Press Releases

800 Days: We Will Make Lagos Comfortable For All – Fashola

Aug 6, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Thursday re-affirmed the commitment of his administration to make Lagos comfortable for all residents, irrespective of tribe and tongue.

Governor Fashola, who made the commitment while fielding questions from students and youths of the State as part of the anniversary of his administration’s 800 Days in office, declared, “Our responsibility as a government is to do our best to make Lagos comfortable for all who have chosen to make it their preferred home”.

The Governor noted that the population of the State is continually increasing with hundreds of people from all over the country and beyond arriving on hourly basis never to return to their states, adding that the development is as a result of the rapid progress being made by the administration at all fronts.

“It is indeed a privilege to be head of Government of this great State, but, I can assure you, it is also a great burden for myself and the Public Service that our continuous progress here is by itself increasing the burden as more and more people come into Lagos by the hour”, Governor Fashola lamented, adding, however, that the State Government would continue to do its best to accommodate all.

Responding to a question from one of the youths, Governor Fashola said there is no question of any student dropping out of school in Lagos for the reason of inability to pay fees or provide other education requirements, pointing out that in spite of the present economic meltdown being experienced globally, education in Lagos is free and will remain free.

“Ours is not Millennium but Minimum Development Goals, to give free basic education to our children because we believe that they are the future of our State and our country. We have provided text books and other requirements for the children”, the Governor said adding, however, that for those without the required aptitude for formal education, Government has also provided Skill Acquisition centres and Micro Finance facilities to enable them develop their skills and be self-reliant.

He said a total of 19,280 students graduated last year from the various vocational and Skill acquisition Centres in the State adding that many of them have already become employers of labour in their various skills and vocations.

Governor Fashola urged parents to devote time to assist their children in their school works pointing out that such assistance could go a long way to enable the children overcome the various challenges they face in their academic work especially during their examinations.

The Governor declared, “We have done our part as a government by providing the environment and we have trained the teachers. Parents should spend time to help their children in their school work”.

The Governor announced that the State Government would engage 5,000 students this year for the annual summer vacation jobs in the State’s Public Service, adding that the aim is to keep the students busy during the long vacation and also enable the students acquire work experience as well as make some pocket money for themselves while on vacation.

Answering a question on infrastructural development in the State, Governor Fashola said though the Government is desirous to construct and rehabilitate roads in all parts of the State, it is limited by fund adding that the priority of Government is to do the roads that are most important and beneficial to the largest number of people.

“Our resources are not limitless”, the Governor said adding that the planned expansion of the Lagos – Badagry Expressway would be most beneficial to the largest number of people, especially those living around Badagry, FESTAC and Amuwo-Odofin.

On the issue of Area Boys, Governor Fashola said the reason they are no longer being seen along the roads is because they have become responsible citizens of the State, having been rehabilitated by the Government and absorbed into the public service.

“Majority of them have been gainfully employed and are earning their living, and, I can assure you, also paying tax”, he said adding that they are the ones now engaged in cleaning the streets and beautifying the environment of the State.

The Governor urged the leaders of today to endeavour to do things in the right way in order to teach the young ones the virtue of integrity and competition adding that the only way the State and the nation can develop is through healthy competition among the people and the various Federating Units of the country.

“I believe in competition. It is the only way to promote our State. It is the only way to promote our country”, Governor Fashola said pointing out that healthy competition reduces unhealthy rivalries among the people.

On what the State Government is doing to curb cultism in schools, Governor Fashola declared, “We have provided an alternative to cultism. We have resuscitated uniformed voluntary organizations in our public schools to imbibe the essence of brotherhood and integrity”, adding that the essence is to enable the young people to believe in themselves that they can do it.

Expressing confidence in the capacity of the youths to rebuild the country, the Governor said from the impression he got from the young people, there was no doubt that they would preserve the legacy being bequeathed to them by his administration.