T.H.E.M.E.S. AGENDA CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING SOCIAL EQUILIBRIUM – SANWO-OLU

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has affirmed that his development blueprint, T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda has been critical in maintaining social equilibrium and harmony in the State.

Sanwo-Olu, who spoke during the celebration of the 2022 World Habitat Day held on Tuesday at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, said that his Administration’s programme had focused on inclusiveness and bridging the social divide across sectors, in line with the theme of the 2022 World Habitat Day: “Mind the Gap. Leave No One and No Place Behind”. 

The Governor, who was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, said that a number of institutions in the State were purposely created or refocused to address the socio-economic imbalance and champion the even development of Lagos and its people.

His words: “For effective implementation of the development goals, we have remodelled the LAGOS GLOBAL office into a more pertinent Office of Sustainable Development Goals and Investment, piloting broad-based and inclusive application of the ideals of the SDGs across the State”.

“Closely related are the activities of the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA), Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment (MWC&E), Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA) all geared towards closing the social gap and ensuring that no one and place are left behind in our march towards a Greater Lagos of world-class cities”, he said.

The Governor recalled his strides in healthcare services, education, urban renewal and infrastructural provision, saying that the Ilera Eko Health Insurance Scheme, healthcare facilities such as Mother and Child Centres and the provision of qualitative education for every Lagosians as well as investments in road infrastructure, empowerment and skill acquisition, slum upgrade and physical planning instruments among others stood his Administration out as one interested in bridging the gap.

He urged Lagosians to continue cooperating with his Administration by abiding by the State’s Physical Planning laws while desisting from embarking on any form of physical development without following due process and procedure. 

Earlier, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Bamgbose-Martins said that the World Habitat Day theme aimed at directing global attention to the growing inequality and vulnerabilities exacerbated by COVID-19, climate change and conflict, making it a global priority to tackle urban poverty and inequality.

He added that the Administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has boosted the provision of environmentally friendly housing and enhanced the sustainability of the built environment in the State with the approval of the Building Energy Efficiency Code (BEEC), the Green Building initiatives as well as ongoing domestication of the National Building Code and the current move to automate Planning Permit process and other procedures of the Ministry of Physical Planning and its Agencies.

The Guest Speaker and former Managing Director of LAWMA, Mr. Ola Oresanya, who is now a serving Commissioner for Environment in Ogun State, spoke on the World Habitat Day theme, stating that there must be deliberate government efforts to narrow the gaps in society and maintain social harmony.

He called for a planning mode that would involve every segment of society while urging effective public-private participation in public programmes.

The event also witnessed panel discussion and goodwill messages from the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Tpl. Olutoyin Ayinde; members of the Committee working on Lagos Urban Development Policy and the General Manager, Office of Disability Affairs, Mr. Oluwadamilare Ogundairo.

Dignitaries present at the event include the Special Adviser to the Governor on eGIS, Dr. Olajide Babatunde; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Abiola Kosegbe; Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Oba Semiudeen Kasali and White-cap Chiefs from Lagos Island.