GOVERNOR AMBODE FINALLY SPEAKS OUT ON LAGOS BIGGEST PROBLEMS
Joseph Omoniyi
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has identified low income generation as against big expenditure, as well as low compliance of the residents to law and order as some of the biggest challenges being faced by the government in its quest to take the State to the next level.
The Governor made this disclosure while being represented by the Commissioner for information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan , at the 6th Annual Brands and Marketing Conference held this Friday in Lagos.
Bamigbetan who spoke on behalf of the Governor pointed out that the population of Lagos which is about 22 million people which is majorly caused by the massive influx of indigenes of other states, also pose a serious threat to the available maximization of the available resources in the State.
“We all already know that Lagos right has 22 million people, less than 15 years agos we were just 9.5 million. That is just to tell us the rate which migration into Lagos has been. Statistics tells us that, every minute, 106 people are coming into this city, I am very sure that most of us found our way here just like them.”
“There is no doubt about it that, Lagos is also the industrial capital of Nigeria. Many of the products that we have come from here, 65% of that, and it will continue to be like that even though we have some people relocating to Ogun State. It is also the commercial capital of not just Nigeria, but West Africa.”
“As early as year 2000, Lagos came together and develop what we call, a-25-year-plan of how Lagos would be from year 2000 to the year 2025, looking at various pi8llars; law and order, economy, transportation and delivering it in terms of sequences”.
The commissioner pointed out that as the plan was designed, projections were based on the available resources.
The Commissioner added that the support of private sector and residents’ behaviourial change will also play vital roles in turning Lagos to a desired and attractive brand destination. He said, “We recognise that we are able to do it alone, we need to have the support of the private sector.
He said; “Those are the kind of initiative we are taking, from a diplomatic-military style of enforcement to a consensual and engaging process of learning.
“Second problem that we have is low compliance, with policies. Whether we are talking of sanitation policies or traffic or construction, you will find a large scale of low compliance. In a civilized environment, we require branding, marketing companies. Marketing campaigns, consumer behaviourial change to be able to make residents, receptive to issues.”
“The yearly event was organized by the Brands Journalists’ Association of Nigeria, BJAN, which is the umbrella body of practicing journalists covering brands, public relations, marketing and advertising beats in Nigeria.