Lagos State Government on Thursday assured residents of the June completion date for the construction of 114 roads currently ongoing across the 20 Local Governments and 37 local Council Development Areas in the State.

The State’s Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami gave the assurance at the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing to herald the first year in office of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration.

He said that the State Government under the leadership of Governor Ambode, always live up to its words, hence the two roads each under construction across the 57 Councils totally 114 roads would be completed on schedule.

Commissioner for Local Government & Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami (middle), flanked by Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde (left) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Community & Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan (right) during the Y2016 Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the First Year in Office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, May 5, 2016.

“Let me assure you that the 114 roads being constructed across the State would be delivered soon,” Folami said.

He said that no fewer than 6,000 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs have been created in the local government areas of the state since the inception of the road constructions.

The Commissioner while fielding questions from newsmen also confirmed that Local Government Elections would take place this year.

“You will recall that there was a judgment on the administration of local governments, but the State Government appealed that judgment, so it is still in court now, therefore, I cannot say much more than this, what I can only confirm and say categorically is that the local government election would be held this year but I cannot say specifically give you a date”, he said.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government & Community Affairs, Mr. Jafar Sanuth; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde; Commissioner for Local Government & Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami; Special Adviser to the Governor on Community & Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri during the Y2016 Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the First Year in Office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, May 5, 2016.

Highlighting some of the strides of his ministry in the last one year, Folami said they successfully coordinated the affairs of the local government as well as administering traditional institutions and improving the standard of living of communities in all the 20 Local Governments areas and 37 Local Council Development Area of the state.

Folami also said that the State Government during the period under review, approved upgrading and appointment of 605 Obas, Chiefs and Baales, while he averred that their welfare and capacity building have been given the utmost attention that it deserves.

He said that the ministry in line with efforts to ensure 24 hour access through gated streets pulled down 84 street gates which were hitherto shut against motorists before 12 midnight deadline.

He explained that out of the 148 street gates earmarked for demolition across the state, 84 of them had been pulled down for failing to abide by Government’s instruction to leave them open till 12 midnight.

According to him, “the Ministry promoted 24-hour access through gated streets in the State with the involvement of Community Development Associations in the State. So far, enforcement in 84 locations has been effected as at April, 2016. This is being done to improve security, free flow of traffic, safety of lives and properties of all citizens in the State,” he said.

Commissioner for Local Government & Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami (middle), flanked by Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde (left) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Community & Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan (right) during the Y2016 Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the First Year in Office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, May 5, 2016.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Community and Communications, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan, explained that his office has successfully resolved six communal disputes, intervened in community and local government issues in the state, just as he said that his office initiated the coordination of community media for effective coverage of community news and events.

Bamigbetan said that the local government information officers are now being coordinated for effective information dissemination on government programmes and activities at the local level in addition to the initiation of the market branding and engagement process that would take information dissemination to all nooks and crannies of the state.