…Says aquatic splendour under utilized***

The Advanced National Democratic Party (ANDP) Lagos State gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Segun Musa on Monday indicated that the State had failed to attain and deliver optimally because it had successively been governed by leaderships who see the act of governance as Contract, rather than as Service. 

Musa, a former vice president of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Air Logistics, Western Zone, who joined the maritime industry in 1989, and who is a Lagosian from Badagry, made  this remark, while presenting his political agenda, at the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) International Press Centre in Lagos.

“I’m coming out because I have something to offer. Lagos has never had governors, what we have are contractors in the last 20 years  and they were keen to beautify Lagos without addressing the immediate needs.

“Lagos is yet to become a mega-city, but is being referred to as an over-populated city. I’m not referring to the land mass or population but other issues such as security, transportation, infrastructure, education, amongst others.

“Security is one of the major criteria on measuring a mega city. Another is transportation and the other is housing! Then there is the problem of basic infrastructure and the need to guarantee healthy business environment.

“UN has predicted that the population in most mega cities is bound to increase by more than 25 percent in the next 10 to 15 years. Imagine what would happen if that happens in Lagos State”, Dr. Musa asked, stressing that there were five strategic pillars for his agenda in the next four years.

He was particularly sad that local governments have totally lost their autonomy in the State, saying that it is one of the reasons for the high neglect and widespread nature of poverty among the people of Lagos state.

“There must be 100 percent Autonomy for the LGAs. The reason for the poverty is because we only have Chairman and Counsellors.  LGAS should take care of the local confines. We are not just giving them autonomy but autonomy with value added. We would help them develop and explore potentials for revenue generation.

“There must be Job Creation. Through LGAs, we are going to engage all these teeming youths, some of them would have to be sent back to school, others would benefit from skills acquisition and empowerment. We would engage them and monitor their development.”

“We are not interested in providing money but investing in the requisite assets and equipment, while we provide little fund for take-off.

 “Green Economy where there would be massive agriculture. We have identified lands in Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu. 

“There would be Animal farming to satisfy local consumption and also for export  purposes. Once we go into export we will achieve balance of trade. If the land in Lagos isn’t enough we would partner  with neighboring states to achieve these goals”, he stated, grieving that with all its aquatic endowment, Lagos, through Nigeria is still importing fish, for its everyday consumption. 

“We will open up the Blue Economy, using the water around us, which is worth more than gold or crude oil.  The government isn’t aware that the water in Lagos is more valuable than crude oil, gold or diamond… 

“The maritime potentials of Lagos is sufficient to sustain the economy,” he said further, adding that the country doesn’t have business importing fish, when they can start the business here in Lagos.

 “We would identify all state Housing estates and arrange a meeting with LGAs and residents to set the minimum standards and give LGAs the autonomy to manage housing and only supervise. Most housing estates in Lagos are expired. They are disaster in waiting. 

“We would engage the private sector to partner LGAs and build modern houses, collapse existing ones and rebuild. While we ensure that this is achieved, we would make sure it is going to be affordable,” he explained; adding that the agendas were not limited to these, but will include other things which will make the country become more progressive and eventually truly transform into a vibrant mega-city.