Ambode and community devt in Lagos

Eko Trust in this report x-rays the argument for and against the performance of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in touching the lives of Lagosians. Recently the African Leadership Magazine rated Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos as the top performing governor in Nigeria. The poll, tagged ‘Good Governance Polls for Nigeria’s Top Performing Governor’ was designed to […]

Eko Trust in this report x-rays the argument for and against the performance of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in touching the lives of Lagosians.
Recently the African Leadership Magazine rated Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos as the top performing governor in Nigeria. The poll, tagged ‘Good Governance Polls for Nigeria’s Top Performing Governor’ was designed to assess the extent of the delivery of good governance, promotion of infrastructural development and people-centred policies.
 From the result of the poll, the governor  has no doubt met these requirements to be so rated.
But  the opposition believes otherwise, saying the governor did not merit the rating. Specifically,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state rejected the poll, saying it was biased and compromised by Ambode’s media team to hoodwink the public that Ambode was truly performing.
The opposition party further insinuated that its two governors in the South-West- Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo and Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State are better than Ambode.
Ambode’s emergence as governor of the state  has come with huge responsibilities taking over from Babatunde Raji Fashola whose performance was largely adjudged to be superb.
One year on the line, the governor seems to have changed the narrative, proving that he’s indeed fit and competent to step into the shoes of his immediate predecessor.
Besides, the administration recognized the imperative of shifting away from elitist policy direction and making the masses feel the impact of good governance.
Analysts have consistently maintained that democracy as a system of governance becomes much more meaningful when people at the grassroots are made to feel the impact of governance through the implementation of projects that touch their lives positively and empower them to live meaningful lives.
This is why the establishment of the office of Communities and Communications is seen as a deliberate step towards extending good governance to all nooks and crannies of Lagos State. According to Ambode, the office would “give governance back to our communities by integrating Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees, (CDCs) into the participatory network of service delivery and budgetary cycle of government at the state and local government levels.”
In partnership with the community newspapers, radio and the new media of communication, the office headed by a Special Adviser, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan has successfully tried to integrate communities into the workings of the government by impressing on them the need to take ownership of the projects being undertaken by the government.
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The office also engages in conflict resolutions among communities especially on land matter.
Among the projects that Ambode has embarked upon to impact on the lives of Lagosians are the huge spending on security with the roll-out of anti-crime equipment; the construction of 114 roads across the nooks and crannies of the state, the light-up Lagos project which has succeeded in illuminating virtually all roads in the state at night and reduced robbery incident, among others.
The first set of the security equipment, which cost a whopping N4.765billion, include 100 4-door saloon cars, 55 Ford Ranger Pick-Up vans, 10 Toyota and Cruiser Pick-Ups, 115 power bikes, Izuzu trucks, three helicopters, two gun boats and 15 Armoured Personnel Carriers. All the equipment were fitted with revolving lights, siren and public address system, vehicular radio communicators and other security gadgets. To motivate the men, the government procured bullet proof vests, uniforms and expanded the insurance and death benefits of security officials.
The second set, launched on the administration’s first anniversary comprised 140 Ford Rangers, 335 power bikes fitted with communication gadgets, bulletproof vests and other kits valued at N1.85billion.
The development has  therefore triggered a debate for members of the public to contribute to crime reduction by always reporting suspicious people and activities through the slogan, “See something, say something” with the toll free number 767.
Our correspondent, who monitored some projects being undertaken across the state, reports that many Lagosians are upbeat about experiencing a new lease of life in traffic reduction on the highways. Flyovers being built at Abule-Egba and Ajah, according to residents, would reduce hours spent in traffic. There is a multi-layby facility at Oworonshoki and the expansion of road to fasten traffic at Alapere axis of Ketu which has already reduced traffic from two hours to 40 minutes on Third Mainland Bridge and improved productivity. The dual carriageway from Epe to Itoikin will end 30 years of anxiety, according to residents.
The Fourth Mainland Bridge project set up by a consortium of investors at over 500 billion naira would also boost productivity when completed. In order to reduce human obstacle to traffic flow, more footbridges are springing up and the old ones are being fixed at Berger, Mile 12, Oko Filling, Olopomeji, Anthony, among others. Commuters are safer and better.
Other roads that have been completed are Ajasa Command, Ago Palace Way, Ejigbo-Idimu, Meran, Okota-Isolo-Ejigbo, Ajara-Erekiti-Badagry,Mushin-Isolo, Freedom Road, Lekki LASU-Iba and the network of major roads in Epe Township, among several others including inner roads. Amir of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’ah, Dr. Mash’ud Adenrele Fashola declared recently that traffic jam hampers productivity among Lagosians, noting if the gridlock could be reduced through opening up of more roads, productivity would increase while businesses would thrive.
Some Lagosians who spoke with Eko Trust at the newly built pedestrian bridge at Berger which is now being put to use said they heaved a sigh of relief as a result of the construction of the bridge. Madam Esther Willaims said, “Before this bridge was built, you could see pedestrians struggling to cross the highways. There have been accidents on the highways in the past and many lives have  been lost. So this bridge is indeed a well thought out initiative and we commend the governor for that.”
However, the PDP and the ruling APC disagreed on the achievements of Ambode especially in impacting on members of the communities. While the PDP described his achievements as cosmetic, the ruling party in the state  said the PDP was obviously dazed by the current achievements of the governor which they said is a tip of the iceberg.
Kehinde Bamigbetan said through the series of town hall meetings held by the governor, he (Ambode) has been able to take governance to the communities, saying  his office would continue to drive the administration’s policies through regular interface with the community.
 He said, “The litmus test of the administration’s commitment to inclusive governance is the way the office of Communities & Communication has applied the concept  to the execution of the on-going 114 road projects.
“The workshop on “Project Ownership by Community Development Associations” held on Friday December 18, 2015 sensitised  officials of the CDAs and the Community Development Committees to the need to take ownership of the projects before, during and most importantly, after completion.”