Lagos will generate 1,000MWs in 18 months, 3,000MWs in 4 years ― Agbaje

Governorship candidate of Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Jimi Agbaje, said he is committed to generating an additional 1,000 megawatts to the Lagos electricity grid by the 18th month of coming into office and increase it to 3,000 by the end of his first four-year tenure.

This was just as the PDP governorship candidate promised to strengthen the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) by arming operatives with technological gadgets, embark on massive road rehabilitation and create more neighbourhoods, all with a view to reducing citizens’ travel time.

Agbaje spoke Wednesday at Eko Hotel during a meeting organised by the Lagos business community with the PDP Presidential Candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Mr Peter Obi.

Lamenting that the state currently ranked a poor 37th amongst the 38 mega-cities recognised worldwide, the PDP candidate, who spoke on the theme: “Lagos as a Catalyst for National Economic Growth, wondered what the current dispensation in the state had done with the about N7 trillion ($35 billion) at its disposal since inception.

“I make this solemn promise: that by the 18th month of our Administration, Lagos will have added 1,000 megawatts of power to its own grid. And, by the end of four years, Lagos will be generating 3,000 megawatts towards meeting its industrial, commercial and residential purposes,” Agbaje said in his address.

Speaking on traffic gridlock, the PDP governorship candidate lamented that Lagosians spent much time in traffic, saying it had since been observed that the ugly situation could be controlled and curtailed through reordering the location of industries and facilities.

“This is a deliberate effort to make economic power in the state more geographically diverse. This decentralisation is very intentional because manufacturing industry is the sector capable of creating the number of jobs that Lagos needs given its demographic realities,” he said.

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According to him, there should be what he termed: “diversifying industrial sites” through the states by opening up the Ikorodu-Epe axis as well as the Mile 2-Badagry axis, in order to spread prosperity to all corners of the state.

“As we work towards reducing the commute needs, a PDP administration in Lagos will immediately after assuming office embark on a works project to repair roads, thereby reducing the incidence of traffic congestion induced by bad roads. Gradually, we will phase in the use of satellite technology to facilitate effective control of the flow of traffic. This will be part of comprehensive efforts to strengthen LASTMA, boost its effectiveness and enhance its respectability,” Agbaje said.

The PDP standard bearer said the state needed an innovative paradigm shift that would entail ensuring greater efficiency, productivity and operating lower cost, job creation through growing and diversifying its economy, improving the climate for business and fiscal balance and sustainability.

Lamenting the poor state of education in the state, Agbaje said his regime would focus on expanding access to high-quality education, promising to structure Lagos into a veritable ICT hub capable of attracting foreign investment through lowering the cost of internet access, as currently obtained in places like Madagascar.

He further said that his administration would fashion out a feasible synergy with the private sector and local governments in order to improve Lagos State’s waste management.

According to him, policies and legislation would be revised in order to drive the state into being one of the three best states in the World Bank ranking of the “Ease of Doing Business.”

“We will insist on companies with a presence in Lagos being afforded access to projects being undertaken by the state government. Furthermore, 10% of the budget of Lagos State government will be devoted to procurements by SMEs in Lagos, particularly SMEs led by women and those with disabilities. The state government will become the major off-takers to these businesses, enabling their growth,” he assured.

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