As governors in 28 of the 36 states settle down to work, KUNLE ODEREMI writes on the agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State vis-a-vis expectations of the residents of the state.
To most Nigerians in the hinterland, Lagos is a land flowing with milk and honey. The state of aquatic splendour is abundant in opportunities that can hardly be found in most parts of the federation, hence the influx of people from the rest of the country to the ever bustling state with serious consequences for the state of infrastructure and the environment.
For incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, tackling those challenges remain utmost in his second term in office as he steps up efforts at expanding the comparative advantage of the unbroken 24 years of consolidation, progression and innovation. For the next 48 months or so, the governor has listed a number of priorities on sustainable development and economic growth, as well human capital development. His second inauguration speech delivered on May 29 to the people of the state encapsulated the focus, direction and target of his administration in the next four years. He included gender equality, social inclusion and youth in his development agenda, promising more dividends of good governance and leadership in the unfolding dispensation.
The inauguration was characterised by a cloudy weather as the heavens eventually opened up, a development many described a sign of mixed blessings. The rainfall could not water down the governor’s will and determination to renew his pledge to the citizens before whom he stood at the amphitheatre of Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, in the heart of Lagos, where the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, administered the oath on him. Thousands of residents across the State, in colourful attires, defied the rains to witness the ceremony. The inauguration was also well-attended by members of the corporate sector and diplomatic community.
The governor was sworn in at exactly 11:50am, after which he stepped forward to give a thorough account of stewardship of his first term. He reviewed the transformation the state had witnessed under his leadership since 2019 Sanwo-Olu noted that Lagos had lived up to its billing as the Centre of Excellence. The state, he said, became the first sub-national to deliver an intra-city rail network from its balance sheet to aid mass mobility in the mega city. This, he stressed, has further advanced the state’s development course, just as the completion of the Lekki Deep Seaport has enhanced socio-economic growth and turned Lagos to the new logistics hub of West Africa. He added that the delivery of the largest rice mill in Imota by his administration was a game changer that would make Lagos a key player in food production on the continent. According to Sanwo-Olu, Lagos remains on the track of sustenance and prosperity, as his administration’s financial engineering led to the upgrade of the State to AAA (nga) status in financial sustainability and resilience by Fitch International – a feat unprecedented in the State’s annals.
Sharing his wide-ranging achievements, he also listed other notable progress made by Lagos, especially in expanding infrastructure to enhance intermodal transport system, healthcare services, education, aesthetic environment, social interventions and other areas across his administration’s development agenda. He stated: “In my first term, we set the stage for transformative change. We confronted significant challenges, from improving our infrastructure to ensuring adequate social services, from grappling with economic downturns to navigating a global pandemic. Yet, we never faltered. Our challenges became stepping-stones and our trials, the foundation of our resilience,” Despite fulfilling his campaign promises, the governor said there would be much more to be accomplished in the coming days as his final term begins. He said the swearing-in offered him an opportunity to acknowledge expectations of the electorate, and to rededicate his administration towards meeting and surpassing the people’s expectations. He declared that his vision was beyond provision of physical infrastructure and working to attain good economic indicators for the state; he said he would govern to make Lagos a beacon of cultural vibrancy, intellectual prowess, and humanistic values.
The ceremony provided yet another opportunity for the governor to expatiate on his administration’s governing T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda. He unveiled three additional areas of focus which the gvernment would intensify intervention in the next four years, including social inclusion, gender equality and youth. He restated his pledge to serve the people of the state conscientiously and diligently in his commitment and determination to raise the bar of governance and public service “That tradition of progressive governance, of enlightened leadership, has consistently yielded fruit for us, and set Lagos up as a model state. We have lived up to our designation as Centre of Excellence, and a day like this is an opportunity to celebrate. Our people still expect a lot more from us in several areas; today is another opportunity to acknowledge our citizens’ expectations and to rededicate ourselves to meeting and surpassing those expectations. I pledge, as your governor, to unleash greater energy in the service of Lagos. I will work tirelessly for the well-being of every Lagosian and will strive for a Lagos that we can all be proud of. “It is in line with our resolve, I am pleased to announce that we are taking our governing agenda to the next level in this our second term. Henceforth, it will be known as ‘T.H.E.M.E.S Plus’, representing the incorporation of an intensified focus on Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth. We are strengthening and reinforcing our governance agenda in order not to leave anyone behind on account of their social status, gender or young age; we will design all our policies and programmes to ensure that everyone is carried along and catered to. This is our solemn promise to you.”
Sanwo-Olu said his second term would be more rewarding for the residents, as the State would witness consolidation of his reforms and governance at higher levels.
According to his top aides and associates, in the coming weeks, the governor will be delivering another intra-city rail network, Red Line Rail, which is at the completion stage. Lagos will also be witnessing development of a new airport in Ibeju-Lekki, Deep Seaport in Badagry and Fourth Mainland Bridge in addition to other capital projects in the pipeline. The task ahead, the Governor said, would be a collective responsibility of the Government and people, noting that he would always seek partnership with the citizens in line with his administration’s mantra. He assured that his administration would continue to foster a culture of transparency, accountability and participatory governance. “The greatness and strength of Lagos lie in the collective spirit of our people; whether those paying taxes, or those treating public property with care and respect, or those speaking about something when they see something going wrong or someone breaking the law. For us as government, I would be the first to acknowledge our own side of this social contract. I will not let you down,” the Governor said.
Sanwo-Olu eulogised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for laying the foundation for the development of Lagos, which, he said, made it easy for the succeeding administrations to strengthen transformational governance and keep the State on the path of progress.
The Governor also thanked the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari for dedicating kindness and support for Lagos, which enabled his administration to record many successes in the last four years. Sanwo-Olu said he was ready to continue to offer transformational leadership to the State in collaboration with his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, whom he described as “loyal friend, partner-in-progress”. He promised Lagos would remain a city united by its diversity, while pledging to work till his last days in creating better future for the citizens. He said: “At this moment of our history, it has fallen upon me to steer the ship and to move us closer than ever to the Greater Lagos of our dreams. Like I promised four years ago, the glitz of office will not change my personality and I will not try to become something I am not. I have strived to serve excellently, with humility, compassion, with a listening ear, bending where necessary to demonstrate that people’s welfare is at the centre of our actions.
“I am sending reminder to Lagosians that this land belongs to all of us, and all of us who call it home must partake in its goodness. Regardless of what language we speak, or where we trace our ancestry to, or where in Lagos we live, or what religion we profess; regardless of age or gender or political party, and regardless of how long we have called this land home; we are all united by something deep and immutable, which is our aspirations to make tomorrow better than today for us and our children.”
With such pronouncement, Sanwo-Olu has reinforced the contents of his bond with the citizens of Lagos State, who are now looking forward to moves to consolidate the gains of his four years in office, while enhancing the status of Lagos as the window to Nigeria.
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