MY ADMINISTRATION’LL UTILISE TAX PAYERS’ MONEY JUDICIOUSLY- AMBODE …Targets 300, 000 Artisans For Job Creation Initiative …Commissions Classrooms, Health Centres, Roads, Others
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday commissioned several local and state government projects in Epe, Ibeju Lekki, Eti-Osa and Shomolu Local Government Areas of the State, saying that his administration would continue to utilise tax payers’ money judiciously to the benefit of all residents.
Governor Ambode, who was represented at the different locations by members of the State Executive Council, said that the ongoing projects in the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas were in fulfillment of his campaign promise to make life more comfortable for the people.
He urged residents to take ownership of the projects being executed by the Government in their domain, saying that it was their civic responsibility to ensure that the projects serve the interest of the people for which they were built for.
In Epe, the Governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Community and Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, said he would not renege on his promise to run a government of inclusion that would make all and sundry enjoy the dividends of democracy, however urging them to continue to pay their taxes and rates promptly.
The Governor said, “In my inaugural speech, I told you I was going to run an open government of inclusion, where everyone would be involved in day to day administration without minding your age, race, creed or religion”.
“Ensure proper maintenance and sustainability of the projects commissioned. Be law abiding and take ownership of the projects. On our part, we would continue to ensure that tax payers’ money is put to good use. It would never go to waste”, Governor Ambode said.
Among the projects commissioned include blocks of classroom at St. Theresa’s College, Oke-Oyingbo, Town Hall at Ita-Opo, Epe and Regional Water Scheme, Otta-Ikosi.
In Eti-Osa Local Government, Governor Ambode who was represented by State’s Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, commissioned the 1.9km Unity/1st Avenue Osapa London Road in Eti-Osa Local Government and block of 16 classrooms with modern facilities at Kuramo Primary School in Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The Unity/1st Avenue Osapa London Road was designed with standard walkways, drainage system and street light.
The Governor also inaugurated the Job Registration and Labour Exchange Centre for the Lagos Division in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the State as part of the employment creation and wealth generation initiative of his administration.
He said the project was another step forward in providing dividends of democracy to the citizenry.
In his address, the State’s Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said the Job Registration Centre was part of Governor Ambode’s initiative to create five of such in each of the 57 Councils.
Durosinmi-Etti, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Ahmed Olorunfemi Mustapha explained that the essence of the centre was to register, train and provide job opportunities for artisans and unemployed graduates.
Speaking further, Durosinmi-Etti said under the initiative, between 500 and 600 artisans would be trained at each centres, while the project is expected to capture about 20, 000 to 30, 000 from the informal sector at the initial stage, and then about 200 to 300, 000 subsequently.
In Shomolu Local Government, Governor Ambode commissioned a Primary Health Centre and Diagnosis Centre named after him and a 400metres road in Bariga Local Council Development Area.
Speaking while inaugurating the Primary Health Care Centre (PHC), Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Art and Culture, Mrs Adebimpe Akinsola, said that the Centre would cater for the health needs of residents and reduce the incidences of maternal mortality.
He said the 400metres of Baptist Church Street would link several communities in the area, even as he warned against destruction of the roads by plumbers and other artisans.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Shomolu Local Government, Abiodun Orekoya said the council embarked on the Primary Health Centre Project to enable resident have access to quality medical care, just as he expressed optimism that the proposed 114-rooms female hostel in Akoka would alleviate the pains of students of the higher institutions around the council suffering for accommodation.
In Ibeju Lekki Local Government, Governor Ambode who was represented by the Special Adviser, Food Security, Ganiu Okanlomo Sanni, commissioned the Origanrigan and Awoyaya PHC, saying it was in line with his administration’s zero tolerance for maternal mortality.
