuit of secondary health-care; strengthening of the marine ambulance and emergency medical services; and improvement of medical personnel welfare.

Education – Establishment of millennium schools in all local government councils; re-engineering/refurbishment of primary schools; rehabilitation and maintenance of existing schools and libraries; provision of school furniture/equipment; curriculum review/entrepreneurial training; functional scholarship system; and self sustaining tertiary education.

Employment – Introduction of Graduate Empowerment Programme (20,000 graduates in year one); drains ducts and waste management (10,000 new jobs); and export processing zone (20,000 new jobs).

Food security – Empowerment of farmers/fishermen cooperative societies; facilitation of sustainable food production and processing; and support for strategic food preservation and farm settlement development.

Shelter – Provision of affordable mass housing schemes; facilitation of a liberalized mortgage system; and new/satellite town development.
Revenue enhancement – diversification of revenue sources; widening tax net; effective revenue collection mechanism; and database development.

Fashola Advocates Global Minimum Safety Standards

Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, on the 24th of June 2010, called for the adoption of international minimum safety standards across the board, expected to protect the economy, human beings and the environment in general.

Governor Fashola, who spoke against the background of environmental issues that are playing out in the Gulf of Mexico at the International Bar Association (IBA) Section on Energy, Environmental, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL) Arbitration Regional Conference with the theme: ‘Resolving International Energy and Infrastructure Disputes’ held at the Grand Ball room, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, added that whatever standard operates in the West should operate in the smallest countries of the world in terms of safety and ecological protection.

According to the Governor, “if there are international regulations and common practices for determining the prices of energy resources like crude oil and gas, should we leave different countries to develop their own safety measures?”
“Why can’t there be an international safety minimum standard of operation? If there are common pricing across the board so that it should not matter whether a country is weak, rich or poor or is strong technologically so long as it plays out in this field, its resources are extracted by these companies, whatever standard operates in the West will operate in the smallest countries of the world in terms of safety and ecological protection”.

Governor Fashola said it is in appreciation of the importance of energy and infrastructure in the economy of Lagos State that every year the budget of the state is about renewing, improving and reducing the deficit of infrastructure that has become the order of the day in many African countries.

Fashola Advocates Creation Of Development Fund For Economic Growth

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on the 23rd of January 2010, advocated for the creation of a development fund for the nation's industrial sector as the most practical approach to address infrastructural decay in the country.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Oduduwa Hall, Southern Sun Hotel, during a meeting with the Bankers' Committee, said the banks must think of a way to create development funds that will fast track the growth of the real sector.

"We must put on our thinking caps in 2010. All the creativity, the experiences of our business and financial schools is what I think should be brought to the table in 2010", the Governor said.
Fashola said the present infrastructural decay in the country is as a result of 40 years of neglect during which banks have declared huge profits amidst so much poverty in the country. The paradox where individuals have built their own homes in very poor environment and drive expensive cars on the bad roads.

According to the Governor, “We have tried to build our own power, boreholes and security but commonsense has shown that it won’t work.
Pointing out that a development fund is the only viable way to grow the nation’s economy, Governor Fashola declared, “I don’t think we do not have the mental and human acumen or capacity to do what is right. It is just to invite everyone to log on to a common purpose and understanding of why we are doing this”.

He warned, “What we are about to embark upon may affect your balance sheets in a not too pleasant way in the short term; but the reality is that if we don’t do it, there may be no balance sheet at all”, adding that the situation could get close to what currently prevails in Somalia, Darfur or Zimbabwe.

Governor Fashola said what the Lagos State Government decided to do the State was imposed on it by the desperate need to address the infrastructural gap brought about by more than three decades deficit adding, “We did not wish to, but we realized that it would not work if we did not address the infrastructural deficit”.

The Governor noted that after Tejuosho, Falomo and Adeniran Ogunsanya shopping complexes were built, no more modern markets were built resulting in traders spilling unto the roads across the city.

“There were manifestations of dwindling infrastructure. There was less water works. We felt that if we don’t address the desperation, the consequences of desperation will manifest itself in corruption, aggression and crime. That is why we are building and I am happy to report that we are mitigating the desperation”, the Governor said.

The Lagos State helmsman, Governor Fashola said, “is reacting to a programme where the United nations Population Agency characterized cities by size and classified cities with 10 million people and above as mega-cities”, adding that the status comes with its consequences when there are more people than the resources can satisfy.

