Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode spoke with social commentator and activist, Japheth Omojuwa over the weekend in a live Twitter chat that caught a lot of people’s attention as he answered questions on pressing issues affecting Lagosians. Here are key things we gathered from the session:
1. Lagos is battling to satisfy its inhabitants in the face of dwindling resources. Here’s what the governor had to say about the Lagos Light Rail System currently under construction.
This project is driven by commercial loans and bonds leaning on the state’s IGR. Work is going on but not fast enough to meet our expectations. That arrangement can’t be sustained. We are negotiating a better package that will deliver the project by the end of 2016. I appreciate the responsibilities and privilege of being the Chief Servant of the State. This responsibility comes with a lot of challenges.
The most challenging aspect of my job has been managing the resources of the State to meet expectations of Lagosians. It is challenging meeting expectations in a period where we are experiencing dwindling resources. We have many problems to take care of with limited resources. It is a challenge to choose which projects to embark upon and which to keep in view for later. The consideration is always which project would benefit the generality of the people.
3. The Lagos State governor has a plan for dealing with traffic in the state.
We will deploy more traffic officers to the roads to direct traffic and enforce the laws. There are some new projects going on in VI. These are contributing to the traffic situation. But a lot of it is caused by human attitude; those disobeying traffic laws. Those patronizing street hawkers and traffic officers who are not doing their job.
There has been some improvement in the traffic situation but we will not stop at that. We will try to finish the road constructions and fix the pot-holes to ease traffic.
4. Ambode on tackling traffic robbery
I am concerned with the traffic robberies that have been reported in Lagos especially along Eko bridge. I recently received an email from a representative of Iretiola Doyle telling me of her experience at the hands of street robbers. These stories bother me because it is my responsibility to secure this State. We are changing our security strategy especially as we enter the ’ember months that are notorious for crime upsurge.
Our government will continue to support the Police and strengthen our Rapid Response Squad (RRS) but I assure you we will make our homes, offices and roads free of crime and violence. We also want residents to use our toll free lines and report crimes. We also ask that people should stop reporting fictitious crimes. Because our officers expend energy that should be used to chase real incidents investigating events that did not happen. That could be the criminals’ mode of operation too.
Just yesterday, I told the Commissioner of Police that we must change our policing strategy. It seems the old strategy is not working. Old strategies of curbing crimes isn’t working anymore, new ones are being worked upon. People also should be cooperative to work with security agencies.
5. Tax is still a big issue in Lagos.
@Omojuwa …jobs will be created for our youth and they will become tax payers #JJmeetsAmbode
— Akinwunmi Ambode (@AkinwunmiAmbode) November 1, 2015
@Omojuwa That way Lagos will have more revenue. #JJmeetsAmbode
— Akinwunmi Ambode (@AkinwunmiAmbode) November 1, 2015
@Omojuwa Right now, only 51% of our taxable adults pay tax. #JJmeetsAmbode
— Akinwunmi Ambode (@AkinwunmiAmbode) November 1, 2015
@Omojuwa We need to administer our taxation more efficiently to get more people in the tax net. #JJmeetsAmbode
— Akinwunmi Ambode (@AkinwunmiAmbode) November 1, 2015
@Omojuwa We want to make tax payment as easy and convenient as buying a recharge card. #JJmeetsAmbode
— Akinwunmi Ambode (@AkinwunmiAmbode) November 1, 2015
6. Ambode has plans for pensioners and old people.
We will ensure we are up to date in our payments. There are still some outstanding payments and we are working to clear them. I promised to run a govt. of inclusion. We will continue to go to the hinterlands and make sure government presence is felt. There is an initiative called the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN).
7. People in places like Ikorodu and Alaba will soon feel the impact of the Ambode-led government.
If you live in Ayobo, Igando, Ikorodu, Epe, Alaba, Ojo, we will be in your area soon. #JJmeetsAmbode
— Akinwunmi Ambode (@AkinwunmiAmbode) November 1, 2015
The post Six Key Things We Learnt From Ambode’s Live Twitter Chat That Got Everyone Talking appeared first on KokoFeed - Nigerian News For The Young Generation.
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