As Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu marks his 59th birthday today, Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the implementation of his THEMES agenda and how it has impacted positively on vital sectors in the Centre of Excellence
T.H.E.M.E.S, an acronym for the Sanwo-Olu administration’s six strategic development agenda, is six years old. It encompasses Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, and Security and Governance.
It underscores a vision, a template, a blueprint, a roadmap, a compass. Generally, there is a focus, and backed by principled commitment, it has been bearing fruits, which have led to the widening of the dividends of democracy.
At 59, what Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is celebrating is the continuous fulfilment of these campaign promises, which earned him a second term last year.
Residents attest to the evidence of responsible government; infrastructure battle being fought and won, strides in education and social welfare, including health, flood control, financial autonomy for councils, effective traffic control, support for tourism and a guarantee for ease of doing business.
Sanwo-Olu’s styles have also engendered inclusion and greater participation in government’s implementation strategies. Dynamic, goal oriented, accessible, responsive, humble and loyal to the party and Lagosians, the governor has succeeded in mobilising human and material resources in fuelling the fire of development in the state.
In its tribute to the governor, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the governor has lived to expectation.
According to the group: “Your leadership has been inspiring, as it offers beautiful lessons on the morality of power, loyalty to the ruling platform, patriotism and essence of good governance.
“The state has benefitted immensely from your numerous people-oriented policies and programmes fundamentally dictated by the needs, aspirations and popular expectations of our people in the last six years.
“The impacts of your fidelity to the implementation of your THEMES agenda are visible across the vital sectors, including education, health, social infrastructure, security and justice system.
“Through your humility, simplicity and candour, you have fostered inclusion, encouraged wider participation in state affairs and presided over an atmosphere of tranquility in the Centre of Excellence. “The remaining three years will be challenging as more is expected to be accomplished by your administration in our ever-growing heterogeneous state, with its multiplicity of aspirations by diverse residents.
“Your antecedents and performance so far convince us that our Lagos is in safe hands.” When Sanwo-Olu was in for a second term, he hit the ground running. The governor rekindled hope about good governance, saying: “We have not rested on our oars since you the good people of Lagos State gave us the mandate to oversee the affairs of the state for another four years.
“I often like to describe this second term as our season of doubling. We want to move twice as fast as we did in the first term, and accomplish twice as much. Of course, our T.H.E.M.E.S+ development agenda will continue to guide and propel all that we do for the progress and development of Lagos State.”
He added: “As a government, our commitment to the well-being of citizens and growth of our state is resolute and unwavering. We remain dedicated to the successful implementation of pivotal projects”.
Echoing him, Information and Strategy Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso observed that the philosophy of the Sanwo-Olu is that for democracy to maintain its essence, the active involvement of the people in governance must be encouraged and, indeed, deliberately courted. This is because the citizens are the bedrock of democracy.
He said: “It is in furtherance of this principle that we are promoting our agenda of running an all-inclusive government through the instrumentality of the THEMES Plus Agenda – the six-pillar development plan of the administration.”
In transportation, Sanwo-Olu has been hailed by Lagosians for its strides in the development of traffic infrastructure, following after the historic launch of the first phase of the Blue Line of the Lagos Rail Mass Transit. Work also began on the second phase, which is the extension of the rail line from Mile Two to Okokomaiko.
The governor also launched the Red Line, running between Oyingbo and Agbado, with stops in between at Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, and Yaba.
Tendering his stewardship, Sanwo-Olu said: “We have commissioned the Ikeja, Yaba and Oyingbo Flyovers’ component of the Red Line project. These flyovers have been built to significantly reduce the risk of accidents and collisions between trains and vehicles. They will also resolve vehicular congestion and delays along the Red Line corridor, and allow free movement of traffic.
“The Opebi-Mende-Ojota Link Bridge and other arterial roads connecting the bridge will also be ready for commuters this year. Upon completion of the link bridge, major traffic issues along the Opebi-Allen axis will be solved as alternative routes will be available for motorists travelling from Toyin Street, Allen Avenue, Ikeja and Maryland to Ojota enroute Lagos Island. It will also decongest traffic on Kudirat Abiola and Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way.”
The state government has improved traffic management in Lagos.
In fighting the infrastructure battle, employment is generated. Due to the ongoing construction of Opebi-Ojota-Mende bridge, no fewer than 100 Nigerian engineers are gainfully employed. “Students from various universities, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are also on-site, learning practical aspects of their courses, such as Geology and Civil Engineering,” Sanwo-Olu said.
These projects were undertaken to improve connectivity between the communities and make public transportation more seamless and efficient. Plans are underway to roll out electric buses for passenger operations, following the completion of proof of concept on the feasibility of non-combustible engines as substitute for fuel-powered vehicles.
