A Coalition of Civil Society Organisation, comprising of about 105 various Human Rights Groups has given Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s performance in his first year in office a pass mark.
The Coalition, led by the Convener of the Campaign for Dignity in Governance (CDG), Comrade Razaq Olokoba, in well attended press conference in Lagos weekend said, Governor Sanwo-Olu performed excellently; hence the excellent mark awarded him and his team by the Coalition.
According to the Coalition, no matter what any opposition party may say, it is crystal clear that even the blind can see the concrete evidences on ground in term of visible achievement in all the sectors of the economy spread across the state.
Sanwo-Olu;s performance, the activists asserted, has confirmed the people of Lagos, who are cosmopolitan in nature did not make mistake in giving their mandate freely to the workaholic candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Sanwo-Olu, to be their governor in 2019.
They admitted that, what made Sanwo-Olu to hit the ground running the very first day in office was simply because he has earlier been familiar with the terrain, hence, his ability to take the right steps towards the right direction, adding that, even members of the opposition have been giving him pat on the back for his achievement.
The Coalition seized the opportunity of the conference to itemise the governor’s activities that endear him to the people reminding that the governor was the first governor or there about, that assured the state workers that his administration would pay more than the stipulated N30, 000 minimum wage. He pledged N35, 000 and he has never reneged on that.
That shows his love for the workers and also shows that he also knows the state like the palm of his hand as regards the financial capability to pay the amount that further boosted the morale of the workforce and thereby put the state at vantage position to move to the next level of economic growth.
While admitting that, a Daniel has really come to judgement in State in the person of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu as governor, the Coalition expressed satisfaction that, he is acting out of the box to convince the people that they have not made a mistake in voting him as their governor.
A state like Lagos that accounts for about 55 per cent of the nation’s economy needs an experienced man like Sanwo-Olu and not a green horn that would use the state for a Trial and Error Experiment.
Taking the governor’s activities one after the other, the activists picked his administration’s restrictions order on the operations of commercial Tricycles and motor cycles (Okada) from some highways and bridges in Lagos State, praising the initiative as a blessing for the state aspiring to be a Mega City.
The initiative has started yielding positive results that restore sanity on the roads with little or no traffic in addition to drastic reduction in road carnage and rate of crimes, pollution of the environment through deadly emissions from the banned means of transportation.
Thhe Coalition thanked the governor for saving the good people, through the ban, from security challenges, health hazards that are always occasioned by exposure of the riders to unfavourable atmospheric conditions. They quoted researches who have submitted that no one could ride okada the way we do in Nigeria for two years and would not have heart problem later in life. With this submission, Sanwo-Olu’s foresight has therefore confirmed justification for the restriction.
The restriction, the Coalition reminded was not Sanwo-Olu’s making but enforcement and revival of a law that has been in existence since 2012 before Sanwo-Olu came on board, commending him for the alternatives he has provided that has made the standard of transportation to be in conformity with the Mega Status of the state.
The governor, the Coalition stated, has shown his appreciation of the importance of haulages and transportation sectors as major key to the world economy that can never be over emphasised.
The youthful activists did not forget to commend this administration and his team over their dogged commitment to a secured state and administration of justice, which had been of benefit to the residents.
The strategy, they observed, has been encouraging individuals, corporate bodies, Captains of industries, religious organizations and social groups to support the state by donating generously to the cover of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF).
They also commended the governor for putting in place a Task Force to rid Lagos of Land Grabbers (Omo Onile’), and thereby putting the mind of the people at rest to some extent, expressing delight that, the way the Task Force personnel have been performing creditably in the last one year is heart-warming.
The governor’s presentation of 50 new vehicles to Magistrates to elicit better performance and facilitate efficient and effective justice delivery for all the people of the state was described as fantastic.
On empowerment, the Razaq Olokoba-led Coalition described as praise worthy, the provision of means to reduce crime rate through empowerment of the people to be financially reliant and economically independent.
