15th September, 2010
The 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas have key roles to play in realising the objective of turning Lagos State into Africa’s model mega city.
The observation was made in Ikeja on Monday by the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and his predecessor in office, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, at the public presentation of a book: Building A New Lagos: The LGA/LCDA Experience, by the Lagos Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Fashola, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, said Lagos could only become a true mega city when governments at the grassroots, collaborate and cooperate with the state government to achieve the common goal.
He said his administration depends on input and contributions of the local governments and local council development areas to build Lagos into Africa’s model mega city.
Tinubu, represented by the Chairman, Editorial Board of The Nation, Mr. Sam Omatseye, recalled the long battle for the creation of the 37 LCDAs.
According to Tinubu, the additional LCDAs are now crucible of democracy because they are the closest to the people at the grassroots, while emphasising that their creation had been a blessing to the state.
He acknowledged their contributions, saying they have served as milestone and model for greater development.
The Chairman, Lagos NUJ, Mr. Wahab Oba, recalled how the council set up a committee to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of projects executed by the local governments and LCDAs, saying it led to recognition of selected chairmen’s performance.
According to him, the report of the survey conducted within three months, showed that nearly all the local governments and local council development areas in the state are doing well.