Why Governor Sanwo-Olu deserves a second term by Dr. Ayo Ogunsan
Except, of course, one wants to be economical with the truth or deliberately turn a blind eye to it, the many wonders of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, in the city of excellence, Lagos, are too numerous to mention, making him deserve a second term in office.
I daresay that every Lagosian can attest to the fact that the amiable governor had done remarkably well, touching all sectors of human endeavour as he religiously strives to fulfil all his campaign promises as promises as enshrined in his T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda. To burst the bubbles, I recently flipped through his manifesto, only to discover that the governor has had to deliver even more than he promised. This is no gainsay. The records are there, visible enough even to the blind.
Mr Governor has proven himself as not just a talker but a doer; a dynamic leader, savvy technocrat and an dexterous administrator par excellence.. Mr Governor is just a square peg in a square hole who will only do much better when given a second term. This is because his proficient acumen in the public sector has been made to rub off on every part of the state, within the last four years.
The exalted seat in Alausa best fits a workaholic like him. I will vote him over and over again, and I beseech everyone else to follow suit.
The long list of achievements of Governor ‘Sanwo Eko’ in offices includes the effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic which could have filtered the entire Lagosians but for the swift and pragmatic response of Mr Governor who contained it fast enough.
Within this same administration, the Agege Pen Cinema bridge, the Imota Rice Mill with a capacity to produce 2.8 million bags of 50kg bags of rice yearly, while generating 1,500 direct jobs and 254,000 indirect jobs; Lekki Free Trade zone. Here is a multi-billion dollar project that spans over 16,500 hectares of land; and Blue Rail line were all completed and commissioned for the benefit of all Lagosians.
Some other achievements of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu include the completion of the Lagos light rail project, a project initiated by the Lagos State Government under the administration of former governor Babatunde Fashola. The project is aimed at improving transportation in Lagos and effectively managing traffic congestion. If all needs are not laudable dividends of democracy, I will have to wonder what they are.
The governor also launched the Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme, an initiative designed for the provision of affordable and accessible healthcare services to Lagos residents. Mr Governor completed the Oshodi Transport Interchange, a modern edifice targeted at improving transportation in metropolitan Lagos. Worthy of note is the constant financial and moral support the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund continues to get, with the aim of supporting entrepreneurs and creating jobs for our teeming youth populace.
The Lagos State Resilience Strategy is an initiative of Mr Governor, with the aim of enhancing sustainability, while addressing issues of climate change and infrastructure. I must not forget to mention that, under this admins, the Lagos State Security Trust Fund continues to make progress with the unflinching support of the able governor.
One mustn’t forget to mention that Mr governor has rehabilitated over 60 public schools across the state;, and has delivered healthcare projects, including the construction of the Massey Street Children’s Hospital in Lagos Island.
A well-read administrator and graduate of the prestigious London Business School, Lagos Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Mr Sanwo-Olu, who had earned a Bachelor’s degree in Surveying & Geo-Informatics and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lagos, poses as that thoroughbred public servant who can be entrusted with a second term in office, having performed excellently well with a mouthwatering scorecard in public service.
Among the projects he began and finished are: commissioning of 15 brand new schools, supplied 86,000 pieces of furniture, 1400 bed hostels for model colleges; construction of Vetland Junior Grammar school, Agege built entirely out of containers, including the ICT room, 12 classrooms, science laboratory, staff room and sporting facilities; commissioning of 4,000 units of flats for the members of staff of Lagos University (LASU), a students’ arcade and 8,272 units of bedspace hostels for students in the tertiary institution.
Not less than 18,000 teachers have been trained as at December 2022 under the EKO excel programme, giving them access to technology to enhance their teaching capacity. Mr Governor has delivered 62 brand new fire apparatuses, consisting of fire trucks and support vehicles to empower the Lagos State Fire Department.
The governor embarked on the construction and rehabilitation of roads, including the Lekki-Epe road, to support the Lekki Sea Port, and the growing population on the Eastern flank and Ibeju Lekki. He also completed the rebuilding of the Lekki-Epe expressway with a rigid pavement solution. On the Blue Rail project targeted at easing transportation due to the fast growing population, Governor Sanwo-Olu have purchased trains with the capacity of 500,000 passengers, per day. He has also approved an increment by 100 per cent of the annual bursary allowance payable to indigenes of the state who are studying in any tertiary institutions nationwide, while upgrading some institutions to universities — the Adeniran Ogunsaya College of Education and Michael Otedola College of Primary Education have become Lagos State University of Education while the Lagos State Polytechnic is mow known as Lagos State University of Science and Technology.
This same dynamic administration, launched LagRide with 1,000 units of Sport Utility Vehicles [SUVs]; commissioned 4 Bus Terminals – Mafoluku, Yaba, Oyingbo and Ajah; completion of 78 bus shelters/bus depots while 22 are ongoing; reconfiguration of 6 Junctions/Roundabouts – Allen, Ikotun, Lekki I & II, and Ajah; employed 1,300 LASTMA ofsficers to manage traffic; deployed traffic lights and CCTV cameras in strategic places in the State; delivered 14 new BRT stations; launching of 500 units of First and Last Mile (FLM) buses as alternative means of transportation in addressing the security challenges posed by commercial motorcycles.
Mr Governor injected 560 high-medium capacity buses for standard routes. Under this same administration, the Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL) celebrated the 10 million passenger ridership as an unprecedented achievement. LAGFERRY now operates on 21 boats; 8 new boats were inaugurated by Mr. Governor on 6th February, 2020, while 7 new ones were added to the fleet on June 22nd, 2021. LAGFERRY has a total of 12 boats and 1 barge. It ferried over 500,000 passengers, between February 2020 and March 2022.
Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu should be returned elected for the second time, having completed and commissioned 120 units Courtland Villas, Igbokushu, Lekki; handed over apartments’ keys to 492 beneficiaries of the Lateef Kayode Jakande Housing Estate, Igando; completed 360 housing units at Igbogbo in Ikorodu; completed 660 housing units at Odo-Onosa-Ayandelu Housing Scheme in Agbowa LCDA.
Suffice to say that His Excellency, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, is a rare gift to our dear Lagos, with such sterling records brought to bare. I enjoin all Lagosians to come out en masse this Saturday, March 11, 2023 to re-elect our all-performing governor.
One good turn deserves another.
Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, who is a Board Member, Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), wrote this piece.
