Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on
Friday said the state government was still
interested in taking over the National Stadium,
Surulere and the National Theatre for the
purpose of reviving them to boost tourism in
the state.
The governor spoke in Lagos while
inaugurating newly rehabilitated roads in
Modele and Mathew Streets, Surulere.
He also inaugurated solar-powered street
lights on Randle Avenue and Fred Anyiam
streets, also in Surulere.
Newsmen report that the projects were
facilitated by the Leader of the House of
Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila.
Ambode, in 2017, had requested the federal
government to allow the state to take over the
stadium and theatre, to reposition them to be
tourism hubs
Renewing the call on Friday, he said the two
federal government owned monuments had
immense potential to boost tourism
development in the state, especially the
Surulere area.
“The government is committed to the tourism
development of the state and creating a great
night life in Surulere area.
“But it will be difficult to recreate the kind of
great night life we used to have in Surulere
without the government taking over the
National Stadium and National Theatre for the
purpose of reviving and repositioning them.
“This government is so passionate about
tourism development and we believe giving life
to these two monuments would further help
our agenda for tourism,”he said.
Ambode commended Gbajabiamila for
facilitating the roads and street lights, saying
he had shown impactful representation
through the projects and several others.
He said the state government was proud of
him for what he had been doing both at the
House of Representatives and in his Surulere
constituency.
Ambode, who described infrastructural
development as catalyst for development, said
his government was committed to life-
impacting projects in the state.
He said his administration would continue to
initiate policies and deliver projects that would
make life easier for Lagosians.
Ambode congratulated the House Leader and
residents of Surulere for the projects.
The governor promised to deliver projects that
would make life better for the people of
Surulere.
Gbajabiamila, in his comments, said the
delivery of the projects was a redemption of
his electoral promise to impact on the lives of
the people.
He, however, said the inspiration to facilitate
the projects came from the state governor.
“The inspiration to facilitate these projects
came from the state governor who had done a
lot in the area of infrastructural development.
“What we have just done today with these
roads and street lights is to complement what
he is doing.
“The governor always preaches thinking out of
the box and I had thought after doing all sorts
of empowerment programmes in my
constituency, it would not be a bad idea to
facilitate the rehabilitation of these roads and
provision of street lights.
“Mathew and Modele roads had been
deplorable for such a long time and I thank
God that the story has changed with the
rehabilitation,” he said.
Gbajabiamila, while urging residents to ensure
good use of the projects, promised to deliver
more in the area.
The state chairman of the All Progressives
Congress, Chief Henry Ajomale, commended
Gbajabiamila for the projects.
He said the facilitation of the projects showed
the commitment of the federal lawmaker to
his constituency.
Ajomale said the APC remained the only party
with good programmes for Lagosians, which
the deeds of Ambode and Gbajabiamila
exemplified.
Rep. Dauda Kako-Are, representing Mushin
Constituency on Accord Party, also
commended Gbajabiamila for the projects.
He said the House of Representatives was
proud of the achievements of Gbajabiamila.
A chieftain of the APC in Surulere, Mr Agboola
Dabiri, said the new projects were just part of
what Gbajabiamila had delivered in many
areas.
He said the lawmaker had given free WASSCE
and JAMB forms to support education in the
area and had also supported healthcare.
Dabiri said the House Leader had provided
training for youths on different vocations and
had supported them with equipment after
training.
He said residents were appreciative of so
many things the lawmaker had done to
improve lives in the area.