LAGOS TO EMBARK ON COMMUNITY SELF-HELP PROJECTS

The Lagos State Government is set to embark on the execution of over 250 grassroots self-help projects across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.

The Special Adviser to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Communities and Communications, Mr. Akeem Omoyele Sulaimon disclosed this in Alausa on Monday at a stakeholders’ meeting with Community Development Associations( CDAs) in all the 57 local governments.

He said the Governor was determined to take development to the grassroots as part of the inclusive governance policy thrust of the present administration, adding that, “Communities in the 57 councils would be assisted in executing self-help projects. About four to five self-help projects would be executed in each of the 57 councils across the State based on the numbers of CDAs in each of the Local Government/LCDAs”.

Sulaimon stated that the essence of the meeting was to look at the self-help projects the communities could execute with the help of the government, saying that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had vowed that all councils in the State must be touched and made to feel the impact of government.

According to him, the projects would be funded by government to complement the efforts of the people at the grassroots.

In his words, “The projects will be funded by the State government, since projects embarked upon by the CDAs and the CDCs are complementary projects because the funds used in constructing the projects were contributed by the residents and the projects will include construction of roads, water projects, streetlights and others which are expected to enhance the quality of living for the residents.”

He also implored the CDAs to take ownership of the181 road projects, as the contractors have started moving to the sites, as such there is the need for the communities to monitor the projects.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri said the State Government was so passionate about positively impacting the lives of grassroots dwellers in the State, which underscores the need for rural communities to execute the self-help projects that would be of great benefit to the people at the grassroots.