Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said Lagos will become Africa’s third largest economy in a very short time.
Obasanjo made this known at the launch of a book titled, “Making Africa Work”, co-authored by the former president and three other authors.
The other authors are Greg Mills, Director of Brenthurst Foundation; Jeffrey Herbst, President of NEWSEUM and Dickie Davis, a retired major general.
The former president said the Lagos State government is working towards making the state an economic hub, which he jocularly said would come to fruition before he passes on.
Obasanjo, who is the chairman of Brenthurst Foundation, disclosed that plans are underway for the foundation and Lagos State government to make the state the third largest economy on the continent.
“Even though people said I look like someone who is in the departure lounge, Lagos will become the third largest economy before I take my boarding pass.”
The former president also said that Africa is not a poor continent, adding that the continent is only poor by choice.
He enjoined Africans to focus on wealth creation and job opportunities, saying the continent should complain less about poverty.
“Africa is poorly managed,” he said, adding that, “We are poor by choice (and) we will also get out of that poverty by choice.”
…work on Oshodi/Airport Road begins Sept – Ambode
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, said work on the proposed expansion and reconstruction of the Oshodi-International Airport road would commence in September.
Ambode dropped the hint at the 3rd Quarter Town Hall meeting held at the Badore Ferry Terminal, Lagos.
He said the reconstruction of the Oshodi-International Airport road would see its transformation to a 10-lane road.
Recall that in May, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, approved that the road be handed over to the Lagos State Government for total reconstruction.
Ambode said that plans were also underway to commence the construction of 181 Local Government roads in September.
The governor said the delay in the commencement of the rehabilitation of the 181 inner roads was due to the fluctuation in dollar rate at the time the bid was last opened.
“By the next two to three weeks, I will re-open the advert to get a new cost and all things being equal, the job will start on the roads by end of September,” he said.
Ambode assured residents that the state Public Works would seize the period of the break in the rainy season to fix all potholes across the state in order to improve drive time for motorists.
On the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, CLI, the governor urged people to be patient, as the comprehensive waste management policy was currently at gestation period.
He said once fully operational, waste would be collected in line with international best practices, while all parts of the state would be kept clean always.
Ambode, however, urged residents to adopt new attitude to waste disposal and desist from dumping in drainage and canals.
He said that the government would provide adequate bins to discourage indiscriminate dumping of waste.
Ambode said the 20-local government and 37 local council development area chairmen had been mandated to ensure 24/7 cleaning of the environment, while officials of the state government would be moving round to evacuate waste.
As part of the initiatives to enhance commuting within the state, Ambode said new modern bus terminals would be constructed, commencing from this quarter in Marina, Ajah, Ojota, Agege, Iju Ishaga and Iyana Ipaja.
He said a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane would be constructed to connect Badore Jetty to Ajah area of the state as part of the integrated transport system.
Ambode said that the Badore road would be expanded at its entrance from Ajah roundabout, while plans were underway to construct Oke-Ira Nla road as an alternative, to totally eliminate traffic along the axis.