One of the strategies adopted to achieve the objectives of the State Government, the Governor said, is to diversify the economy of the State by opening up the State’s Tourist Assets adding that that is why it is embarking on the construction of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

The objective, he explained, is to redistribute traffic across the State but particularly to enable the Government use the coastline in order to harness its tourism potentials, adding, “I have seen what water front beaches have done in other economies and tourism is about destination. If people cannot get there, there is no tourism and the assets will waste”.

He said the Expressway also provides enormous opportunities to expand regional trade from neighbouring African countries adding that there is no reason the rail track that will accompany the road could not go all the way to Ghana someday in the future.

In terms of commerce and manufacturing, the Governor who said his administration inherited from the last administration very ambitious projects with enormous potentials such as the Lagos Free Trade Zone, added that what will attract people to come and set up business in the area is essentially power, water supply and efficient transportation, among other infrastructure.

Re-emphasizing the need for creating the fund, the Governor told the bankers, “The foundation for any business growth is safe and secure environment and you know how far we have gone for the sake of reinforcing it. With your partnership, we set up a Trust Fund on which you put money and I put money and we manage it together and within two years or thereabouts, we significantly brought down the level of crime in Lagos”.

In his presentation on real sector financing opportunities, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Rotimi Oyekan spoke on infrastructural renewal and expansion in Lagos State in the areas of Transportation, Power, Agriculture, Waste Management and Housing among others.

He said the financial strategy of Lagos State is hinged on three broad platforms, Debt Issuance Programme, Multilateral Financing and Public-Private Partnership adding that the State Government will continue to adopt any or a combination of these financing options to meet the challenges of transforming Lagos into Africa’s Model Megacity.

The Commissioner also listed and explained the various Near-term projects under execution by the State Government in Transportation, Power, Agriculture, Housing, Commerce and Industry and those under Medium and long term in Transportation, Water Supply, Urban Renewal and Housing.

Earlier, in his remarks, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Lamido Sanusi expressed the willingness of the banking sector to work with the Lagos State Government in providing a conducive environment for business to thrive.

Sanusi who noted that Lagos is the economic capital of Nigeria just like Jakarta in Indonesia, Tokyo in Japan among others, declared, “We are presented with an opportunity to work with a government that is committed to the development of Lagos to provide movement, comfortable environment within our institutions”.

According to him, it will require the cooperation of different segments of the economy, the Ministry of Power, Infrastructure and others with “a hard working, implementation-focused technical team” to achieve the goal. He added that, “We, as Central Bank, will do all we could to support so that six months from now, we would not be where we are today”.

Fashola Inaugurates Boundary Committee.

On June 21, 2010, the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), inaugurated 12-member boundary committee that would help facilitate amicable resolution of boundary related conflicts through which meaningful development and realization of the lawful objectives of the people can take place.

Fashola urged the committee of the need to adopt tested principles of boundary delineation and work within the confines of the law to resolve boundary related disputes.
According to him, conflicts would always remain part and parcel of man’s existence because the quest to acquire more assets would pitch brothers and sisters, states and local governments against one another.

"Part of the responsibility of this committee would be to resolve these conflicts amicably and give competitive opportunities to everyone to achieve his or her own objectives", he added.
He however noted that the committee was timely especially as the 2011 elections beckons, adding that the delineation of the state into constituencies by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) is likely to spring up boundary related conflicts both within the state and neighboring states.

"I read recently that some communities are saying they want to be part of Lagos State, while some feel that they have been wrongly aligned. These are some of the issues the committee would seek to resolve ahead of the elections," he said.
He noted that the committee has all it needs to succeed in its mission with all the relevant professionals on land and boundary matters as members adding, "you could not ask for a higher authority to chair the committee than Her Excellency the Deputy Governor who is also playing her constitutionally prescribed role".

Thanking the members for accepting to serve on the committee, Governor Fashola pledged his support to the members "to ensure that success is achieved".

In her acceptance speech on behalf of the members, the committee chairman and Deputy Governor, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan thanked Governor Fashola for giving them the opportunity to serve and pledged that her committee would do its utmost best to meet the expectations of the Government and people of Lagos State and ensure that peace is sustained in the state".

Other members of the committee include the State Commissioner and the Special Adviser for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Rotimi Agunsoye, and Hon. Olalekan Ifemade respectively, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olasupo Sasore (SAN), his Information and Strategy and Physical Planning and Urban Development counterparts, Barrister Opeyemi Bamidele, and Town Planner Francisco Abosede, the State Surveyor General, Surveyor David Olatunbosun, Permanent Secretary Lands Mr. Gbenga Ashafa and Mr. Michael Ola Dawodu Director (Land Matters) who is secretary to the Committee among others.