THE QUARTERLY TOWN HALL MEETING, THE FIFTH IN THE SERIES
PROTOCOLS
Since the inception of this administration and the introduction of our quarterly town hall engagements, the town hall meeting is holding in the Lagos Central Senatorial Zone for the second time, the first time being in City Hall, Lagos Island on January 19 this year.
I am particularly happy to be in Surulere today, because one of our great party leaders in Lagos Central, Prince TajudeenOlusi, will be celebrating his 80th birthday in two days’ time. Prince Olusi has been a mentor and strong pillar of support to this administration. I congratulate him in advance and celebrate with him as he marks thislandmark birthday. God bless you, Sir.
To the good people of Lagos Central Senatorial Zone, we are here today to intimate you with how we have managed the resources you have entrusted in our care to improve the living conditions of our people and make Lagos safer. We also want to hear from you on how we can serve you better.
REPORT OF LAST QUARTER (JULY – SEPT 2016)
The last quarter witnessed a lot of activities from the delivery of massive road infrastructure across the Local Governments in the State; promulgation of laws that will make life easier for property owners and a boost in investment activities that will enhance the growth and development potentials of our State.
Amongst the key highlights of the last quarter are:
- The completion and handingover of 114 roads across the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas in the last quarter. In the next 3 weeks, we shall commence the process of bid invitation for the construction of additional 114 roads across our communities.
- We have achieved a major reduction in the travel-time on the Third Mainland bridgeand other axis with the construction of the Lay-Bys at Oworonshoki and Ketu.
- It is my strong desire to further eliminate the pains of Lagosians who travel on this axis by completing the Ojodu-Berger Multi-project which consists of a Pedestrian Bridge, Lay-by and Slip Road.We have already reduced the accident rate on that axis and will take this innovation to other parts of the State including Ajah and Lagos Central.
- We have commenced the removal of Threeroundabouts on the Lekki-Epe expressway and replacing them with signalized junctions. Lay-bys and dedicated turning lanes will be created at these junctions to further ease the flow of traffic.
- In realization of our vision,we are creating new tourist locations in Lagos West and Lagos East Senatorial Zones. We have embarked on the Epe-Marina and Badagry-Marina lagoon reclamation projectswith a view to providing appropriate infrastructure for tourist activities in Badagry and Epe.
- We have commenced a multi-faceted development that will change the face of Lagos Island. We have installed new bus shelters at Tafawa Balewa Square and before the end of December, various projects will be commenced within the National Museum axis, Onikan to Tafawa Balewa Square, and from Lagos House Marina and Freedom Park. By the time we complete these projects, Lagos will become a major tourist destination in West Africa.
- Our administration launched the Lagos Digital Library Project to provide unlimited access to e-books and other educational materials on key subjects like English, Mathematics and Scienceson a range of devices – from desktop computers to tablets and smart phones. The project is on course and will soon be completed.
- The Hospital Helipad was commissioned in the State to facilitate the operations of Air Ambulances from the emergency unit at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) in the course of last quarter.
- Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to report that 422 students successfully participated in our Ready.Set.Work entrepreneurship and employability training programme. This initiative was aimed at providing immediate self-employment for graduate students of tertiary institutions in Lagos State and prepare them for economic productivity as value-creating employees or employers of labour.
BUDGET PERFORMANCE
A review of the 2016 budget shows that our State generated a totalrevenue of 97.3billion Naira in the last quarter and had a total expenditure of 110.2billion Naira considering the fact that our cash reserve has remained positive. We expended N55b on Capital Expenditure in the last quarter.
Our budget performance for January to September is 69% as against 65% for the same period in 2015. A total of 166.8billion Naira has been spent on Capital Projects this year more than double the 53.6b Naira spent for the same period last year. We believe strongly that continuous increase in the capital expenditure spending is a necessity at this particular period.
In this quarter, we will concentrate more resources on Capital Projects. We will put money in the hands of our local contractors and through them stimulate and reflate the economy. Immediate payments will be made to contractors handling health sector and education sector projects within the next two weeks.
In Lagos Central, our administration will transform the YabaBus Park with the provision of modern Bus Shelters just as we have just done at Tafawa Balewa Square. We will complete the road rehabilitation projects at Adetola Street and Brown Road in Aguda, Surulere as well as Olajuwon and Biney Streets in Yaba.
We will roll out all our empowerment programmes immediately to assist all our youth, artisans and the needy. The funding for the N500m Lagos State Persons Living with Disability Fund has been provided and beneficiaries will start getting support from this quarter.
CONCLUSION
Ladies and Gentlemen, there is a lot of work to be done but our government is undaunted. We are, more than ever before, committed to the continuous development of the State and the prosperity of our people. Our guiding principle is to always channel our resources to areas and sectors that will positively affect the general wellbeing of all Lagosians.
Let me thank you all for your perseverance, unflinching support and cooperation with our administration despite the harsh economic situation that confronts us and the entire country. We are the hope of today and the prosperity of tomorrow.
On my part, I remain committed to my electoral promises to make life more abundantly favourable for all our citizens and help all Lagosiansfind true happiness.
I ask for your continued support and cooperation. I urge you to pay your taxes, obey the laws of the land and make the issue of security of your environment and the state in general a matter of top priority. I believe strongly that together, we will bequeath a safer and more prosperous Lagos to this generation and the ones ahead.
Thank you.
ItesiwajuIpinleEko, lo je walogun.
Mr. AkinwunmiAmbode
Governor of Lagos State
11th, October 2016