Commissions Road, Solar Street Lights Built By
Gbajabiamila
…Projects Inspired By Gov’s Giant Strides,
Says Reps’ Majority Leader
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode
on Friday said his administration will go all out
to transform the economy of Surulere and
make it to be at par with those of Victoria
Island and Ikoyi, starting with the resuscitation
of the night life of the axis.
Speaking while unveiling a road project in
Modele-Mathew Street and solar powered
street lights in Modele-Mathew Street, Randle
Avenue and Fred Anyiam Street in Surulere
constructed by Majority Leader of the House
of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila,
Governor Ambode said the hospitality and
entertainment business which the area had
always been known for, would be revived and
scaled up to actualize the plan for the
massive development of the axis.
He said: “I have discovered that unless I
pursue and take over the National Stadium
and the Arts Theatre, I cannot achieve my goal
because with those two projects and places,
the hospitality and entertainment business in
which Surulere is really known for will be
brought back to life because the real
entertainment in Lagos State actually started
from Surulere.
“I will do everything to ensure that the
economy of Surulere is as competitive as that
of Victoria Island and Ikoyi.”
He said though a lot of projects had been
implemented by his administration in Surulere,
more would be done to truly change the face
of the area, and make the economy compete
favourably with others.
According to him, “So, what is it that I want to
make Surulere to look like? You remember we
have already done Ishaga-Mabo Road, Itire-
Lawanson Road, Ijesha Road, the palliative is
ongoing. We have upgraded Agboyin Avenue
and then Simisola Mogaji Close. But what is
very important to me in Surulere is to bring
back night life hundred per cent in this area,”
Governor Ambode said.
He commended Gbajabiamila for keying into
the ongoing infrastructural renewal efforts of
his administration, saying it was gratifying that
individuals and corporate organisations were
now joining government to fast-track socio-
economic development and empowerment of
the people.
Governor Ambode, who particularly lauded the
commitment of the lawmaker to the welfare of
the people of his constituency and all
Lagosians, said it was on record that
Gbajabiamila had used his seat in the House
to attract numerous projects to his
constituency and Lagos at large.
He recalled how Gbajabiamila in 2016
mobilized the Lagos Lawmakers in the House
of Representatives to pull resources together
to give Lagos a befitting Sports and
Recreation Centre in Epe, as well as plans for
federal engineers to rehabilitate Karimu Street
in Surulere.
Showering praises on the federal lawmaker,
the Governor said: “He (Gbajabiamila) has
complemented the job of our Government very
well at the national level and we appreciate
him for his clever intervention especially his
leadership role during the recent Constitution
Amendment process. He defended the interest
of Lagos in seeking for devolution of more
powers to the States.
“Hon Gbajabiamila is a most valued legislator
who has supported our government in all we
have been doing and his support has been
unflinching. On behalf of the government of
Lagos State, I want to commend him not only
for doing us proud in the House of
Representatives but also making his Federal
Constituency, Surulere, a beacon of
development in Nigeria,” Governor Ambode
said.
The Governor urged other public-spirited
individuals and corporate organisations to
emulate Gbajabiamila by adopting public
infrastructure for maintenance or
rehabilitation, just as he called on residents to
make effective use of all public infrastructure
in their neighborhood and protect them from
vandalism or destruction of any kind.
Besides, Governor Ambode congratulated
Gbajabiamila’s mother, Alhaja Lateefat
Gbajabiamila on her 88th birthday which
coincided with the commissioning of the
projects, saying it was a perfect way to
celebrate her for being the first woman to be
elected a Local Government Chairman in Lagos
State.
Earlier, Gbajabiamila said the decision to
construct the road, which was hitherto in very
dilapidated state, was inspired by the massive
efforts of Governor Ambode in transforming all
parts of the State.
“Today is not my day; today is the Governor’s
day. I say this with a lot of deep thought
because you can be a Governor, you can be a
President, you can be a Chairman of Local
Government, if you don’t have disciples, you
are nothing.
“The Holy Prophet Muhammed had disciples;
Jesus Christ had disciples. It is those
disciples that go out there and do his work.
Why I say today is the Governor’s day is
because I am only complementing what the
Governor has been doing all over Lagos State.
He (Governor Ambode) is the one that has
inspired me,” he said