Lagos traditional ruler, High Chief Kehinde Kalejaiye has urged the newly inaugurated Commissioners in the state to embark on a duties’ readiness tour of communities to identify areas that require an emergency intervention.
Doing this, he stated, would afford the new appointees to feel the pulse of residents in the state, especially in the areas of flooding, education and health with a view to tackling identified challenges.
The State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, had charged the newly sworn in new 38 commissioners and special advisers to reflect excellence in the discharge of their duties and prepare for the challenges ahead towards achieving a bigger Lagos rising.
While calling the new appointees to task, Kalejaiye said many communities, homes and businesses in the state are either ravaged by flooding or have issues concerning dilapidated infrastructure or public health institutions, and this, adversely affected the quality of lives and living.
Commenting further he said, “There are huge tasks ahead of the newly appointed commissioners towards achieving a greater Lagos rising. Lagosians are eagerly yearning to have a feel of the greater Lagos rising promised by the state governor.
“We have seen how flood submerged homes and businesses across major markets and roads in the state. We have also witnessed how floods swept through homes located along riverine communities.
“For instance, in my community, we want the Ministry of Environment to dredge the Otto Creek that is located between Otumara and Otto community in Lagos Mainland and open create an outlet for free flow of water to save residents from periodic flooding.
“This is why I said this is no time for any Commissioner to sit in his/her office and be delegating authority and giving out instructions. As they settle down in their various offices, they need to visit areas and sectors that fall in their jurisdiction to see for themselves what the issues are and how best they can be tackled.
“For instance, the Commissioner for Environment needs to visit areas that are the worst hit by flood. Also, the Health Commissioner has to make an assessment tour of communities affected by this flood to check the outbreak of waterborne diseases.
“In Education, Lagosians cannot afford the standard that has been set by the State governor to be lowered. This is why the new commissioner must pay adequate attention and visit both private and public schools to maintain the Lagos standard.
“And importantly, all pipeline projects should be seen to be executed by the new administration. We want the commissioner to visit us in our community to have a feel of how our children are faring without the senior secondary school.”
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