During the early days of Sanwo-Olu in office, the reminded, an empowerment scheme that trained and graduated almost 5, 000 people from the 17 Skill Acquisition Centres across the state was organised, pointing out that, the initiative served as a veritable way to engage idle hands gainfully and by extension curb commission of crime like banditry, kidnapping, robbery and pick pocketing among others.
The impressed youths mentioned some skills acquired in several trades like Fashion Designing, Hat and Bead making, Aluminium Fabrication, Shoe making among others would increase the number of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in the state and by extension improve the socio-economic status of the beneficiaries.
The Coalition expressed excitement that a lot of the beneficiaries are now financially sufficient, economically independent and emotionally stable to shun crime and be able to contribute their modest quotas to the growth of the state’s economy.
It is not a gainsaying that, it is logical and natural that when an idle hand is gainfully engaged, tendency to commit crime would be reduced drastically and the community would be at peace, they reasoned.
The Coalition has cheering news for the doubting Thomases over the governor’s performance in the health and environment sectors describing this administration’s performance as out of this world.
Before coming back later to zero on Sanwo-Olu’s outstanding performance in the issue of the coronavirus pandemic that earned him international accolade, the Coalition mentioned a few of his efforts at seeing that people are okay medically.
Mentions were made of a (1) free surgical intervention programme held in partnership with a NGO, Benjamin Olowojebutu Foundation for residents suffering from Lipoma, Hernia, Fibroid and Breast Lumps as well as free dental and general health screening.
2)Free initiative tagged, “Healthy Bee Project” a collaborative effort of the state government and an NGO, BOSKOH Lagos Healthcare Mission International (HMI) that screened over 21,000 beneficiaries over a period of six days at seven centres.
3) and a total of 1417 free surgeries conducted for residents, including eye operation for children and adults, paediatric surgery, dental surgery and Ear, Nose and Throat surgery (ENT).
And because Sanwo-Olu appreciates the importance of water in the life of the people and the environment, the organisation lauded him for resuscitating Adiyan waterworks phase 2, which has a production capacity of 70 million gallons of water per day for the wellbeing of his people.
On the environment, the youth organisation also viewed the acquisition of 10 new boats to boost its marine waste operations in the state by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), as commendable.
Coming down to the dreaded Coronavirus code-named COVID-19, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations gave kudos to this administration for prompt actions taken to save the whole country of medical calamity the monster could have caused if allowed to spread faster that it does now if allowed free access to the hinterland.
The development, Olokoba-led Coalition reasoned that, this and other intervention have earned Sanwo-Olu’s government accolades both from within and overs citing examples of the United Nations (UN), and the World Health Organization’s (WHO), kudos given to the administration over its handling of the COVID-19 matter.
They unanimously agreed that the issue of the dreaded monster brought out the best from Sanwo-Olu’s administration because of the manner it saved the country a lot of trouble by curtailing it from the major point of entry in Lagos.
The Coalition further mentioned Declaration of State of Emergency on Road Construction and Rehabilitation Across the State at Lagos House, Marina on a Sunday, in October 2019, praising him for appreciating the importance of smooth transportation system in the economy of any state, albeit, any nation.
Other achievements of the governor that made his first 12 months in office excellent, according to the Coalition are:
*Honours accorded the Overall Best Teacher and Best Administrator in Nigeria At Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja –last October.
*The approval of Jetty At Unilag Waterfront, witnessing the Signing of Agreement for Funding of The Lekki Deep Seaport Project Completion to the tune of $629Million At Eko Hotel And Suites, launching of E-Platform to stop Fraudulent Practices in Real Estate Business, as well as
*Leading the March Against Domestic And Sexual Violence Tagged: ‘‘Walk To Commit And Act’’ In Alausa, Ikeja -Tuesday, November 26, 2019.
*Inauguration of Lagos State HIV Consortium Group and formal dissemination of the State’s Local Government Disaggregated Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator at Radisson Blue Anchorage Hotel, V.I. last November.
