1st April, 2014
By Tayo Ogunbiyi
The Policy article of the Lagos state government is the Ten Point Agenda (TPA). However, its recent focus on PATH; Power, Agriculture, Transportation and Housing, is a reflection of a new resolve to move the state along the path of unwavering and sustained growth. For the Lagos State government, PATH simply represents accepting the challenge of development in the context of global economic impact and its status as a mega city, which will be totally urbanized by Year 2015, and the attendant challenges of governance. Hence, the decision to focus on PATH is part of the drive to move the state along the path of emerging world economies such as Brazil, India, Russia, China and South Africa (BRICS).
Power remains one core part of PATH which the government is very ardent about. With its four Independent Power Plants, IPP, at Ikeja, Ikorodu, Akute and Lagos Island, the Fashola administration has demonstrated its resolve to ensure stable power in the state. It is currently pursuing similar projects at various locations across the state. Equally, government is currently working on a plan to put in place a power plant in Somolu, a renowned hub for commercial industrial printing. In view of its pivotal role in the transformation of the economy of any society, nothing is being spared to ensure that the power situation in the state improves considerably.
Globally, food security is being threatened by rising food prices as prices of major staples rose by over 50 per cent in the last three years. Nigeria was listed by the World Bank as one of the countries with the highest domestic food price increase among 58 countries surveyed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO. To correct this imbalance, the state government has built a 20,000 metric tons per annum rice milling plant while a lot of work is also being done to enhance large scale cassava production. Similarly, government’s ‘Rice for Job’ programme has continued to productively engage hundreds of youth across the state in addition to enhancing increase in the quantity and quality of rice production. Government has also developed a Lagos State Marine Agriculture Development Programme (LSMADP) for the utilization of the state water resources and enhancing artisanal fisheries and marine aquaculture. Additionally, the state government has established the Agege Farm Service Centre to bring agricultural services closer to farmers as well as provide farmers with accurate, timely and reliable information and relevant advice on livestock production, modern techniques and farm management including entrepreneurial modules.
In respect of transportation, emphasis is being placed on the inter-modal model. Lagos population, according to the United Nations projections, will be 20 million by 2015 thus making it the 3rd largest city in the world. With over 3 million cars and 100,000 commercial vehicles on the roads (when the national average is 11 vehicles per kilometer), Lagos daily records an average of 227 vehicles per kilometre of roads. This makes it imperative for government to pursue alternative mode of transportation such as rail and water. To this end, the implementation of two of the Rail lines namely; Red Line to run from Agbado to Marina and Blue Line to run from Okokomaiko to Marina, has already begun.
Similarly, water transportation is also progressing as government has concluded the dredging and signalization of the 32km water route from Badore to Ijede. Similarly, the Badore and Ikorodu terminals have virtually been completed except for minor finishing works preparatory to opening. Today, from one operation route in 2007, government is running water transport on 12 routes (Ikorodu-Marina/CMS; Marina – Mile 2; Ikorodu – Addax/Falomo; Ikorodu-Ebute Ero; Marina-Ijegun, Egba-Ebute-Ojo; Mile 2 – Marina/CMS-Mekwen-Falomo; Badore – Ijede; Badore – Five Cowries; Marina – Oworonshonki; Ebute Ojo – Ijegun Egba; Oworonshonki – Five Cowries and Baiyeku – Langbasa) under the supervision of Lagos State Waterways Authority(LASWA) while passenger traffic has grown to over one million passengers per month and it is increasing.
With regards to housing, the commitment of the state government to social housing scheme is beginning to take shape with the recently introduced Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme, HOMS. The scheme, which is to start with a total of 200 houses, is made available for balloting by pre-qualified Lagos residents on a monthly basis. Some of the prerequisites for residents to be qualified for balloting include residency in the state for six months and proof of payment of taxes in the preceding five years registration as a Lagos resident. Thereafter, lucky residents are to pay 30 per cent of the cost of the houses won up front, while the balance is spread in monthly instalments over a period of not less than ten years.
The scheme has since successfully taken off with a total of 4,260 homes made up of 1,104 completed homes and 3,156 at various stages of construction. Thirty winners have already emerged at the first public draw of the scheme aimed at providing residents opportunity to own their own homes and pay under a period of 10 years. The state government has embarked on massive housing construction to meet the objectives of the scheme as it has built houses in Ikorodu, Ogba, Epe, Badagry, Lekki, Agege, Alimosho and other areas for people to have choices on where they wish to reside. It is instructive to state that government has not borrowed money to fund any of the housing projects. The progress made so far on the scheme is as a result of rigorous planning, financial discipline, prudent management of resources and sheer commitment.
The driving force of the Fashola government in focusing on PATH is the passion and determination to truly be the Centre of Excellence and African socio-economic development hub. Its policy thrust, therefore, is focused on poverty alleviation and sustainable economic growth through infrastructure rehabilitation and development to underscore fiscal responsibility. Today, Lagos contributes about 12% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is comparable, only, to Rivers and Delta States which are Oil-Producing States. Similarly, it is the leading contributor in the Non-Oil Sector with average contribution of 19% which is equal to the contribution of 13 states put together. This is why government is vigorously pursuing PATH, which, all things being equal, will propel the state to the path of greatness and prosperity. Without doubt, the state, and indeed Nigeria, have everything to gain if everyone signs on and works diligently to pursue this path of improved electricity supply, abundant food supply, efficient Transportation system and affordable Housing which the Fashola administration has chosen to follow.
•Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.