Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has assured that his administration will, in the new year, redouble its efforts in every sector, setting the pace for the rest of the country.
The governor said that a vigorous push would be made to mobilise the needed financing for ambitious projects like the new International Airport, the expansion of the state municipal rail system, and the construction of the food logistics hub.
Sanwo-Olu gave this assurance on Sunday, while speaking at the Lagos State New Year Thanksgiving Service with the First Family of Lagos State at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), saying that his administration would be keying into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and ensure that peace, progress and socio-economic prosperity were guaranteed for the good people of Lagos State.
Besides, the governor, who spoke at the event which witnessed the attendance of dignitaries, including the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; former Governor Akinwumi Ambode and his wife; Wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Lola Adeleke, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba; the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu ably represented by the White Cap Chiefs led by Chief Ajose Opeluwa, among others, said his administration was poised to also scale up work on the implementation of the new Lagos State Electricity Law of 2024, “which is all about unbundling the electricity value chain and developing a sustainable electricity market for Lagos State which will deliver reliable and affordable power to our homes, offices, and industries.”
This was just as he further assured that the forthcoming local government polls held in the state would further strengthen the delivery of good governance at the grassroots, and affirm his administration’s commitment to ensuring the autonomy of local government in the country.
“In Lagos State, we are very mindful of this shared responsibility, and we will redouble our efforts in every sector, setting the pace for the rest of the country. We are keying into President’s Renewed Hope agenda, and by synergizing our own efforts with it, we will ensure that peace, progress and socio-economic prosperity are guaranteed for the good people of Lagos State.
“This new year, in addition to everything else we are already doing in the area of access to quality education and healthcare, security, environmental protection, wealth creation, social investment, women and youth development, and others, we will vigorously push ahead with efforts to mobilize the needed financing for ambitious projects like the new International Airport, the expansion of our municipal rail system, and construction of our food logistics hub.
“We will also scale up our work on the implementation of the new Lagos State Electricity Law of 2024, which is all about unbundling the electricity value chain and developing a sustainable electricity market for Lagos State which will deliver reliable and affordable power to our homes, offices, and industries.
“Also, this year 2025, our Local Government elections will further strengthen the delivery of good governance at the grassroots, and affirm our commitment to ensuring the autonomy of local government in Nigeria, a core plank of the President’s vision for a truly federal Nigeria,” the governor said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while welcoming all into the new year, which he said should be a harvest of thanksgiving, abundance of joy, celebration, and gratitude for all that God had done, recalled that Nigeria as a nation in 2024 no doubt faced tough and difficult but necessary decision.
According to him, the country under President Tinubu was able to tackle long overdue economic reforms required to lay the foundation for the dreamed country, expressing the confidence that the immediate pain would very quickly make way for lasting benefits.
“We are already seeing the emerging shoots of the positive outcomes of these reforms. The harvest that awaits us as Nigerians, following our many sacrifices and perseverance, will be a very gratifying one.
“Public revenues are growing, giving governments at all levels the chance to do more for the people. We have a new national minimum wage, with Lagos going the extra mile, as is our tradition.
“Across the country, we are seeing encouraging levels of macroeconomic stability, and waves of investments across various sectors, from oil and gas to mining, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, and the digital economy.
“The Nigerian stock market again delivered an outstanding performance in 2024, with the All-Share Index closing the year above the 100,000 mark.
“In Lagos State, we witnessed milestones such as the commissioning of the first phase of our Red Line, and the commencement of work on the second phase of the Blue Line. We advanced the progress of landmark projects like our food and logistics park and the new children’s hospital, both of them among the largest in Africa,” he stated.
“Last month, Nigeria, and especially Lagos witnessed an unprecedented influx of the diaspora, solidifying our aspirations as a premier destination for travel, tourism, and entertainment.
“We have seen an exciting glimpse of the huge economic and cultural potential that lies in the enthusiastic homecoming of our people from around the world, and we must find a way to fully tap into this potential in the years and decades to come.
“It is a sure sign that our global perception as a country is shifting in a positive way, and that we can choose and determine how the world will see and regard us.
“The private sector recorded its own milestones, like the commencement of production of petrol by the Dangote Refinery, and the groundbreaking on the 12,000-seater Lagos Arena, which will redefine the arts and entertainment in Nigeria.
“Our government in Lagos State delivered and is delivering housing projects, constructing roads, building transport terminals, hospitals, schools, embarking on environmental projects, and rolling out impactful initiatives ranging from subsidised food markets to innovative digital services for the use and benefit of the people of Lagos.
“In security, our Lagos is safer than ever before, a direct consequence of investments through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and other initiatives,” he added.
Governor Sanwo-Olu thanked President Tinubu for all the support and attention that Lagos State had been receiving, and would continue to receive in this new year, on very critical projects, like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Sokoto-Badagry Expressway, and the planned 3rd metro rail network, the 7th Axial Road, and the 58km Green Line that would run from Marina to the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
The governor equally thanked all members of the State Executive Council (SEC) “from my brother and friend the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Kadiri Hamzat, to the State Executive Council, our Permanent Secretaries, and all of the hardworking personnel in our civil service,” as well as the leadership and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, among others for their support.
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