Ambode: Lagos Needs N60Bn to Transform Public Schools

• Lays out strategic plan for 2017 Says 4,355 housing units available for sale
Gboyega Akinsanmi
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday disclosed that the state required a whopping sum of N60 billion to transform public schools in the state.
Ambode also laid out strategic plan for 2017 fiscal year, which he said, included the construction of 181 inner-city roads across the state and provision of more jobs for youths.

He unveiled the plans at the sixth quarterly townhall meeting held at Ajelogo Housing Scheme, Mile 12, declaring that 2017 “is a special year in the history of Lagos State when the Centre of Excellence reaches a landmark golden jubilee on May 27.”

The meeting was attended by critical stakeholders across the state including community leaders, political chieftains across party lines, traditional rulers, security chiefs, religious leaders and members of the State Executive Council (SEC) among others.

At the meeting, the governor said at least N60 billion “is required to turn around all public schools in state,” which he said, did not include what the state needed to construct new schools.

He revealed the cost of rehabilitating public schools in the state while responding to different requests from stakeholders, who asked the state government to site schools in their communities.

He also said adequate preparations “are being made to ensure that the 50th anniversary celebration of our dear state, the Centre of Excellence, reflects the rich culture and heritage of the people of Lagos.”
He added that the state government would continue with its urban regeneration initiatives, building new infrastructure and maintaining existing ones across all the local councils.

He listed some of the key projects to be undertaken under the 2017 fiscal year would include Agric-Isawo-Arepo Road in Ikorodu; Ajelogo–Akinomodo Road; Oshodi to Murtala Mohammed Airport Road; Ketu–Alapere Inner Roads Phase II; Oke Oso–Araga – Poka in Epe and Topo Garage to VIP Chalet in Badagry.

He disclosed that bus ultra-modern terminals and depots would be established in Yaba, Ikeja, Oyingbo, Anthony, Ketu and Toll Gate aside from the construction of a Abule-Egba-Oshodi BRT lane, which he said, would take off before the end of the first quarter.

On the inner-city roads, the governor said most questions “are on roads because of the success recorded with the 114 roads last year which we did two roads per local government.”

He disclosed that 181 roads to be constructed in all the local councils would be advertised in the newspapers next week, explaining that the state government found out that some of the roads constructed in 2016 “did not properly link up with the main roads.

“If we are supposed to do some road in some local governments, it will only make economic sense if there is a linkage. So you would see in the advert that some local governments will have like three, some would have four roads. But the average is 181 roads.

“If you divide it by 57, it will be a minimum of three roads from each local council. The choice has been made by the local council in conjunction with the engineers so that we can make economic sense of the road and we think we would continue in that pace.”

He also said more beneficiaries “will receive funding from the State Employment Trust Fund this month as we strive to energise the economy and create jobs through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.”

The governor assured that the small-and-medium scale businesses in the state would enjoy government support “to ensure the ventures embarked upon are nurtured to healthy growth.”

In the last quarter, Ambode noted that his administration kicked off its “Rent-To-Own and Rental Housing Policy” aimed at providing affordable units across the three Senatorial Districts.

He, therefore disclosed that there “are 4,355 housing units available with over 500 applicants pre-qualified so far, noting that allocation would commence next week unfailingly.