Approves repair of 43 major link roads

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Monsuru Olowoopejo

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State,  yesterday, said the state government stands solidly behind the position of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on the issues of devolution of powers and the need to entrench true federalism.

Ambode, who spoke at the Fourth Quarter, 2017 Town Hall meeting, the 9th in the series, held at the SUBEB proposed permanent site in Kosofe Local Government, said the clamour across the country for restructuring is not out of place as the current political structure was seriously hindering Nigeria’s development.

Ambode

Tinubu, at a forum held in Lagos recently, backed the calls for devolution of powers and the need for the nation to truly adopt the practice of true federalism, submitting that it was the surest way to correct the nation’s power imbalance and quell the agitations for secession.

The governor, while responding to a question by a resident on calls for true federalism said: “I support true federalism; I support all the issues raised by Asiwaju; we are on the same page. That is the page of APC; that is where we are and that is what we are committed to.

“Like I have always said, we need to deal with issues that relate to devolution of powers. Like somebody said, if I have more resources, all these items that you are coming to raise here, once you raise it, I will just say done. I need more money. So, why should somebody be saying they are the ones in charge of inland waterways when the waterway is transporting my own people and my own services and when there is a law on it.”

Hotel occupancy law

Ambode also questioned why despite the existence of Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law enacted by the Lagos State House of Assembly, there were still attempts from the central government to regulate hotels and entertainment centres in the state, a situation he said was an anomaly that should be addressed accordingly.

“We enact a law and somebody says he wants to do another law that regulates hotels inside Lagos. Is it not because of the roads that they put hotel there? That is what devolution of power is saying.

“If these things are on residual list, let local government and states deal with them. That is all that we are asking for. It’s not that we will generate Value Added Tax, VAT, here and somebody will be sharing 50 per cent of it somewhere else.

“Obviously, that is the whole idea behind this agitation for true federalism, devolution of powers and the need to use it to liberate ourselves so that we can get more prosperous; so that our people can be more comfortable and it is all about the welfare of our people. Our people have said that we should do this work and we must be able to speak on your behalf on the things that really matter to all of you,” he said.

Drug  Abuse

Besides, Governor Ambode also implored the various Non Governmental Organisations, NGOs, to increase their awareness campaign on the dangers of drug abuse, saying there was an urgent need for them to also join the fight against all forms of domestic and sexual violence.

The governor also commended residents for their continuous support for his administration, saying t it had gone a long way in driving the various infrastructural development programmes implemented by the government.

He particularly commended the efforts of some community associations who have taken the initiative to start up projects in their vicinity, assuring that aside recognition from the state government, his administration would ensure that such projects would be supported to ensure success.

Governor Ambode also tasked chairmen of the 20 local government and 37 local council development areas to look into the welfare of persons living with disabilities and the elderly, saying the all inclusive mantra of his administration must be felt in every part of the State.

Approves repair of 43 major link roads

The governor, who reeled out some of the major projects embarked on by his administration in the last quarter, which include commencement of the reconstruction of Oshodi International Airport Road, construction of Pen Cinema flyover, opening of the DNA Centre, appealed to residents on inconveniences being experienced as a result of ongoing projects and assured that they would be completed on schedule.

He said the state government was deeply concerned about the traffic situation in Apapa area in recent times, saying efforts would be put in place to address it, just as he said that 43 major link roads affected by rain would be rehabilitated before the end of the year.