Agbaje
The governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has promised
to strengthen the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)
by arming operatives with technological gadgets, embark on massive
road rehabilitation and create more neighbourhoods, all with a view
to reducing citizens’ travel time.
He
also committed to generating an additional 1,000 megawatts to the
Lagos electricity grid by the 18th month of coming into office, and
increase it to 3,000 by the end of his first four-year tenure.
Lamenting
that the state currently ranked a poor 37th among the 38 mega-cities
recognised worldwide, the PDP candidate wondered what the current
dispensation had done with the about N7 trillion ($35 billion) at its
disposal since inception.
Agbaje
spoke Wednesday at Eko Hotel during a meeting organised by the Lagos
business community with the PDP Presidential Candidate, former Vice
President Atiku Abubakar, and his Running Mate, Mr. Peter Obi.
Addressing
the gathering, Agbaje said: “I make this solemn promise: that by
the 18th month of our Administration, Lagos will have added 1,000
megawatts of power to its own grid. And, by the end of four years,
Lagos will be generating 3,000 megawatts towards meeting its
industrial, commercial and residential purposes.”
According
to him, Lagosians spent much time in traffic and it had been observed
that this could be controlled and curtailed through reordering the
location of industries and facilities.
His
words: “This is a deliberate effort to make economic power in the
state more geographically diverse. This decentralization is very
intentional because Manufacturing industry is the sector capable of
creating the number of jobs that Lagos needs given its demographic
realities.”
He
spoke of diversifying industrial sites through the states by opening
up the Ikorodu-Epe axis as well as the Mile 2-Badagry axis, in order
to spread prosperity to all corners of the state.
Furthermore,
he said: “As we work towards reducing the commute needs, a PDP
Administration in Lagos will immediately after assuming office embark
on a works project to repair roads, thereby reducing the incidence of
traffic congestion induced by bad roads. Gradually, we will phase in
the use of satellite technology to facilitate effective control of
the flow of traffic. This will be part of comprehensive efforts to
strengthen LASTMA, boost its effectiveness and enhance its
respectability.”
Agbaje
who spoke on, “Lagos as a Catalyst for National Economic Growth,”
said the state needed an innovative paradigm shift that would entail:
Ensuring greater efficiency, productivity and operating lower cost,
job creation through growing and diversifying its economy, improving
the climate for business and fiscal balance and sustainability.
Lamenting
the poor state of education in the state, Agbaje said his regime
would focus on expanding access to high quality education.
He
promised to structure Lagos into a veritable ICT hub capable of
attracting foreign investment through lowering the cost of internet
access, as currently obtained in places like Madagascar.
Agbaje
said his administration would fashion out a feasible synergy with the
private sector and local governments in order to improve Lagos
State’s waste management.
According
to him, policies and legislations would be revised in order to drive
the state into being one of the three best states in the World Bank
ranking of the “Ease of Doing Business.”
He
said: “We will insist on companies with presence in Lagos being
afforded access to projects being undertaken by the State government.
Furthermore, 10% of the budget of Lagos State Government will be
devoted to procurements by SMEs in Lagos, particularly SMEs led by
women and those with disabilities. The State government will become
the major off-takers to these businesses, enabling their growth.”
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