Lagos Seeks Federal Govt Support On Infrastructure

The Lagos State government has emphasized the need for the Federal government to support in her quest for the development of critical projects and infrastructure in the state.

The state’s Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, stated this during a courtesy visit of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 45, 2023 of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) at the Office of the Deputy Governor, Ikeja, said most of the major projects taken by the state are beyond what a state can execute without the Federal Government support.

Hamzat who received the delegation on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated that support from the federal government is essential for the state to effectively execute some infrastructure, citing the rail project which is currently executed by the state as one of such projects which requires funding by the federal government, stating that “Lagos is the only sub-sovereign in the world that is funding rail by herself”.

He added that, “If you notice, in New York, Addis Ababa, or anywhere else in the world it is the federal government that funds their rail project, Lagos is the only sub-sovereign in that world that is funding rail line projects on her balance sheet.”

According to him, “We cannot have a population that is growing like  this and we don’t have a rail, there will always be congestion, the rail is key and that is why we are hitting it and it is huge financially,” he said.

He further highlighted some infrastructural efforts put in place by the government, including the recently purchased electric buses that are presently tested, another important project is the Imota Rice Mill, which processes 32 tons of rice per hour and requires more land.

‘’Despite all these, the population of Lagos is another challenge as Lagos only occupies a small portion of the entire land mass of the country, whereas, the state accommodates 11 percent of the nation’s population. Also, to meet up with the required supply of rice to the rice mill, the state government partnered with different states such as Kebbi, Niger, Kano, Ogun and some other states in the South, adding that the state needs two hundred tons of paddy in other to supply the plant, noting that “If we can continue to do this interaction, there is no reason for Nigeria to import rice”.

He however urged the participants to push the narratives to the public and ensure that the citizens understand that they must grow what they eat and must eat what they grow.

The deputy governor noted that the visit of the Institute to the state is very essential saying “the sub-sovereign in our country is where we can actually make changes in the lives of the people in the state and of course the local government.”

The Director General, the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo commended the activities of the state government on making remarkable strides in every sector of the state.

Marketers From West Africa Now Buy Fish From Badagry, Says Lagos APPEALS Project Coordinator.

The State Project Coordinator of Lagos APPEALS Project, Mrs. Oluranti Sagoe-Oviebo has said owing to the success of the project in the state , some countries in the West Africa sub region now buy fish from Lagos State.

She spoke during the World Bank and Federal Government APPEALS Project 10th Implementation Support Mission field visit to Badagry, Lagos

State.

 

 

 

Sagoe-Oviebo, said the field visit is to showcase to the World Bank

and Federal Government what Lagos State has been able to do with

regards to cage culture and other technologies for the increased

productivity of the fish farmers in the state.

 

 

 

She disclosed that marketers come from Benin Republic and Togo to buy

fish in Badagry, adding that with technologies and innovations

provided for farmers by the APPEALS Project, Nigeria will soon be a

major exporter of fish.

 

 

 

The State Project Coordinator said Lagos APPEALS Project has

supported fish farmers with canning technology, blast freezers, cold

room, and aggregation centers, to improve their productivity.

 

 

 

She said: “Lagos APPEALS Project is only aligning with the Lagos

State Government initiative. The Lagos State Government has propagated

the cage culture and the cage culture is a technology that is already

on shelves.

 

 

 

 

 

“With the APPEALS Project, the adoption rate of cage culture

technology is higher because of the support of the state government.

Today you can see a lot of clusters in different parts of Lagos State

supported by the APPEALS Project. Lagos State Government has supported

a lot of women and youths with cage culture to empower them.”

 

 

 

She advised the farmers to utilise the support provided for them by

APPEALS Project judiciously.

 

 

 

Speaking at the event, a beneficiary of the APPEALS Project and

President of Lagos State Catfish and Allied Farmers Association

(LASCAFAN), Mr. Sejiro Oke-Tojinu, said the project has contributed a

40 percent increase to their production, especially with the adoption

of the cage culture.

 

 

 

He said APPEALS Project came when they needed it most, noting that

about 60 percent of farmers in Lagos State were brought back to

business by the project after the COVID pandemic which affected

farmers negatively.

Oke-Tojinu said they are currently selling tilapia fish to the Benin

Republic and Togo because of the technologies and innovations provided

by the Lagos APPEALS Project in terms of cage culture, cold room and

blast freezers, among others.

 

Meanwhile, the World Bank and the Federal Government have commended

Lagos State government for its effective and efficient implementation

of the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement, and Livelihood

Improvement Support, APPEALS Project in the state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They said the Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration in Lagos State

through APPEALS Project has surpassed some of the targets set as far

as the implementation within the framework of the project to boost

farmers’ productivity is concerned.

The Task Team Leader of the World Bank Mission to Lagos, Dr. Emmanuel

Manievel Sene and National Project Coordinator, Mohammed Jobdi, hailed

the Lagos APPEALS project’s commitment to farmers in the state.

Dr. Manievel Sene said the World Bank is satisfied with the reports of

the activities of the Lagos APPEALS Project based on what they saw

during the field visit.

He said: “For Lagos APPEALS Project, I want to congratulate them for

what they did with the farmers and for organising a wonderful visit

for us. Now we know exactly what is happening on the ground. Coming

here we have seen what is happening on the ground.’’