Lagos: Africa’s emerging powerhouse also explored the Public-Private Partnership model in order to meet a proposed $50bn infrastructure investment programme over the next decade. Nobody could begrudge the youngest governor to grace Lagos State the satisfaction he expressed in his second inaugural speech last year when he commented: “In 2007, very few of us were known to you. But today, we have become like goldfish. We have no hiding place. We understand that you will not settle for less and we are committed to give you nothing but the best.”

Fashola told the people: “We achieved this progress by building a government whose commitment to law and order was unmistakable and unequivocal… We will invest in security and safety to further reduce crime; and we will be fair, firm and uncompromising in enforcing the laws.

“If we must equal and exceed the standards of those societies by whose performance we assess ourselves, and I am certain that we can, then we must all reach a consensus from today to play by the rules, such as paying taxes, driving in the proper way and in the proper lanes, trading only in the proper and designated places, building only in proper and designated places, and doing everything in accordance with the rules.”

Behold, transformational leadership has at last arrived in Lagos, to the extent that when the British PM, David Cameron, visited Lagos last year, he was moved to say: “Here in Lagos, Governor Fashola has shown what strong and accountable governance can achieve… What I have seen in London, I have seen a hundredfold here today. From Eko Atlantic City and Balogun Street Market to the biggest part in the most populous country in Africa, you are transforming your State.”

Key AcHievemenTS • An increase in Lagos State’s revenues. • A reduction in armed robberies by over 80%; reduced murders by over 75%; and achieving an 85% stolen vehicle recovery capacity. • Building the largest solid waste management system in West Africa. • Installing rural electrification, rural roads and other basic facilities in over 500 communities. • Implementing the building of four new waterworks over the next four years to supply 300m gallons of water a day. • Introducing the Lagos State Mortgage

Scheme to provide affordable housing. • SSA’s first Bus Rapid Transit System. • Rehabilitating existing roads and the construction of new ones – such as the the 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway with a BRTS, pedestrian walkways, and light rail mass transit routes. • A state-wide beautification and cleanup programme, and a youth employment programme. • Rehabilitating existing roads and the construction of new ones – such as the the 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway with a BRTS, pedestrian walkways, and light rail mass transit routes. • Construction of over 13,000 new

Some Lagos State Government Agencies www.lawma.gov.ng www.lekkizone.com www.lagosstateppp.gov.ng www.lamata-ng.com www.lirs.net www.laswa-ng.com

Governor’s Office, Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel: +234 1 271 8825 Website: www.lagosstate.gov.ng classrooms to reduce overcrowding in schools. • Expansion of free health screening diagnostic and treatment services. • Strengthened emergency services with the provision of Mobile Intensive Care Units and a toll free helpline. • Provision of public health and diagnostic centres • The Lagos Independent

Power Project • The Lekki Free Trade

Zone.

Governor Fashola has won many plaudits for the way he has regenerated Lagos, turning it into the economic hub of West Africa.