Ambode at town hall meeting, as Badagry residents demand government presence

For three days, a fortnight ago, Badagry community was frenzied as the Lagos State seat of power temporarily relocated to the historical town, with the governor, Akinwunmi Ambode taking time out in a town hall meeting to listen to the people express what they want from government. The governor had the day before the meeting and held his weekly state executive meeting the following day.

And the residents, who came out en-mass were not shy in expressing their grievances of neglect, disclosing that of paramount importance to them, especially inner communities within Badagry is the restoration of electricity supply, which had been denied them in the last 17 years.

The town hall meeting, which was in two sessions had youths and people with disabilities in the first session, while artisans, market women, civil societies and party leaders featured in the second session.

Different speakers at the meeting pleaded with the governor to urgently take action on key areas like job creation, especially the effective take off of the N25billion Employment Trust Fund. Other demands were; provision of special schools for people with disabilities, reconstruction of bad roads, motor parks along the Mile 2-Badagry Expressway.

Ramota Hassan urged the governor to please intervene in the crisis residents of Ese-bata had been put as they are split between Amuwo-Odofin and Ojo Local Governments with the people confused about where they truly belong. She also complained that many of the coastal communities within Amuwo-Odofin have no jetties; aside the fact that residents commute on water with no lifejackets. Hassan further said the governor should help build concrete toilets for these communities.

On his part, Rasheed Adesina said that Igbo-elerin, where he comes from, has no health centre, while a public school, which was partially completed had been taken over by a private school.

A member of the Lagos Youth Council, Wale Smart, pleaded with the governor to release the council house to the body as all efforts to reclaim the youth house had been rebuffed, as the different letters written to the Ministry and other government agencies had not yielded fruit.

Latifat Abiola Rahman, said that as a person with disability, she had to travel daily from Iba town to Surulere for her secondary school education, which was with excruciating pains not only for her but also for her family members. She said that besides the pains is the finance for her transportation, a situation she said discourages people with disabilities from going to school.

Rahman also noted that as an athlete, she needed to get to the National Stadium or Teslim Balogun Stadium, both in Surulere, to train because there is no mini stadium within her area.

A resident complained of Customs officials killing smugglers without being trial, wondering if two wrongs could make a right.

The governor, however, assured the people that some of those projects that would address their requests are already in the 2016 budget and those not captured in this year’s budget would be considered in next year budget. Ambode used the platform to reel out programmes and projects executed, maintaining that his government is an all-inclusive one, promising to make the ancient town of Badagry a hub of tourism and resort enterprise in Africa within the next 18 to 24 months.

According to him, besides the state government investing heavily in capacity building of medical personnel, modern equipment would be procured to facilitate treatment, all in a bid to provide world class health care for the people.

The governor said as a follow up to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit in Cappa, Oshodi, an outpost unit would be situated between Ojo and Badagry in this quarter, with two other outposts in Fadeyi and Lekki.

Ambode added that aside the N500m disability fund aimed at advancing the cause of persons living with disability, his administration would decentralize the Lagos State Office of Disability (LASODA) and absolve 200 physically challenged persons to manage their affairs in all the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in the State.

He also said government would perfect plans to bring about seamless waste collection in the State, and ensure clean environment.

“I implore you to take ownership of all government properties located in your area because they are our common wealth. Remember to pay your taxes as and when due in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy.
On our part, we will continue to ensure judicious utilization of the resources of the state by executing projects that will outlive us and affirm our position as a Centre of Excellence,” Ambode said.

To show his commitment to the provision of a rounded education in the community, Ambode said a Technical and Vocational School in Badagry will be established before September 2016, as well as upgrade all the primary and secondary schools to create a conducive learning environment for students and teachers. The facelift, he however said would be across the state with 10bn earmarked for the renovation of schools.

Within and outside the hall, it was an atmosphere of carnival, with many of the participants not listening, as they gathered in their groups discussing, with majority of them in Asoebi. Others dressed in All Progressive Congress (APC) attire clothing materials with some of the vehicles, decorated in APC colours and campaign mementos.