By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, penultimate Tuesday, met with the people of Lagos Central Senatorial District in the Second Town Hall meeting of his administration to render accounts of his stewardship to Lagosians.

The Town Hall meeting, which was in fulfillment of his electoral promise to Lagosians on inclusive governance, is aimed at informing the people of his achievements in the last three months in particular; his administration’s plans, policies and programmes as well as getting the people to support and contribute to the various programmes and activities of the government.

The event was the second in the series of his administration’s quarterly interaction with Lagosians to render account of stewardship as their elected governor. This initiative’s first meeting commenced with the Lagos West Senatorial District on October 6, 2015 at Abesan, in old Alimosho Local Government Area. At the First Town Hall meeting, Ambode defined the strategic vision of his administration “which is to make Lagos a globally competitive City-State, a Lagos that works for all.”

“Since the last Town Hall Meeting, we have sworn in Commissioners and Special Advisers who have joined the Cabinet to steer the ship of our State. Together we have embarked on some landmark projects as well as taken some giant strides to reassure the citizenry of our commitment to deliver a Lagos that is safe, secure and prosperous.” With this introductory statement Ambode rendered his quarter report covering October 2015 – December 2015.

The overall policy thrust which he said remained the same, a Tripod of Security, Infrastructural Development and Job Creation, reaffirmed his commitment to remain resolute to serve and justify the trust reposed in him, assuring that he would continue to work tirelessly to deliver good governance for the collective good of all Lagosians.

Addressing a large gathering of party chieftains, market men and women, captains of industry, members of the diplomatic corps as well as top government functionaries, Ambode who had earlier signed the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law in early January, said his administration is fully aware that a safer Lagos will attract more investments from local and foreign investors, hence he kept to his promise in the first quarter to improve on security in the state with investment in security equipment worth over N4.7billion.

The governor reported that the investment in the security equipment has led to the reduction of  the crime rate in the state by 65 percent in the last quarter of 2015. “I am happy to report that our State is a lot safer today as statistics show that crime rate reduced by 65% during the last quarter compared to Year 2014,” he said. He said his administration, in another spirited effort to tackle crime, invested towards the “Light Up Lagos” project, which has since restored light on major highways and inner roads in the state at night.