Press Releases

We Have Stopped Seeing Challenges But Solutions In Lagos - Fashola

Jan 22, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday said the State Government has stopped seeing challenges but solutions in its quest to better the lot of the residents.

According to Governor Fashola, who spoke as a special guest of honour at the New Year Party of the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, the solutions would need the cooperation of the residents to succeed.

Said he: “I ask that we reflect on the year 2009 and ask ourselves some questions because there could always be a tendency and feeling of despondency and possible exasperation that are things really working?. Is it getting better?. Looking back at least in Lagos, we cannot all say it was all a lost cause”.

He acknowledged that the present administration has been able to stand today based on the firm foundation laid by its predecessor who has given it a legacy of a Brighter Rewarding Future.

Governor Fashola said a little flicker of light which is a light of hope exists and should be one which everyone should cling to, adding that when hope is alive, everything is possible.

He expressed the belief that the people can turn around the fortune of the state and the country, saying if the people give up, they will be yielding space to those who do not wish for it to get better.

Said he: “We always want to get it right, but when we get it wrong, you should always bring it to our attention because we do not claim monopoly of wisdom. I am convinced that we are closer to our dreams today than we were ten years ago”.

Governor Fashola said the government is reducing the cost and time of travel through transportation by expanding the highways and building more jetties and ferries to create options to travel on waterways.

He thanked the people for their support morally and financially through payment of taxes and for understanding when the government tried to implement infrastructure projects, roads and the inconveniences that come with it, promising that government will always intervene in all areas that concern the people.

Governor Fashola said although the crime situation in Lagos is getting better, the administration beliefs that there can be no crime free society, but would always see crime as a competition which it intends to outrun, outthink and outspend.

He reiterated that the state has just commissioned two mini water works with capacity for two million gallons each out of eight which are ready and would be handed over in the next few weeks and by the end of June this year, 15 of such would be ready to give Lagosians 30 million gallons of water daily as a short term measure.

The Governor explained that hopefully by the middle of the year, the state will start operating the 12.5megawatts independent power supply facility that is being built to optimize the full capacity of Iju and Adiyan waterworks with an installed capacity of 130million gallons of water daily.

He added that the 12.5 megawatts independent power facility would also provide power facility to the neighbouring communities of its location.

The Lagos State helmsman also said the State would soon break ground on the 27 kilometre Blue Line Lagos Railway Transit Line, explaining that Government is doing everything basically to make it better.

He expressed delight at the considerable improvements that have taken place in the club, saying they are consistent with what the State is doing in trying to make things better.

Governor Fashola said the large turnout of people at the event is a sign that people still find time to recreate as continuous club interaction help to stream together the strains of society’s social stability and multi ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

He applauded the initiative of the club in seeking to construct a multi storey park through the Public Private Participation (PPP) initiative, promising the support of the state.

Speaking earlier, the President of the Club, Mr Babatunde Okunuga commended Governor Fashola for raising the stakes of governance in Nigeria with his injection of fresh breadth of ideas that have not only opened new windows of opportunities but sustained the pace setting initiatives which has made Lagos the State to beat.

He called for the assistance of the State Governor in approving the release of a parcel of land which the club is considering in building a car park which will take the pressure from the main access road.

Among those who attended the event were Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Prince Niyi Oyemade and a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Babatunde Ogala as well members of the club from all walks of life.