As governor of Nigeria’s commercial and industrial capital,
Akinwunmi Ambode is faced with the challenge of satisfying the yearnings of the
over 15 million residents of Lagos.
Here are the achievements and failures of
the governor in the outgoing year.
1.Roads/Light Up
Lagos Project – One of the major achievements of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in
2016 was the massive road (re)construction his government embarked upon in the
year. His ‘114 Roads’ project where each of the 57 local councils in the state
got two good roads was completed by May.
Also, Mr. Ambode’s philosophy that a well lit Lagos will
reduce crime also saw him light up at least 365 streets across the state.
2. Security – A few
months after he came into office, Mr. Ambode acquired 10 armoured tanks, three
helicopters for aerial surveillance and policing, two gun boats, 15 armoured
personnel carriers, and dozens of Isuzu trucks. Despite challenges in the area
of security, the safety of lives and properties of Lagosians have received – to
a large extent – a boost.
3 ETF – After
several postponements, Mr. Ambode in December finally began the disbursement of
the N25 billion Employment Trust Fund, one of the promises he made during his
campaign in 2015. The initiative, aimed at artisans and entrepreneurs in the
state, will see the disbursement of N6.25 billion annually over the next four
years. A huge chunk of that figure is expected to go to carpenters, tailors,
hairdressers, vulcanisers, and other players in the informal sector in the
state.
4 LAKE RICE – One of
the high points of the Yuletide period for Lagosians was the launch of the
Lagos-Kebbi (LAKE Rice). Thousands of residents trooped out to various centres
across the three senatorial districts in the state to buy the commodity which
sold for N12,000 (50kg bag); N6,000 (25kg); and N2,500 (10kg). It was a much
needed respite for a population that had been reeling under the impact of
economic recession.
5 IGR – The
recession notwithstanding, 2016 was a year Lagos generated a figure ranked
among its highest ever internal revenue. As at December 16, the state had raked
in N287 billion in IGR, a whopping N19 billion more than was generated the year
before. Except in 2013 when the state generated N384 billion, this year was the
highest the state had made since its creation. A revamp of the state’s revenue
generation agency played a major role in this feat, but Mr. Ambode also gave
credit to tax-paying citizens in the state.
“The tax payers are the ones giving us the little energy
that we have and even though when they say Nigeria is in recession, somehow
Lagos has been able to do it and it is because people are paying their taxes,”
said the governor.
FAILURES
6 Kidnap – In spite
of the progress made in the area of security in Lagos State, 2016 was a year of
kidnappings. From abducting hapless residents in an obscure estate to
kidnapping a traditional ruler, the criminals had a field day across the state.
Although over a dozen suspects were arrested and arraigned in different courts,
residents are continually on the lookout for the next kidnap victim.
7 Forced eviction –
If there was one area Mr. Ambode’s predecessor, Babatunde Fashola, performed
excellently in his eight year term, it was the forceful evictions of residents
from their homes. The current governor is gradually steering himself towards that
tradition.
Despite a court order that the state government suspend its
planned demolition of shanties along creeks and waterways in the state, as well
as the House of Assembly appealing to the governor to reconsider its intention;
the residents of Otodo Gbame, a waterfront community in the Lekki area of the
state, were forcefully evicted from their homes. At least half a dozen
residents drowned during the process.
Although the state government claimed it was not involved in
the eviction, its agents played an active part in the destruction of the homes
in Otodo Gbame.
8 Water – In the
past, Lagos had manifested the paradox of ‘Water, water everywhere but none to
drink.’ The year 2016 was no exception. Despite billions sunk into the
state-owned water corporation over the years, piping potable water to homes
continues to be a herculean task.
9 LG election – 2016
ended without Governor Ambode conducting election into the 57 local councils in
the state, despite repeated promises and assurances to do so. The last local
government election in the state was held in 2011. For the past two years,
Executive Secretaries appointed by the governor had continued to be at the helm
of local government affairs in the state.
10 Traffic congestion
– In 2012, Washington-based The Atlantic newspaper described Lagos traffic as
one of the worst in the world. Four years later, the only change seems to be
more vehicles being registered and fewer roads being constructed in a city of
over 21 million people. More than seven million vehicles ply Nigerian roads and
one-quarter of them are in Lagos, according to the Federal Road Safety
Commission. There is still no functional metro line, and water transportation
is still an unpopular mode of transportation for most residents.
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