Wetin dey happen? Senate President Godswill Akpabio don yarn something wey make people dey talk. For one big event for Lagos on Wednesday, Akpabio declare say im sef na Lagosian, just like President Bola Tinubu wey im dey represent for the occasion.
The event na for inauguration of three big projects for Lagos State. Dem be Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge, Lagos State Geographic Information System (LAGIS) Building, and the Multi-Agency Administrative Complex for Alausa, Ikeja. The complex dem don name am Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administrative Complex (BATAC).
Akpabio yarn say, “You dey wonder why Senate President come represent president for Lagos. Na because Senate President sef na Lagosian.” Im talk about how im spend im early years for Lagos as young Corps member. “Bourdillion and I have been there for 30 years, I worked at Ajose as one of the directors of the telecom companies. Lagos from the day I became a young lawyer from the days of my youth Corps, I was on Lion building. Opebi, I knew Allen and I’m in a position to testify to the transformation of Lagos.”
President Tinubu, through Akpabio, talk say the projects reflect Lagos State Government commitment to development. “These projects undertaken by the administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu are not just physical structures. They are symbols of purpose. They reflect a government that understands that development must be seen, must be felt and must be experienced by the governed,” Tinubu talk.
The Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge na 5.04km road project wey include 2.8km bridge, walkways, bicycle lanes, solar-powered street lighting, and stormwater management system. Tinubu describe am as more than transport project. “The Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge is more than a road. It is a bridge to opportunities. In a city like Lagos, movement is everything. When traffic improves, productivity also improves. When time is saved, businesses grow. When access is made easier, life also gets better,” im talk.
For the LAGIS Building, Tinubu talk say na the future of governance, especially for era where data and transparency dey critical to development. “It reduces uncertainty, strengthens planning and unlocks economic value. This is how serious societies grow,” im add.
The Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administrative Complex go house multiple agencies for single environment. Tinubu talk say na investment in efficiency, coordination and improved public service delivery. “It strengthens the government so that government can better serve the people,” im talk.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yarn say Tinubu presence na symbolic homecoming of leader wey im legacy dey continue to shape Lagos development. The governor talk say im administration get about 416 days left and dem dey determined to sustain momentum for delivering people-centred projects until last day.
“For us, finishing only makes sense if it is done well. Winding down is not an excuse to slow down or succumb to lower standards. On the contrary, it is meant to be an opportunity to ramp up momentum,” Sanwo-Olu talk.
For the Opebi-Mende Link Bridge, Sanwo-Olu explain say na to decongest busy Ikeja-Maryland-Ojota corridor and provide new direct connection between Opebi/Allen axis and Ikorodu Road through Odo-Iya-Alaro and Mende. “The objective is to improve efficiency of traffic circulation with noticeable impact even beyond the immediate environs of the bridge. The expected and inevitable result is better quality of life for Lagosians, less stress, greater productivity and more time to spend at home resting with loved ones,” im talk.
The governor yarn say the terrain for the area na swampy and prone to flooding, wey mean say conventional methods no go work. “What you see, therefore, is the result of careful planning and application of advanced solutions,” im talk.
For the Multi-Agency Administrative Complex, Sanwo-Olu talk say the facility go improve speed, efficiency and coordination for public service delivery. The complex dey on approximately 2.01 hectares within Alausa Government Secretariat precinct, with four blocks, over 7,362 square metres of office accommodation, conference facilities, parking space for over 300 vehicles, and fully-integrated mechanical, electrical, fire safety and external infrastructure systems.
Sanwo-Olu talk say the decision to name the complex after Tinubu na in recognition of im enduring contributions to institutional development of Lagos State. “The decision to name this complex after Your Excellency is both deliberate and symbolic,” im talk.
The governor acknowledge Tinubu support for Lagos and im administration interventions for the state, including construction of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, upgrades at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and rehabilitation works at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports. “Your bold reforms continue to speak loud and clear, even beyond the shores of Nigeria,” Sanwo-Olu talk.
Akpabio use the opportunity to declare National Assembly full support for President Tinubu. “Tinubu is not just a visioner or a man on a mission, he is a man that is out to fulfill his purpose on earth for this country and in doing so we are very proud of him in the National Assembly. We are 2000 percent behind him and we will make sure that your son returns a hero after he has delivered the dividends of democracy to Nigeria,” Akpabio yarn.
Im talk say im cancel one engagement for Morocco to represent Tinubu for the event. “When Mr President called me and said you must represent me, I had to cancel that engagement and I came here. That is the presidency and that is your son, you must be proud of him,” Akpabio talk.
Dignitaries wey attend the event include Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State.
President Tinubu expected to inaugurate more projects for Thursday, including Tolu Schools Complex comprising 36 schools at Ajegunle, and Fresh Food Agro Hub in Abijo, Ibeju-Lekki.
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