The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso today reiterated the determination of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to ensure that the ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as ‘Okada’, is fully implemented in the affected Local Government/Local Council Development Areas of the State.
Speaking on a television programme ‘Lagos in Focus’ aired on MITV, Mr. Omotoso said the ban on Okada in nine Local Governments and six Local Council Development Areas has ensured the return of sanity and tranquillity on some roads while the crime and accident rates have also been drastically reduced in many areas.
Imploring Lagosians to always make use of the safe and conducive First and Last Mile (FLM) Buses as alternative means of transportation, Omotoso said the State Government has put in place 19 vocational centres where people can learn different skills at no cost to them, noting that about 6000 people have already graduated from the vocational centres.
In his words: “People should take advantage of these free vocational skill training centres. It is on record that about 6000 people have passed through these vocational centres.
The State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Empowerment is also providing financial grants to graduands as startup support for their businesses”.
He revealed that the Ministries of Agriculture and Science & Technology also have in place, programmes that the youths can key into to build successful businesses and be financially self-dependent.
The Commissioner also spoke on the massive infrastructure development embarked upon by the present administration, saying “Lagos has been described as a massive construction site. We will soon witness the completion of the Blue and Red Line Rail Projects as well as 15 Jetties which would be delivered soon to boost water transportation in the State”.
“In the past three years, no accident has been recorded on our waterways because we have Professionals running the transportation system”, he added.
Omotoso disclosed that relevant Ministries and Agencies are on standby to tackle the issue of flooding being experienced as a result of the recent downpour, assuring that the present administration will continue to be Responsible and Responsive to the needs of the masses.
The Commissioner said the decision by the former Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako to resign his appointment was personal because of the need to protect the dignity of the office and has nothing to do with professional incompetence.
He informed that Mr. Governor has constituted a Panel to look into the cases of building collapse in the State to proffer a long-term solution to the menace.