*Naming of Onikan Stadium after the late Mobolaji Johnson, flags-Off /Upgrading of Ijede-Ewu Elepe (Phase 1), Agric-Ishawo and Igbogbo-Igbe Roads in Ikorodu, last December as well as flagging off of Construction of Victoria Island-Oniru 1.8km Road Network as well as revealing Plans to Upgrade AOCOED to a University.
*Handing over 35 new buses for Civil Servants immediately he assumed office on Monday, June 3, 2019, is a testimony that he has experience as an insider.
*Signing, without delay, of N873b 2019 Budget, Neighbourhood Safety Corp Agency; Domestic Service Provider Registration and Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (Amendment) bills into Law on Monday, June 3, 2019.
*Visit to the LASTMA Office and announcement of an increase in the officers’ allowance informed the reformed, humane, responsible and responsive personnel on our roads.
* Flag-Off of the construction of Lagos-Badagry Expressway last July, a step that sent the resident into wild jubilation because of the relief the project would bring to them after several years of traffic headache along the route.
*Declaration last July also of toll-free passage at the toll plaza on Lekki-Epe Expressway to allow traffic consultants to the government carry out a comprehensive study of traffic flow around Lekki-Ikoyi-Victoria Island axes.
*Visiting the hospital in Ijegun to assess the situation of the pipeline fire survivors
*Commissions Newly Constructed Christopher Olatunde Segun Court Complex At Ajah-Badore, Eti-Osa LG – Tuesday, December 17, 2019
*Completion Of Continuous Beam Bridge For The Sea-Crossing Of The Lagos Rail Blue Line Project At Marina – Tuesday, December 17, 2019
*Official Opening Of Expression Of Interest For The Lagos 4th Mainland Bridge – Wednesday, December 18, 2019
*Commissioning the Maternal and Child Centre (MCC) at Eti-Osa and a block of 14 Classrooms at Junior Secondary School, Alaguntan Village, Ajah donated by RCCG, Tabernacle of David Parish – Tuesday, September 3, 2019
*Commissioning of Community Junior Secondary School, Alaguntan Village, Ajah -Tuesday, September 3, 2019
*Commissioning of Alhaji Lateef Jakande Gardens, Igando – Wednesday, September 4, 2019
*Launch of the LSETF W-Initiative At De Blue Roof Ltv, Agidingbi, Ikeja – Wednesday, September 4, 2019
* Handing Over of 120 Patrol Vehicles, 35 Motorcycles To Security Operatives In Lagos – Thursday, September 5, 2019
* Launch of The Lagos Blue Box Program At Simpson Transfer Loading Station, Sura, Lagos – Thursday, September 5, 2019
* The Ceremony To Mark 100 Days In Office Of The Sanwo-Olu Administration At De Blue Roof Ltv, Agidingbi, Ikeja – Friday, September 6, 2019
* Presents Gifts to 315 South Africa Returnees At Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja – Wednesday, September 18, 2019
* Commissioning of 149-Bed Maternal And Child Centre In Alimosho General Hospital, Igando – Thursday, October 3, 2019
* Honours Police Officer Who Used Personal Resources To Save Robbery Victim – Monday, October 7, 2019
* Lagos Raises N100 Billion Bond To Finance Infrastructure – Wednesday, January 29, 2020
* Handing Over Of Keys to Allotees Of Alhaji Lateef Jakande Housing Estate, Igando – Friday, January 31, 2020
* Launching Of Lagferry Operation Mobile App and New Boats – Tuesday, February 4, 2020
* Recruitment and Induction of 1,017 New LASTMA Officers – Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Against this background, the Coalition, which expressed satisfaction over the governor’s performance in office just in only 12 months, said, he has performed beyond expectations, urging the people however to give him more support to enable him surpass his first year during his second year in office.
The youthful members of the Coalition also charged the governor to build on the goodwill and accolade his first year’s good work fetched him to double his effort towards the second year in office, hinting him that, Lagosians will play Oliver Twist by asking for more.
