GREENER LAGOS: AMBODE ATTRIBUTES SUCCESS TO PRIVATE SECTOR

 … Solicits For More Participation From Corporate Bodies

 

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has attributed the success recorded in the Greener Lagos Initiative to the active involvement of the private sector, expressing delight at the number of sites already developed and maintained by private companies and individuals at different locations in the State.

 

Ambode, who was represented by the State Commissioner for The Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, disclosed this at the 2nd Stakeholders’ Forum on Greening held at Alausa, Ikeja, stating that the Public-Private Partnership which started about 15 years ago has greatly reduced the expenditure of government on the Greener Lagos Initiative.

 

He noted that about 120 sites have so far been developed and maintained through private sector participation out of the over 350 sites that exist in all the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas of the State.

 

According to him, “The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency is presently opening up more areas and sites in all the 20 LG and 37 LCDAs in the State for adoption by interested corporate bodies or individuals for the continuation of the Lagos Greening Initiative”.

 

Ambode stated that the present administration believes that in the foreseeable future, the maintenance of all the gardens and parks across the State would have been taken up by “the Green Investors” and the State Government will only regulate and monitor their activities.

 

He averred that, although the cost of establishing world class recreational Parks and Gardens with state-of-the-art features and facilities is quite enormous, the State government will not rest on its oars in investing in the sustainability of the environment.

 

While highlighting some giant strides of the government in the greening initiative, Ambode said: “the ongoing upgrading of Alausa Park in front of Lagos State House of Assembly to a world class standard with the provision of improved infrastructure and garden lights will serve as a major source of attraction to the citizenry.

 

“Also in the last two years, we have commenced the landscaping and beautification of 7 setbacks along Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, the Gbagada-Oshodi median and the LASUTH perimeter fence setback, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja.  All these had attained over 60% completed among several others” the Governor stated.

 

He used the occasion to make a renewed call to private investors for their continuous support towards the beautification of more sites and requested their partnership to transform Lagos, stressing that such collaboration would further increase Return-On-Investment for business owners and also boost their business reputation.

 

The Governor added, “Our approach to infrastructural development in this State is all inclusive. As we build bridges, we beautify the environment; as we construct more roads, we adorn them with trees; as we open up new towns, we landscape all the degraded areas; this is our attitude to moving Lagos towards becoming a sure destination of choice for tourism and investment”.

 

Earlier, the Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare who was represented by the Special Adviser, Mr. Babatunde Humpe said that the Forum will go a long way in improving the working relationship between the State Government and Private Sector “Partners” especially on how to support the government and plan expansion of the greening culture.

 

“Convergence such as this is intended to create an avenue to review together with all contending issues in all the policies relating to the environment with a view to making suggestions for improvement. Also, we can jointly facilitate shared inquiry into how to encourage adoption of green infrastructure through technology advancement at the State level”, Adejare stated.

 

He appreciated the continued partnership of investors with the Ministry, saying that their support over the years has earned the State several awards locally and internationally.

 

He informed the participants at the Forum that awards would be presented to some committed partners who have been exemplary in supporting the State Government since the inception of the greening programme.

 

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the draft copy of Lagos Greening Policy and presentation of Green Ambassador Awards to Zenith Bank, GTBank, Ecobank, UBA, Fidelity Bank and SevenUp Bottling PLC for their sustained effort towards a cleaner and greener Lagos.