Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday stressed his intention to work closely and partner with the Swedish government in the areas of economic cooperation and getting clean energy for its public transportation sector.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this when he received the ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria and other ECOWAS States, Ms. Annika Hahn-Englund, on a courtesy call at the State House, Marina.
He said Lagos State government was not unaware of the emerging issues surrounding operations of public transportation, disclosing that plans were underway towards strengthening safety and improving transport infrastructure to give commuters new experience.
The governor said sustenance of an efficiently run intermodal public transportation network remained a critical component of his administration’s economic agenda, stressing that the state had adopted an energy policy that would enable the state-run transport agencies to diversify to clean energy use and lower carbon emissions.
The clean energy initiative, the governor said, has been a top agenda of the state government, noting that the state was ready for more investment and partnership to raise Lagos capacity in the use of clean energy for solutions in mobility services.
The governor also hosted the ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr. Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, on bilateral talks.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated the state’s commitment to existing bilateral partnerships with the Swedish government and trade organisations in the Scandinavian nation, pointing out that the ongoing feasibility study of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) operational capacity by a Swedish firm would result in development of solutions to reduce accidents.
Sanwo-Olu said, “As a government, we are working on all of the options. We also have a relationship with Scania AB and TML on data gathering towards ensuring the safety of the passengers using our services. We need more symbiotic partnerships in this sector, not a handout. This is a conversation in which we both can identify what the needs should be. With partnership, we can develop a win-win relationship.”
The governor told the Swedish envoy that Lagos was ready to sustain its economic cooperation with the Scandinavian country, adding that the state would continue “robust” attendance of Swedish-Nordic Connect, a socio-cultural event yearly organised by the European nation.
Hahn-Englund thanked the governor for prioritising economic cooperation with her country.
She said the SWED Fund for LAMATA would help Lagos create a more sustainable transportation infrastructure network, adding that a feasibility study by a Swedish firm, Sensys Gasto Group, was in the pipeline to promote road safety.
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