The Lagos State government wants residents of the state to support policies and critical steps it would continue to take in making Lagos a better place and a well developed city to live in.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hazmat made the plea at the General Assembly of Indigenous Associations In Lagos state organised by the Ibile Eko Summit Foundation.
Dr. Hamzat highlighted some critical move the government had made in the past to ensure that some infrastructure that were being enjoyed by the people in the state today like good roads and drainage system were put in place.
He explained that government have had to remove some structures hindering the path to free flow of water in some locations in the metropolis to control excessive flooding and the removal of some other structures for the construction of new roads.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State however, said that it was unfortunate that such government moves were usually met with criticism from some people that saw government’s action as being insensitive to their wellbeing.
Dr. Hamzat said that government could not afford not to take such decisions if it must continue to meet up with the infrastructural needs of the ever increasing population of the state, and the need to develop the state to the class of enviable cities of repute in the advanced countries.
In a keynote address, a former governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola advised the state government to begin to look into providing more housing units for the people in order to meet the increasing housing demands of those coming into Lagos every year.
In a contribution, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mrs. Muheeba Folami asked government to take the issue of a cleaner and more peaceful Lagos seriously.
She said that Lagos is not as clean as it used to be.
The President, Ibile Eko Summit Foundation, Mr. Olasupo Shasore on his part made a request that a day should be set aside by the government as EKO DAY, to enable Indigene of Lagos state to celebrate their culture.
Traditional rulers representing the five divisions of Lagos State, that is Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe and Lagos Division took their turns to give good will messages at the event.
Students of University of Lagos and Lagos State University were also on ground at the Summit to ask questions and lend their voices to matters relating to the growth and development of the state.
The theme of the Summit is Addressing Urbanization and Urban Challenges of Lagos’ State.
Reporting by Kikelomo Ifekoya