Sanwo-Olu said:” We will take delivery of an additional 100 units of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses from the Federal Government for deployment on defined routes. The goal is to raise the fleet to about 1,000 units before the end of 2024. Rest assured that Lagos is making steady progress in its zero-carbon programme with the objective of becoming an emission-neutral city by 2050.
“Our project financing plan for construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge is being finalised. When completed, the project will be one of the longest bridges in Africa, providing a much-needed alternative to existing routes while also opening up new parts of the metropolis.
“Plans are also in top gear on the Lekki International Airport, which is expected to take pressure off the Muritala Muhammed International Airport. It will sit on 5,000 hectares of land in the fastest-growing industrial zone in West Africa today, and is expected to cater to about five million passengers annually, traveling within and outside Nigeria.”
Many road projects have been constructed for ease of movement, some of them with bridges, otherd upgraded from a single lane to a dualised four-lane carriageway in Surulere, Ebute-Meta, Yaba and Oyingbo.
Health is wealth. New hospitals and health centres have been established in a bid to enhance access to healthcare facilities. Not long ago, Sanwo-Olu joined the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, who also celebrating his 62nd birthday today, to commission the three-storey, 80-bed General Hospital at Iyun Road in Aralile Community, Surulere.
The hospital was handed over to the state government. It will complement existing healthcare facilities in the state.
Reiterating his determination to defend the health sector, Sanwo-Olu said: “We are building the largest children hospital in West-Africa: Massey Street Hospital, and also a 500-bed Mental Health hospital in Ketu-Ejinrin Epe. Plans are also ongoing to establish a Medical University in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health.
“The approval process is already underway and being fine-tuned with the National Universities Commission (NUC). The medical institution is anticipated churn out 1,500 personnel yearly to enhance capacity in medical services.”
To the Sanwo-Olu administration, poverty alleviation is a priority. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are acknowledged as the backbone the economy and key to job creation. The governor promised to consistently encourage vocational and skills acquisition to alleviate poverty and promote financial sustainability.
He said: “This administration will not hold back investment in these programmes, believing firmly that lifting people out of poverty and setting them on the path to prosperity is the cardinal objective of government.
“A few days ago, beneficiaries of the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative, mainly youths, were empowered at LTV Blue Roof in Agidingbi with various start-off equipment that will aid their trade. Our 18 vocational centres have graduated over 16,000 youths.
“The graduands took vocational training in 19 skill development centres across the five traditional divisions in Lagos. The course fees were borne by the state government. The initiative was targeted at empowering the grassroots, while giving young people an opportunity to discover their innate potential for economic independence.
“The life skills, would, no doubt, help the beneficiaries become self-reliant, just as their entrepreneurial abilities would be enhanced and make them contribute to the economic growth of the state.”
To cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal on Lagosians, the governor said he earmarked N50 billion for social protection in this year’s budget passed by the House of Assembly.
Sanwo-Olu administration has defended tourism and entertainment industry. He laid the foundation of the Lagos Film City, described by industry players as an ecosystem of creative cinematography, tourism, leisure, entertainment and learning.
The project sited on 100-hectares of land in Ejinrin in Epe Division is expected to open a vista of economic opportunities to talented youngsters in the culture and entertainment sectors. Also, it will position Lagos continentally and globally as a destination for filmmakers and producers who want a custom-built location where they can deliver world-class films.
Sanwo-Olu said: “Recent feats of Funke Akindele and her colleagues like Toyin Abraham and Mercy Akhigbe, among others, have shown that with the right environment, our young people have the wherewithal to catalyze artistic activity and economic prosperity in Lagos and Nigeria.
“This massive potential in the creative sector is what underpins the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) deal that we reached with a consortium of entertainment investors, facilitated by Del-York Group, to develop the one-stop campus for learning, film production, post-production, visual effects, and other ancillary services that support the filmmaking process.”
He added: “Ogidi Studios and EbonyLife Cinema deserve special mention, as part of the indigenous entertainment partners working to bring our vision for the film industry to reality. Our eyes are on every sector of the economy. We are determined to seize every opportunity that exists, and leave behind a legacy of transformed infrastructure, social wellbeing, and economic prosperity.”
Security is key. Under Sanwo-Olu, there is an ambience of peace in Lagos. Today, bank robbery is a thing of the past, going by the record released by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF)
As the governor put it, “this feat was achieved through continuous review and fine-tuning of the state’s security architecture.”
Sanwo-Olu thanked the security agencies for their cooperation and dedication.
He added: “In order to consolidate on our gains in the sector, we recently held the 17th Town Hall Meeting on security organised by the LSSTF, where stakeholders in the security circle, citizens and private sector donors met to evaluate issues relating to safety in Lagos.
“The Security Trust Fund has consistently funded operations of security agencies across communities to ensure quick response to threats and crimes. This year, through the LSSTF, we will provide 300 additional patrol vehicles for our security agencies.”
