Posted by The PM News on
The Lagos state government has said its successes in 2008 are as a result of the co-operation of Lagosians, individuals and corporate citizens, to its policies and programmes.
The Lagos state government has said its successes in 2008 are as a result of the co-operation of Lagosians, individuals and corporate citizens, to its policies and programmes.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in his office. Bamidele stated that the successes of the Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)-led administration could not have been possible without the support and co-operation of Lagosians and corporate organisations.
The commissioner pointed out that the co-operation and understanding of Lagosians, particularly in areas where road construction, rehabilitation and expansion, as well as bridge rehabilitation and construction, are going on, has been overwhelming, stressing that government would need more co-operation in 2009 to pave way for more infrastructural development in the state.
He stated that the focus of Fashola 'is to create a Lagos that would compete with big cities in any part of the world,' and maintained that, for this to be achievable, the state government needs the participation of all and sundry in its quest to create 'a Lagos of our dream.'
Bamidele explained that the vision of the present administration was to undertake a massive infrastructural provision and urban renewal that would create the foundation for the Lagos Mega City.
He added that for the state government to replicate the infrastructural upgrade at the Central Business District of Lagos Island, in other areas of the state, government requires funds and the support of every Lagosian.
'We are creating the direction towards a Mega City, but the participation of everybody is crucial, apart from the payment of taxes, which is the civic duties of every taxable adult Lagosian, to provide the relevant infrastructure, individuals and corporate organisation could also assist or partner with the state government in relevant areas,' he stated.
He stated further that 'a lot of corporate organisations have done this before, but we want more in the areas of road construction and rehabilitation, construction of school buildings and provisions of educational materials, rehabilitation of the health sector, beautification of environment and youth development.
'The administration is aware that a crucial avenue to create this partnership is to open our doors for popular participation. Save for carrying people along, we are opening up avenues for feedback on our policies and programmes.
'The global meltdown is going to be a challenge for us as a government. This has accentuated the need for us as a serious government to drum up more support and understanding from Lagosians. Lagosians must complement our efforts, government alone cannot drive infrastructure requirements for a mega city. We accept that the bulk of the responsibility rests squarely on our shoulders, we are setting the requirements and creating the guidelines,' he concluded.