On Ambode’s ‘tripod’ agenda for Lagos’ prosperity

Across the world, governments face a daunting paradox. On the one hand, they operate in an increasingly complex environment and must deliver on an expanded set of policy objectives. In a world characterized by macroeconomic uncertainties, rapid social changes and technological innovations, citizens’ expectations of deliverables from government are on the high. On the other hand, governments are hampered by unsustainable debt burdens and shrinking budgets. Globally, the ratio of general government debt to gross domestic product is becoming quite alarming. The popular position of economists that human wants are insatiable because the resources to satisfy them are limited is a generally known one but very difficult to come to terms with or accept by citizens who are always expecting government to place premium attention on their diverse needs as though the whole attention of government should be focused on such particular needs without consideration for other areas of needs.

This situation has continued to put government in a tight corner in terms of determining areas to be addressed and in what order or way. The onus lies on the governments at various levels to devise strategies that would meet the myriads of citizenry’s needs in a scale that would have multiplying effect on every other area and if possible abandon tools, strategies and techniques that no longer work.

In Lagos state, it is in line with this position that the Ambode administration is hinging the prosperity of Lagos on a tripod of security, job creation and infrastructural development. It is the conviction of the state government that a safer Lagos will attract more investments from local and foreign investors and when investments are domiciled in the state, definitely, more job opportunities will surface. In other words, greater engagement and empowerment of citizens, thoughtful investments in expertise, skill building, and closer collaboration with the private and social sectors are central principles to creating more effective and affordable government.

The tripod has its first leg in security as evidenced in the Light up Lagos project and the investment in security equipment worth over 4.7billion naira by the state government. The ongoing street light project is just a small component of the Light up Lagos Project. The final intention of the project is for government to facilitate the overall equation of delivering power to residents of the state through distribution of transformers, construction of more Independent Power Projects, enhancing the waste to power initiative among several other laudable steps such that the reliance on government at the centre in the provision of electricity will be reduced and efforts from the federal government will further receive a boost and be corroborated.

The second leg is rooted in job creation, as evidenced in the establishment of the Ministry of Wealth Creation & Employment, creation of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, employment of new staff into the State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Fire Service, General Hospitals, primary schools among others. Beyond offering direct employment opportunities, government is also working on the provision of platforms for skilled artisans to work and earn a living without being hampered by unavailability of personal workshops and tools or equipment.

A study of empowerment initiatives done in the past shows that such initiatives did not yield the desired results because a large number of trained and skilled artisans could not afford to acquire working tools and equipment. Hence, the conceptualization of incubation centres to provide sustainable empowerment employment opportunities to financially-challenged artisans. The viability of this empowerment initiative could not have come at a better time considering the influx of artisans from neighbouring countries undertaking jobs which could also be handled by Nigerians but for deficiencies in skills and technological-know-how. Worthy of note also is the unrivalled interest rate which is about one percent attached to loans secured under this initiative.

The third leg of the ‘tripod’ is hinged on the improvement of public infrastructure. In keeping faith with this, rehabilitation of over 300 roads have been completed and several others are still under construction. LGAs and LCDAs across the state have equally been empowered to deliver a total of 114 roads by the middle of this year. To improve traffic situation in some critical areas of the state, construction of fly-overs in high traffic areas such as Ajah roundabout, Abule-Egba Junction and Berger Bus stop along Lagos-Ibadan expressway has commenced in earnest. Work has also resumed on the Blue Line Rail Project which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Expectedly, the state government’s investments in the ‘tripod’ are beginning to pay off as evidenced in the reduction in crime rate by 65 per cent during the last Yuletide season. Equally, with the light up project, security and business have received a great boost. One of the good memories of the 2015 One Lagos Fiesta was its near perfect security
arrangement. It is hard to come to term with the fact that such an event of great magnitude could be held across five different locations
in the state without any security breach.

The Lagos experience has shown that a government could actually prioritize its interests and still make appreciable impact on the lives of the people. In this era of severe global financial constrains, there is an urgent need for government to be shrewd and methodical in expending public funds. By directing its energy on the tripod, the Ambode administration has demonstrated that investments in certain critical public sectors could have a multiplying effect on a whole wide range of other areas. This, of course, is logical thinking.

Ayo Afuwape

Afuwape is of the Ministry of Information & Strategy, Ikeja, Lagos