President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday spoke of his
administration’s future plan, saying he will continue to emphasise
on high impact infrastructure to “vastly improve the people’s
lives.”
The President whose second term in office begins on May 29,
spoke in Lagos where he inaugurated five “Next Level” projects
undertaken by outgoing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The projects are the Ayinke House at the Lagos State University
Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, which has been renamed Institute
of Maternal & Child Health; the 500-seater Lagos Theatre, the
Oshodi Transport Interchange, 820 mass transit buses, and the
rehabilitated International Airport Road, Ikeja.
“Our government will continue to prioritise high impact
infrastructure which will vastly improve the lives of our people,”
he said, and thanked Lagosians for returning him and the All
Progressives Congress (APC) to power in the last elections.
The President praised Ambode for his “satisfactory performance”,
saying: “We should all commend him for his contribution to the
growth and development of the state”.
At the Oshodi Interchange, the President said the three key
projects reflected his administration’s drive in pursuing policies
and programmes that will positively impact on Nigerians.
He said: “The New Oshodi Transport Interchange, the mass transit
medium and high capacity public buses and the reconstructed Murtala
Mohammed International Airport Road by Lagos State Government
clearly demonstrate the need to continue to provide high impact
projects for the development of infrastructure and opportunities
for job creation at all levels.”
He added: “The mass transit buses totalling 820 buses will also
move the people of Lagos State in a more comfortable and more
efficient manner.
“These projects by Lagos State perfectly align with the efforts
of the Federal Government to improve the country’s infrastructure,
especially in the transport sector.
“To complement Oshodi Transport Interchange, the Federal
Government has recently approved the reconstruction of the
Apapa-Oshodi Expressway up to Oworonshoki and Old Toll Gate which
was last attended to 40 years ago.
“We have recently commissioned the new international airport
terminals in Port Harcourt and Abuja, as well as the rail lines
from Abuja to Kaduna. The Lagos to Ibadan Rail Line is under
construction. Our government will continue to prioritise high
impact infrastructure which will vastly improve the lives of our
people.”
Thanking Lagosians for supporting him and the ruling APC during
the last elections, Buhari said: “Earlier this morning, I
commissioned the Ayinke House of the Institute of Maternal and
Child Health and also the Lagos Theatre in Oregun. Your Governor,
Akinwunmi Ambode has performed satisfactorily and we should all
commend him for his contribution to the growth and development of
Lagos State.
“I once again thank all the people of Lagos State for their
support for our government and our party.”
Ambode said the projects would not have been possible without
Buhari’s direct influence and support.
He said: “These projects and facilities are: Oshodi Transport
Interchange, Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road and 820
medium/high capacity transport buses”, adding that the high-impact
projects have the utmost interest of Lagosians 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.”
The governor said the state’s future prosperity was secured,
noting:
“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.
“Mr. President, we believe strongly that the projects being
commissioned today are our own modest contributions to national
development.
“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
per cent 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.”
Ambode said the projects would serve the needs of Nigerians,
pointing out that the Murtala Mohammed Airport Road and the U-Turn
Flyover will be open for public use immediately.
He said: “The two flyovers will be open for use from May 10
after the quality assurance work is completed. Of the three
terminals at the Oshodi Transport Interchange, Terminal 3 will
become fully operational on May 1 while Terminals 1 and 2 will
become operational by the end of May.
“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.
“Mr. President, Lagos State will continue to support your
aspirations to move Nigeria to the next level. The business
community in the state is desirous of partnering with your
government in moving our economy forward.”
Earlier, Ambode described the Ayinke House upgrade as historic,
expressing optimism that the facility would provide world class
childbirth and maternal care services to Nigerians residing in
Lagos.
He said: “Today, seven years after the closure of the facility,
the new edifice is now a 170-bed facility with five surgical
theatres. It has a 16-bed emergency care unit with three-organ
support facilities, 30-bed special baby care unit, five neo-natal
intensive care units, a fully equipped laboratory with support
services, laboratories and a blood bank.
“Beyond the significance for the health sector, this institute
is a major contribution to our education sector also; as it becomes
a veritable platform for our medical students in the state
university to enhance their exposure and experience with the
top-class medical equipment provided”.
Ayinke House, the governor said, had been digitalised with
state-of-the-art medical facilities as well as information
technology services supported by the Ministry of Science and
Technology.
Present were some governors, ministers and special advisers.
They included: Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Abiola Ajimobi
(Oyo); Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Jubrila
Bindow (Adamawa); Acting Edo Governor Philip Shaibu; Lagos State
governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu, deputy governor-elect Dr Obafemi
Hamzat, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, Communications Minister
Adebayo Shittu and Special Adviser to the President on Media &
Publicity Femi Adesina. Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola was
unavoidably absent as he was at the Appeal Tribunal where he is
challenging the voiding of his election by the election
tribunal.
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