Day Ambode got a pat on the back

ON April 24, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated some of the projects undertaken by the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode. These projects cover health, transportation, road and the social and/or entertainment environment of Lagos State.

Among the projects are: 170-bed Institute of the Maternal and Child Health, popularly called Ayinke House, located in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); the remodeled 10-lane Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road; the 500-seater Lagos Theatre, Oregun; the Oshodi Transport Interchange and the 820 high and medium capacity public transportation buses, were all unveiled by the President. Buhari described the governor’s performance as ‘satisfactory and commendable.’

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The Airport Road project, for instance, included the reconstruction and expansion of the existing carriage to three-lane Expressway in both directions; the construction of two-lane service road in both directions, making a total of 10-lanes; the construction of Ramp Bridge to provide a U-turn from Ajao Estate to Airport and the construction of a flyover at NAHCO/Toll Gate and drainage works.

The projects also cover the removal of existing pedestrian bridge at Ajao Estate and the construction of pedestrian bridges at Ajao Estate and NAHCO/Hajj camp, the construction of Slip Road to provide access to Ajao Estate an also the construction of lay-bys and installation of street lights, among others.

The government has attempted to transform Oshodi into “a world-class Central Business District (CBD) with business, travel and leisure activities conducted in a serene, secure, clean, orderly and hygienic environment, comparable with other transport terminals around the world.”

“With this project, all the 13 city and interstate bus parks in Oshodi have transformed into three multi-storey terminals, which includes waiting area, loading bays, ticketing stands, drivers lounge, parking areas, rest rooms, accessible walkways and pedestrian sky-walks linking all the terminals,” an official of the government explained.

The transport interchange was conceived to reduce travel time on Lagos roads, unlock gridlock associated with the city and help people commute without stress.

Other components of the terminal include 20 lifts and escalators, two sky-walks connecting the terminals to each other, Architectural LED lights, passenger concourse, public address systems, bus depot, passenger drop-off areas, taxi and car parks, passenger lounge for intercity commuters, loading bays, passenger information systems, among others.

The interchange and the 820 buses are integral component of the Bus Reform Initiative of the Ambode administration through which government plans to inject 5,000 high and medium capacity buses into the public transportation architecture of the state. The buses are equipped with cameras, USB point, internet, television, and special spaces for physically challenged, pregnant women and the aged, among others.

An enthralled President Buhari had declared: “Your Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has performed satisfactorily. We should all commend him for his contribution to the growth and development of Lagos State.”

The commendation by the president was pat on the back for a job well-done, as the president’s one-day assignment was to commission the Ayinke House, Nigeria’s biggest maternity hospital, which was upgraded from 80-bed facility to 170-bed healthcare centre with state-of-the-art medical equipment, as well as information technology services.

Speaking at the event, Governor Ambode described the opening of the hospital as historic and expressed optimism that the facility would provide world class childbirth and maternal care services to the people.

Governor Ambode said the facility was commissioned exactly 29 years ago, which the late philanthropist, Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, donated the first dedicated maternal and child care facility to the state government in memory of his mother; hence the name “Ayinke House”.

“The hospital, which started with just one surgical theatre, soon assumed a life of its own as a first-class childbirth and maternal care centre in Nigeria.

“However, the hospital later became over-stretched and obsolete, while, in recognition of the need to sustain Bank-Anthony’s philanthropy, the government, during the administration of former Governor Babatunde Fashola, awarded the contract for the expansion and reconstruction of the facility.

“Today, seven years after the closure of the facility, the new edifice is now a 170-bed facility with 5 surgical theatres. It has a 16-bed emergency care units with 3 organ support facilities, 30 bed special baby care unit, 5 neo-natal intensive care units, a fully equipped laboratory with support services, laboratories and a blood bank.

“This institute is a major contribution to our education sector also; as it becomes a platform for our medical students in the state university to enhance their exposure and experience with the top-class medical equipment provided,” Governor Ambode said, just as he revealed that the House had been completely digitalised with state-of-the-art medical equipment, as well as information technology services supported by the State Ministry of Science and Technology.

“Just last year, we launched the Lagos State Health Insurance scheme to allow residents access top quality medical care with a little contribution and support from the state government. These and other efforts are directed at improving the lives of our people, especially the women and children; and by extension the productivity of our nation,” he added.

Shortly after the unveiling, President Buhari proceeded to commission Lagos Theatre, Oregun, in Ikeja, another landmark project conceived to increase arts spaces and create standard platforms for talented citizens of the state to showcase their skills. The theatre, a 500-capacity edifice, is one of the four simultaneously constructed by the Ambode administration in Epe, Badagry, Igando, while land has now been provided for another one to be located in Ikorodu.

At the Oshodi Transport Interchange and Airport Road commissioning, the governor thanked the President for his direct influence and support towards the projects, saying that the state had never enjoyed such measure of support from the Federal Government as it had done in the last four years.

“The Lagos Theatre, Ikeja is about our social development sector, while the Oshodi transport interchange and Buses come under our transport, infrastructure and commerce sectors. The Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road is an infrastructural development project. All these projects form the thrust of our vision as a government and the end result is to make life better for our people, irrespective of gender, tribe or political leanings,” he said.

He said his administration invested the second tranche of the Paris Club refund, in addition to the refund by the Federal Government, on federal road projects executed by states to the construction of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road and the Oshodi Transport Interchange, the first of its kind in Africa, while the first tranche of the Paris Club refund to states approved by the President was utilised to pay the 40 per cent down-payment for the 820 buses.

“This is our report card, Mr. President. We have used your approval and releases judiciously because we believe strongly in you, in your leadership and in your vision for our country. This is our modest contribution to the growth and development of our state and the country in general,” he said.

The governor expressed optimism that with the coming on board of the projects, the future prosperity of Lagos State had been secured, adding that the level of investment in the social and physical infrastructure base of the State were becoming evident in all sectors of the economy.

“With the completion of these projects, and given the level of commitment of the next administration as well as the continuous support of the Federal Government, I am assured that the immediate and future prospect of our state is very bright.

“Mr. President, Lagos State will continue to support your aspirations to move Nigeria to the Next Level. The business community in the state is desirous of partnering with your government in moving our economy forward,” he said.

Responding, President Buhari said he was delighted to unveil the projects as they aptly reflected the drive and success of government in pursuing policies and programmes that will positively impact on its citizen.

The President said the coming on board of the projects had clearly demonstrated the need to continue to provide high impact projects for the development of infrastructure and opportunities for job creation at all levels, just as he said that the development was in sync with the efforts of the Federal Government to improve infrastructure especially in the transport sector.

“To complement Oshodi Transport Interchange, the Federal Government has recently approved the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway up to Oworonshoki and Old Toll Gate which was last attended to 40 years ago.

“We have recently commissioned the new International Airport Terminals in Port Harcourt and Abuja, as well as the rail lines from Abuja to Kaduna. The Lagos to Ibadan Rail Line is under construction. Our government will continue to prioritise high impact infrastructure which will vastly improve the lives of our people,” he said.

After commissioning the projects, the President went on a bus ride with dignitaries to tour the facility and also drove through the remodeled Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road.

Indeed, with the landmark projects, the future prosperity of the centre of excellence is truly bright and one can say that the state has been placed on sound pedestal of accelerated growth and development by the Ambode administration.

When Ambode steps down from office on May 29, these projects are assurance that his name will be etched in the history of Lagos as a governor that raised the bar of governance in the state.