Lagos is currently evolving for the better. The All Progressives Congress made a good choice in Babajide Sanwo Olu. It was simply a masterstroke and a turning point. I have always known that he will give Lagos a new direction and that he will encourage unity and togetherness. Having worked as a member of his media team briefly, my hunch told me he will take Lagos to greater heights and that he will govern with wisdom and understanding. In him, I noticed a man who has empathy a plenty and someone who is aggressively focused. An iconic city like Lagos needs such a man. A man who does not lack gumption, a man who has no airs about him, a man who has love for the downtrodden and a could practically walk the thin line between compassion and the rule of law. And he is living up to expectation. Sanwo Olu is a smart, tough, capable administrator.
Any observer looking past the partisan haze will attest to the fact that Lagos is getting better. Governing Lagos is not a tea party. Lagos is the most intensely commercial aggregation of humanity in Africa. The city is home to all the ethnic groups in Nigeria. Governing this great city needs a great deal of political jawboning and political elasticity. For one to be impactful as a governor in Lagos, one must get the government to play a proactive role in economic development. A good governor must be resolute in diversifying the economy of Lagos beyond finance and trade. And in order to create a more equitable society, a fairer sharing of government resources should be his priority. Lagos needs a kind of governance that will encourage economic growth, stop the terrifying accumulation of debt and entrench a firm fiscal foundation.
Sanwo-Olu has been politically elastic enough in accommodating various ethnic groups in Lagos. He has worked in various parts of the country. He is not an ethnic jingoist and has the capacity to be bi-partisan. As a renowned banker and manager of resources, he has done incredibly well in transforming Lagos. Before he became governor, he said his experience as a banker and Commissioner for budget and planning equips him with the skills and discipline to run an open budget. He promised that Lagos will not be burdened with unnecessary taxes. He has lived up to his promises. Citizens are not been harassed by agents of government. Sanwo- Olu also revealed then that he was studying the various traffic gridlock points in Lagos with a view to unfolding a comprehensive Traffic Management Plan that will greatly reduce travel time. A lot of potholes has been fixed, roads are constructed and maintained and some inner city roads are been fixed. He has promised to complete all existing roads project. It is on record that over hundred roads across the state have been reconstructed by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation and LSPWC has resolved to fix more roads within the state.
Budgetary allocation has also increased to a remarkable extent. In fact, there is 60 percent increase in the capital allocation to the Ministry of Education. The governor has promised to pay ‘Minimum Wage’ to university lecturers and to train teachers for capacity enhancement in modern teaching methodology. Schools across the state are being renovated and training for teaching is ongoing.
The health Care Sector represents the clearest indication that Lagos is working. The governor increased the health budget by 58 percent to N33bn from N2bn that was allocated in 2019. Little wonder that Lagos was far ahead of other states in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked how Lagos was able to manage this public health crisis, the governor said because Lagos was the epicenter of this pandemic in Nigeria, there was no choice but to ensure that Lagos was fully up to the task of responding and to lead by example. ‘The overall success of Nigeria is tied to what happens in Lagos State; if Lagos succeeds, Nigeria succeeds, if Lagos fails, Nigeria fails. To specifically answer your question, our approach in Lagos has been to focus on the following: Testing, Health Infrastructure, Palliatives and Communication. We have been taking testing to local communities across Lagos. Some weeks ago, we launched Sample Collection Centres across every Local Government in the state. In terms of health infrastructure, we are constantly developing, expanding and upgrading our Isolation and Treatment centers. Palliatives are another important pillar, as you know, this pandemic is not only a threat to life, it is also a threat to livelihood. So, our response must necessarily speak to these two broad areas. We have a duty to do our best to help cushion the effect of the pandemic on individuals, households and businesses.’
Clearly the COVID19 pandemic is not just a public health emergency; it is an economic and social crisis. The government of Sanwu- Olu has not disappointed the good people of Lagos state on how they are managing the crisis. This Covid19 era has actually brought out the virility and swagger in the administration. Their approach to the issue is highly cautious and strategic. It is quite commendable.
The governor was asked what the COVID19 pandemic has thought him; he displayed great humility and sagacity in answering that question. ‘There are many lessons that I as a person, and the Lagos State Government as a system or structure, have learnt from this pandemic. There is not enough time to focus on everything but I will highlight one or two. First is the importance of collaboration. It is very critical. Collaboration within states and between states and the Federal Government is important.’ He said everybody needs to be on the same page for the desired progress. According to him, we cannot afford to be working at cross- purposes or wasting resources on duplication of effort. He stated that tied to collaboration is communication. ‘We must all be talking to one another, exchanging ideas and feedback, and very importantly, ensuring that we carry the public along. This is why you will find me regularly addressing the state, on a weekly basis on television, at the minimum and multiple times daily on social media.’
Sanwo-Olu is a tireless and resolute man who has an astonishing work ethic. I believe he will make a governor of historic stature. He still has a great of deal of work to do in Lagos and this presents a good opportunity for him to write his name in gold. My desire for him is that the progress of mankind should consume him and to quicken him to the rarest of distinctions. Hopefully, he will be mythologized alongside great men of history.
*** The writer, Ikechukwu Orji is atikechukwuorji@yahoo.com.
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