Lagos State
Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right) with APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu (left), during the commissioning of Mile 12-1korodu BRT Extension and
launching of new BRT, on Thursday, November 12, 2015 National leader of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday described
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode as an epitome of creativity,
intelligence and honesty in governance.
Tinubu, who is also
a former Lagos State Governor, recalled how Ambode provided solutions to the
financial crisis which engulfed the state during his tenure between 1999 and
2007 when the then Federal Government seized the monthly allocation of Lagos
for 23 months. He said as Accountant General of Lagos State, Ambode, along with
others, provided solutions to the quagmire and lifted the State out of financial
crisis.
"He (Ambode)
never gave excuses; he was always ready with solutions. He is a bundle of
creativity, intelligence and honesty in governance. ' When we were thinking of
whom to succeed Babatunde Raji Fashola as Lagos State Governor, Ambode himself
never thought about it; we sought him out and I'm proud to be a grandfather. '
"I have many of
them who are extremely gifted and talented and I have no doubt that Fashola
will succeed even as Minister. You can see portfolios they gave to our people
here; the government is now put together by our chosen president to move
Nigeria forward and I can conveniently say that Nigeria is in good hands,"
Tinubu said.
Lagos State
Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd left), cutting the tape to commission the
Mile 12Ikorodu BRT Extension and launching of new Bus Rapid Transit, on
Thursday, November 12, 2015. With him are Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola (right); APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (2nd right) and
Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola (left)
Meanwhile, Lagos
State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode shortly before formally commissioned the
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension project and flag off of the 434 new BRT bus
operations, expressed optimism that it would bring comfort and convenience to
commuters in the state. He said the BRT system which was initiated as part of
the strategies to modernise the public transport system, has to a large extent
lived up to expectation since the launch of the first BRT system in March 2008
along the Mile 12 — CMS corridor.
The Governor said that the 22 km BRT corridor has moved over 250 million passengers in the last seven years, adding that the extension is an improvement on the shortcomings noticed on the Mile 12 to CMS corridor. This upgraded system, known as the BRT classic with the BRT lanes running in the median will provide better service in all ramifications.
The Governor said
the development was another demonstration of his administration 's commitment
to effectively address the issue of traffic congestion and ensuring significant
improvement in public transportation in the State.
"This
government is committed to improving on the road transport network, the water
transportation system, the public transport infrastructure and most importantly
attract the needed investment to fund our Strategic Transport Master Plan
(STMP), which is already being implemented"
"The strategic
transport master plan is a 30-year plan that will deliver to us a truly world
class integrated public transport system with Six Rail Lines, One Mono-Rail, 14
BRT corridors, Three Cable Car Con-idors and 26 developed Water Routes".
Cross section of the
newly commissioned Bus Rapid Transit by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode, during the commissioning of Mile 12operation.
He also commended
the efforts of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), for
delivering the project as well as other stakeholders who were involved in the
project.
Governor Ambode also
seized the occasion to acknowledge the efforts of former governors, Asiwaju
Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Mr. Babatunde Fashola, under whom, he said the project
was conceived, initiated and substantially implemented.
Also speaking
earlier at the event, State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola commended
Governor Ambode for his acidity and steadfastness in keeping faith with the
vision of the progressives and keying into the developmental agenda for Lagos
laid by Tinubu and continued by Fashola, former Lagos State Governor, who is
now Minister of Power, Works and Housing. Aregbesola said as Governor of Lagos,
which is almost half of Sub-Saharan Africa, the enormity of the job of
governing the state was indeed gargantuan, because a Governor of Lagos can
comfortably lay claim to being president of more than 20 African countries.
He said it was wrong
for people to refer to Lagos as the commercial hub of Nigeria, but that
reasonably and historically, Lagos is the commercial hub of the black people in
the Sub-Saharan Africa.
Aregbesola also
recalled out the BRT project was conceptualized and actualized by a team which
Tinubu put together, to which he was a member.
He recalled that the
team visited London, Brazil, Ecuador and Columbia, and that at inception it was
a tall order which many never believed in its success, but that he was happy
that the project had become a reality.
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