Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu
By Aderemi Saheed Yussuf
There is a popular saying that “Bi Oju o ba ti Eyin Igbeti Oju o Le ti Eko” If the Lagoon still exist, the city of Lagos can not be put to shame.
Sequel the amalgamation of the the North and the South in 1914, Lagos because of its location and it’s natural endowment of the Atlantic ocean, the British Royal company found it suitable and it became a commercial hub and official seat of the Colonial government after Calabar.
The influx of people around the world to Lagos became imperative
High commissions and Embassies of countries found Lagos suitable for their diplomats. Ikoyi and Victoria Island was their settlement. The Coastal line became a busy axis for commerce and Industries. The multinational Companies and banks became saturated. The influx of people migrating from other part of the country skyrocketed. The Nigeria port Authority was established. The Carter bridge was the first bridge that linked the Lagos Island and the mainland before the Eko bridge and 3rd mainland bridge was constructed.
Truly, Lagos was developed by the federal government but later abadonned after moving the Capital to Abuja.
There was no Lekki during IBB regime, all we used to know was the Lekki peninsula, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Marina and Maroko. The name LEKKI sounded like a Scotland yard; It was dreaded………. a popular detention where notorious criminal were confined to jailed terms. It use to be place where some notable political prisoners were convicted.
The banana Island of today was the old Maroko before Lateef Jakande came and evacuated the shanties and the inhabitants for a turnaround developed housing estates hub for the middle class.
Although, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida IBB despites his weaknesses up till date wrote his name in gold for the construction of the the 3rd mainland bridge.
All the Federal government Established like the Nigeria Railway, National Stadium, National theatre, Federal Palace Hotel, National Moseum, National Library, Tafawa Balewa Sqaure, Trade fair Complex Unity Schools, FRCN, NTA, Yaba college of Technology, Tincan Island port, Apapa wharf port and what have you are all Shadows of their own.
During the 2nd republic, all efforts to Construct the Metro-line project initiated by Alhaji Lateef Jakande under unity party of Nigeria was Jettisoned.
The fourth republic was another opportunity for the Lagos state under Bola Tinubu Administration to find a lasting solution to the power supply problem. He came up with Independent power project- IPP through Erron to light-up Lagos state. The Federal government threw-in their spanner to rock the boat again. Lagos state was mandated to connect to the national grid, condition not feasible to the stakeholders.
The governor and his Administration became more aggressive and proactive, commenced the repairs of the Federal roads with states allocation which was not reimbursed until after several tussles and exchange of words.
Additional 37 local development areas were created for grassroot development. This brought another loggerhead between the state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the power that be, under the leadership of Olusegun Obasonjo.
Lagos state allocation was seized for three years and the state survived with Internal generated revenue- IGR.
It’s was upon the foundation laid down by the predesesor Bola Tinubu that Fasola and Ambode started their build-up and consolidated upon till date.
The Administration of Tinubu introduced LAWMA to removed Lagos from the list of one of the dirtiest city in the world. LAWMA sprung into action. Fasola took over and started planting flowers on the already cleaned roads for more beautification. He sanitized Oshodi market and later completed by Ambode.
At that point, Fasola stepped on toes of many non- indigenous especially the Igbos in Lagos who accused him of sending them back to their states, he was later vindicated.
Lagos state has always been blessed with visionary leaders who had always revisited the master plan of Lagos state for onward implementation.
It’s the reason why they all have their slogans as ” Eko o ni baje”……..Itesiwaju Eko Ajumo seni…..
Lagos state was built by the successive administrations from Sir Mobolaji Johnson down the line.
The only distinguishing factor about Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is being a party Leader. He felt the need to improve on the old order. There was a disagreement, he left his old party- Alliance for democracy known for it’s regional philosophies dated back to the first republic, floated a new party that metamorphosed to National Party, that is, Action Congress of Nigeria-ACN. Ever since then, Lagos state has continue to witness transformation. He initiated the Mega-city Campaign in an efforts to give turnaround maintanance to the delapidated Federal government roads and Structures in state of deterioration. The worst among them is the National Stadium.
There is different between ” build and to re-build or develop. It’s is synonymous to reinovation or re-developed. You can buy a landed property without developing it. You can build a house without reinovation or maintanance; the structure becomes out-of-fashion. Just like our inherited Properties.
There is no denying the fact that there was old Lagos and the New Lagos.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a major catalyst of the new Lagos we are experiencing today. As he has rightly said, he is a constructor, a builder.
He is the brainchild of the Eko Athlantic City along the Coastal area, the Lagos free trade Zone which gave birth to Dangote Refineries, the Lagos Seaport and the Lagos Airport, the blue and red light rail etc.
However, the real architect is Bola Ahmed Tinubu while the successive governors are just the site Engineers- the are round pegs is round holes!!!. He redesigned the building plan of Lagos state with adequate technical know-how and resources, they are almost near the stage of completion.
Bi Oju o ti Eko, Oju Oni ti Eyin Igbeti..(If the lagoon still exist Lagos would never be put to shame )
Settlers that lay claims to the development of Lagos are doing so out of ignorance because you can only invest your resources in an economic feasible environment where the return on Investment is higher than in your town or villages. It’s the infrastructures that is actually the development and not just the number of beautiful structures and skycappers.
One major challenges facing Lagos state is the proliferations of quarks Real Estate developers and contractors. Building collapse has been on the increase because of poor building plans, low quality materials and manpower.
In an efforts to cub this menace, Lagos state is carrying out regular integrity test on structures to ensure compliance or face outright demolition.
Among all the slogans , the acceptable one according to the context is ” ITESIWAJU EKO AJUMOSENI. Meaning development of Lagos state is a collective efforts.
Nobody has monopoly of vision on the development of the state of Lagos. Even close the a common highway manager or janitor has contributed to the development of the centre of Excellence.
