Infrastructure, flood control, poverty alleviation our priorities, by new Lagos lawmakers

Following the inauguration of the 10th Lagos State House of Assembly, some of the new lawmakers spoke with The Guardian on their plan for their various constituencies, how they intend to work with the Executive arm of government to achieve the plans and the best way to move the state forward through appropriate and necessary legislation in the next four years.

Key among the agenda they intend to push are adequate security and infrastructure in their various constituencies. Other critical issues they also promise to pursue in collaboration with the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration is finding means to secure Lagos against the influx of criminals, addressing the challenges of unemployment, especially youths and other critical reforms across necessary sectors that will lead to total transformation of the state.

Recently, some citizens had set agenda on the areas they want the Assembly to focus on, which includes security, technology, traffic, and building industry, among others.

Interacting with The Guardian on how he intend to go about his legislative assignment, a new female lawmaker on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) from Amuwo Odofin Constituency 1, Mrs. Foluke Osafile, said her first priority is to ensure that members of her constituency fully participate in her legislative career.

According to her, “I wish among other things to offer the people of Amuwo Odofin an opportunity to be part of democratic decision-making in Lagos State.

“One of my manifestos is to adopt your strength, whereby the community and resident association will be fully involved in the decision-making of the constituency. It is not going to be a government thing or their thing; this time around, it is going to be our thing.” She also said that one of the major reasons that spurred her participation was the poor state of infrastructure across Amuwo Odofin, especially the parlous state of the roads and epileptic power supply.

She said the two challenges were setting the areas backwards as if Amuwo Odofin is not part of the Greater Lagos.

“Over the years the decay of infrastructure in my community and my local council has been a pressing need. There are no good roads, and electricity has been very poor in my community.” She explained that her coming to the Assembly is not to represent members of the platform that voted for her but “I am here to represent Lagos, seek her growth and development through legislation and also see to the good of my constituency.”

For the new lawmaker on the platform of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abiodun Moshood Aro, who is representing Ikorodu Constituency 2, his cardinal objective is to advocate better infrastructural deal, not only for his constituency but the state in general through legislation.

According to him, “In the course of my campaign, I discovered that one of the major needs of people living in Ikorodu is good road network. The state government seems to be more focused on infrastructural renewal and rehabilitation of roads and drainage projects and Ikorodu is not left behind but with good road networks, the economic activities in Ikorodu could be transformed.”

He also promised to drive hard on legislation to ensure poverty alleviation in the constituency, stressing: “I will focus on bills and laws that will mitigate the rate of poverty in my constituency. I will advocate more on jobs-oriented projects that will provide employment for the people.

“I will, through the power and influence of the Assembly, impress it on the Executive arm to embark on projects that can take my constituency out of poverty once we have good projects cited there. This will enhance people’s jobs and businesses.”

In his discussion, the Labour Party (LP) lawmaker from Amuwo-Odofin Constituency 2, David Olukoya Doherty, promised that the dividends of democracy will surely be delivered to his constituents under his watch. He said: “I am going to give my people what belongs to them because they voted for me and entrusted me with the mandate to represent them at the Lagos State House of Assembly. With the help of the state government, the people of Amuwo Odofin 2 will benefit from the incumbent administration.”

Assuring that the people of Oshodi Isolo Constituency 1 will not regret re-electing the ruling party on March 18, during which they also elected him to represent them in the Assembly, Oladipo Ajomale, an APC lawmaker, promised to ensure necessary legislative procedures to enhance Oshodi Isolo’s development.

He said, “This is an opportunity to serve my people and they will never regret that they entrusted me to represent them.” He added that within his jurisdiction, there are quite a number of bills, which needs to be addressed as they affect the life of residents.

“One of the major issues of my constituency is infrastructure deficiency. We have bad roads, most especially in Ilasa and Ejigbo axis. These areas lack good drainage systems, which I want the government to look into. Though it is not within my power to construct roads but in partnership with the executive, all these issues would be addressed.”

Another new ruling party lawmaker, Rasheed Shabi, who is representing Mainland Constituency 2, he disclosed that he would ensure that any Bill passed in the Assembly adds value to his constituency.

“I’m here as a legislator to ensure that any bill or law passed in the Assembly adds value to my constituency and most especially Lagos citizens. I will also prioritise youth empowerment through various means of empowerment programmes like the ICT, because there are numerous opportunities in the sector.

“I will establish ICT centres and skill acquisition centres in my constituency, which will be run like a school system to offer the youth the opportunity to have deep knowledge of such skills they want to learn.”

For Otunba Stephen Ogundipe, who was newly elected on APC platform to represent Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1, his intent is a proactive legislation, which will be based on consultation. He told The Guardian that he would meet his constituents to deliberate on the way forward through a town hall meeting. “It is a matter of going back to ask the electorate what their challenges are and the way forward. Basically, I will be focusing more on employment, social responsibility and good roads. These are part of what I intend to engage the executive on behalf of my people.”

Laying emphasis on how she intends to facilitate qualitative representation for youth and women in Lagos Island Constituency 1, Lara Oyekan-Olumegbon, said she would prioritise Bills in favour of youth and women.

“As a youth and a woman, my generation and those coming behind are holding me accountable for this mandate. They literally tell me every single time that this mandate you have is our mandate. I will continue from where my predecessor, Senator-elect, Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, stopped. I will also focus on agriculture and Artificial intelligence (AI).”

She added that flooding, bad roads and other challenges will be given emphasis in whatever proposals or Bills she intends to place before the Assembly.