Lagos is 50!

lagos evolved as a formal political entity fifty years ago and since that time we have evolved from a city under the management of a Town Council to a recognized entity in a modern sense of a state within a nation! In the process, we have molded our historical antecedents towards a progressive spirit of brotherhood.  We never abandoned our hospitality; our accommodating characteristics, our bonding nature; our large heart; our multicultural tendency; our religious tolerance; our colourful complexity; our rich amalgam; and then our resilience.

Please recall the post- civil war returnees in the early 1970s. They were testimonies to our peculiar mannerisms, as they were warmly welcomed back to their homes and properties, with seamless integration to Lagos without any form of molestation. Lagos is making progress today, because, it is a melting pot. We have always welcomed everyone to live, to trade, to work, to explore and to enjoy. Out of this, we have become stronger, enterprising and always looking towards prosperity.  It is a loving spirit. And it is that spirit with which we celebrate our sojourn.All this, our governments, since 1967, be it military or civilian, have embraced and have continued to embrace. From these, we have consistently made progress; we have excelled, even when the nation is surmounting challenges.

Without prejudice to the incursion of the military in governance and administration of the State, the first civilian government of His Excellency, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, CON, set the template and the ball rolling for the development of proactive and progressive governance in the State, and this has never departed the streets of Lagos for any reason. Beginning from 1999 to be precise, the last 18 years of our dear state have witnessed a radical and sustainable development, which are great testimonies of progressive governance, as piloted by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, built further by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and now being consolidated upon by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

In the last two years, the Governor Ambode-led administration has sustained a blend of progressive vision and action that is not only remarkable but also exemplary. It is noteworthy that Governor Ambode, during the recent inauguration of Abule Egba and Ajah flyovers and freedom Road, Lekki, stressed that Lagos deserved the best. As he said “As a government, we are irrevocably committed to making Lagos an investment haven and we have made it a duty to put in place top class infrastructure.” The transformation in the security (light up Lagos), housing, transportation, agriculture (LAKE Rice), culture and tourism and many others present striking evidence of development consciousness. The state, as a microcosm of all that is jolly, beautiful, noble and great, has emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in Africa. The future promises even greater advancement as Lagos works with focus towards becoming a smart city, commercial and industrial hub of sub-Saharan Africa.

In the midst of tonight’s merriment is embedded the journey to lay the template that would make the future better than today. From midnight, that important new chapter containing fresh pages of politics, development and renewed economic reengineering in our dear state begins. Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko lo je wa logun!

• Bello is Secretary to the Lagos State Government