Consolidating Fashola’s successes in Lagos

With the emergence of Akinwunmi Ambode as the governor-elect of Lagos State, the question of who succeeds Governor Babatunde Fashola when he leaves office has now been finally laid to rest. Many people are understandably interested in who succeeds Fashola judging from the unusual style of governance he brought on board in Lagos State. That Fashola has transformed Lagos State in the last eight years is an understatement. Without a doubt, Fashola has done enough to ignite hope on revival of value delivery in public administration in Nigeria. Lagos State under his leadership has become a model for good governance in the country and a brand that markets Nigeria to the international community.

Right from the inception of his administration in 2007, Fashola promised a “Brighter, Rewarding Future” for the inhabitants of the state. To actualize his vision of making Lagos State Africa’s model megacity and global economic and financial hub through the eradication of poverty, sustainable economic growth and aggressive infrastructure renewal and development, he created a development document called Ten Point Agenda (TPA). The TPA is the compass for the implementation of policies, programmes and projects of the Fashola administration. Under the agenda, the state’s development challenges are grouped into roads and transportation, power and water supply, public security, food security, health, education, housing, environment management and physical planning, employment generation and revenue enhancement.

On each of the TPA’s areas of focus, the Fashola administration has recorded landmark achievements. For instance, the administration has demonstrated creativity and doggedness in its environmental regeneration programme. An example that readily comes to mind is the transformation of the once-notorious Oshodi. Equally, Lagos highways and streets are now cleaner and beautiful as flowers and trees adorn once-neglected and rejected spots which have now been transformed into recreational centres.

The administration developed an integrated transportation system through the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme, first of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. The administration also commenced the construction of the light rail system which the in-coming administration is expected to complete. Various road projects were embarked upon, both in the urban and rural areas. The latter was geared towards opening up the hinterland with the vision of achieving improved economic activities in these areas.

Also, Lagosians now have access to qualitative health care without financial, cultural or political barriers. This was achieved through the various Eko Free Health Missions, the revitalization of primary health-care centres to run for 24 hours with the aim of decongesting the secondary health facilities. Maternal and child-care centres were built in various locations in the state as well as the construction of 20-bed Highway Accident and Emergency Centre at the Toll Gate, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.

However, based on new realities, the administration’s recent focus on PATH (Power, Agriculture, Transportation and Housing) is a reflection of a new resolve to move the state forward and along the path of emerging world economies such as Brazil, India, China and South Africa.

In order to address the shortfall and ensure stable power supply, the administration constructed Independent Power Plants at Ikeja, Ikorodu, Akute and Lagos Island. It is currently pursuing similar projects at various locations in the state.

Nigeria was listed by the World Bank as one of the countries with the highest domestic food price increase among 58 countries surveyed by the Food and Agricultural Organisation. To correct this imbalance, the administration built a 20,000-metric-tonnes-per-annum rice milling plant, established the rice-for-job programme to productively engage the youths in the state, and set up the Lagos State Marine Agriculture Development Programme for the utilization of the state water resources.

Emphasis was placed on the intermodal model of transportation through the implementation of two rail lines – Red line to run from Agbado to Marina and Blue line to run from Okokomaiko to Marina. Operation of efficient ferry service system, side by side with the now-tested-and-trusted BRT system and very comfortable privately-operated taxis shows that the Lagos State government is already breaking new grounds in the transportation sector.

Delivering on its promise to provide functional and comfortable shelter for the residents of the state, regardless of their status and cultural backgrounds, the Babatunde Fashola administration introduced the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos-HOMS). The progress made on the scheme was as a result of rigorous planning, financial discipline, prudent management of resources and sheer commitment.

A visionary and creative leader, Fashola has always reiterated the need to prepare for a future without oil. According to him, the most visible way to achieve this is to embrace tourism. Tourism in the state could as well become a major source of investment and revenue for the state. Diverse programmes such as the Black Heritage Festival, The Lagos Carnival, etc are some of the various ways in which the government is attracting tourists and subsequently generating employments and revenue for the people and the state, respectively.

There is no doubt that the Fashola administration has rebranded Lagos State and its legacies will, undoubtedly, remain indelible. It has, therefore, become a huge task for the incoming administration to consolidate as well as surpass the achievements of the outgoing administration. The incoming administration should be ready to build on the existing policies and programmes in Lagos State to further maximize the potentials inherent in them. No doubt, with his pedigree, the incoming governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, is up to the task as he is passionate about developmental issues. He has been raising young leaders and professionals through his NGO and contributing to the society from which he has gained so much.

A retired civil servant who served Lagos State meritoriously for 27 years, Ambode held key positions across all cadres of the state’s civil service such as the auditor general for local governments, permanent secretary, Ministry of Finance, and accountant general of Lagos State. These experiences coupled with his youthful energy and vision will assist him in delivering on his electoral promises to the people of the state.

So, Lagosians should be prepared for a jolly good ride because Ambode’s campaign slogan – Itesiwaju Eko, ohun loje wa logun (I am concerned about the progress of Lagos) – is a pointer to the fact that the gains of the Tinubu and Fashola years are about to be properly consolidated for the common good of all Lagosians.

BILKIS BAKARE