Your Excellency, Mr. President, may I say a big thank you, on behalf of all Lagosians for your official working visit to our State.
Today is very significant to us, to have you here commission these three landmark projects because they would not have been possible without your direct influence and support. I will come back to this later.
These projects and facilities are:
- Oshodi Transport Interchange with 3 Terminals
- Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road
- 820 Medium/High capacity Transport Buses
Your Excellency, Mr. President, we are witnessing the commissioning of high-impact projects that have the utmost interest of our people at heart.
In our promise to deliver people-oriented projects and programmes, a closer look at all the projects indicate that nearly all the different pillars of our development plan as a State have been affected positively through these projects. The Institute Of Maternal and Child Health at LASUTH contributes to our health and education sectors simultaneously.
The Lagos Theatre, Ikeja is about our Social Development Sector while the Oshodi Transport Interchange and Buses come under our Transport, Infrastructure and Commerce sectors. The Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road is an Infrastructural Development project.
All these projects together form the thrust of our vision as a government and the end result is to make life better for all our people, irrespective of gender, tribe or political leanings.
Mr. President, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I have no doubt in my mind that the future prosperity of this State is secured. It is on record that our State has never had this measure of support from the Federal Government as we have enjoyed under your leadership.
We believe strongly that the projects being commissioned today are our own modest contributions to the national development of Nigeria. As I said earlier, these projects would not have been possible without Mr. President’s quiet but impactful decision to approve and release the payments of the Paris Club refund and the refund on Federal Road projects incurred by the States.
Mr. President, the first tranche of the Paris Club refund to States approved by Your Excellency was what we used to pay the 40% down-payment for the 820 buses you see here today.
We are grateful Mr. President.
It may also interest you to know Sir that, our second tranche of the Paris Club refund, in addition to the refund by the Federal Government on Federal road projects executed by States, are the resources we applied to the construction of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road and this First in Africa Transport Interchange.
This is our report card, Mr. President. We have used your approval and releases judiciously because we believe strongly in you, in your leadership and in your vision for our country. This is our modest contribution to the growth and development of our State and to the country in general.
We have, in the last four years, invested so much in strengthening the social and physical infrastructure base of the State economy. The dividends of these efforts are becoming manifest in all sectors of the economy. With the completion of these projects and given the level of commitment of the next administration as well as the continuous support of the Federal Government, I am assured that the immediate and future prospects of our State is very bright.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, these projects are ready to go fully operational to serve the needs of Nigerians. The Murtala Mohammed Airport Road and the U-Turn Flyover at Ajao Estate exit will be opened for public use immediately. The other Two Flyovers will be open for use from May10th after the quality assurance work is completed.
Of the 3 Terminals at the Oshodi Transport Interchange, Terminal 3 will become fully operational on May 1 while Terminals 1 and 2 will become operational before the end of May.
Mr. President, Lagos State will continue to support your aspirations to move Nigeria to the Next level. The business community in the State are desirous of partnering with your government in moving our economy forward.
On behalf of the good people of Lagos State, I thank you again for honouring us with your presence and I invite Your Excellency to commission these projects which you have made possible.
Thank you and God bless you all.
Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko, lo je wa logun!!!
Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode,
Lagos State,
April 24, 2019