19th May, 2023
The Lagos State Government on Friday rolled out 11-day programme for the inauguration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Chairman, Media Sub-Committee of Sanwo-Olu/Dr. Obafemi Hamzat Second Term Inauguration Ceremonies, Gbenga Omotoso, at a news conference in Ikeja, Lagos, said day one activities would kick-off on 21 May, with Youth Carnival and Robotic competition.
He said people Living with Disability would participate in the events, which would hold simultaneously by 10.00am in all the Lagos divisions, such as Ikeja Division: JJT Park, Alausa; Badagry Division: Badagry Grammar School, Badagry;Ikorodu Division: Ikorodu Town Hall Premises; Lagos Island: Muri-Okunola Park and Epe Division: The Recreation Centre, Epe.
Day two activities on 23 May will feature public lecture to be delivered by Prof Adigun Agbaje, former Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. He will speak on the topic: “The Making of a Beacon-Lagos and the Consolidation of a Democracy that Work for all.” There will also be Book launch and Photo Exhibition, Stage drama performance, all holding at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos
Day three, four and five which is 24, 25 and 26 May, have been dedicated to projects commissioning in Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Alimosho, Ikeja, Kosofe, Eti-Osa, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Surulere.
Day six, which is 27 May, is for Children’s Day activities/Novelty Match. The venue of the Children’s Day event will hold at the Police College in Ikeja while the novelty is expected to hold in five divisions at Campos Square for the Lagos Island Division, Lagos State House of Assembly for the Ikeja Division, Badagry Grammar school for the Badagry Division, Ita-Elewa mini stadium for Ikorodu Division and Magbon Alade High school, Ibeju-Lekki for Epe Division.
Twenty-seventh of May is pre-inauguration rehearsal, while 29th of May is the swearing-in ceremony.
Day nine, 2 June, is for Post inauguration Jumat Thanksgiving service to hold simultaneously in all the five divisions’ Central Mosques, while Day 10, 3 June, is for Cultural display at Mobolaji Johnson Sport Arena, Onikan, Lagos and the inauguration Dinner at Eko Hotel scheduled to start at 7pm.
The last day is for Post inauguration church service to hold simultaneously across the five divisions in Lagos.
Earlier, Omotoso said four years after Sanwo-Olu took over power, the promise of A Greater Lagos had been fulfilled in many areas of life through the delivery of several life-impacting projects, social investments in people as well as economic development of the State.
He said the social contract between Sanwo-Olu and the people of Lagos was never taken for granted and that for that reason, the governor and his team proactively tackled head-on all the challenges that confronted the State within the four-year period.
“Nobody could foresee the COVID-19 pandemic; it came like a thief in the night. Experts predicted that we would be picking bodies on our streets, This never happened because Mr Governor led a fierce battle against the pandemic.
“The administration, in line with its campaign promise, ensured that all abandoned/ongoing projects too numerous to mention here, were completed; started and completed new projects and worked on a sustainable and enduring future for the State through several bold and audacious policies and projects.
“We can safely state here, gentlemen of the press, that it is not by accident that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration continued the Blue Line Rail project and completed it. It also started the Red Line Rail project that is nearing completion amid global economic challenges,” he said.
According to him, the Sanwo-Olu administration completed 970 roads, which included 34 roads in Kosofe, Somolu, Victoria Island and Ikoyi and 15 bridges.
“In Ojokoro, 31 roads were completed. It trained 18000 teachers under the EKOEXCEL programme, set up two varsities – our varsities never went on strike when it was fashionable to do so) and built four Mother and Child Centres.
“There are a number of road projects spread across Lagos State, such as the Agege Pen Cinema bridge, the Eleko Junction to Epe rigid pavement roads, the Oba Sekumade and Ijede roads in Ikorodu as well as several hospital projects spread across the State.
“We completed 18 housing projects. This administration also prioritized technology, entertainment and arts and the preservation of our historical and cultural heritage. The Sanwo-Olu-Hamzat administration changed the face of governance in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.
“The Blue Line has been commissioned and any moment from now passenger operation will begin. The Administration began the Red Line on August 15, 2021. It is almost completed now, with engineers putting finishing touches to the iconic project.
“There are 21 ferries on our waterways, which more Lagosians are embracing to commute from one part of the state to the other. The Lagos Rice Mill Imota is in operation. The achievements are, no doubt, numerous and significant because they touch the people’s lives directly,” he added.