Lagos State Government on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ogun Government in setting up
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Presidential Lodge,
Abeokuta, Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the establishment of the
commission would ensure collaborative development between the two states.
Sanwo-Olu said that the emergence of Lagos as a megacity
reaffirmed the need for greater synergy with other states, especially immediate
neighbors, for sustainable socio-economic development.
He said that such collaboration would harness the continued
growth of the cities and the co-creation of value that would encompass good
governance and urban regeneration.
According to him, the MoU is a game-changer that will
transform the urban agglomeration that Lagos State has become.
”We are driven by the desire to stimulate socio-economic
growth, bridge development gaps, and ensure that Lagos State mega city status
is complemented by pervasive infrastructure development even in boundary towns.
”The MoU precedes the joint development commission that will
be established to mutually tackle some of the issues prevalent in key economic
sectors such as transportation, environment, housing, health, infrastructure,
and security.
”Regardless of the challenges, we are determined to build
more livable and stable cities.
”Our goal is to build sustainable urban cities, where
residents of Lagos and Ogun states have a sense of belonging, embrace
participatory governance and recognize their roles in achieving solid urban
economies in both states.
”In light of current global practices in managing
megacities, it has become obvious that the best way to accelerate
socio-economic development in Lagos and Ogun states is by embracing a more
collaborative approach for growth, development, and urban sustainability,”
said.
The governor said that the MoU was a sustainable development
agenda under which Lagos and Ogun states would combine resources to meet
present socio-economic needs and prepare for the future.
”We have nothing to lose but a lot to gain by synergizing
efforts with Ogun State in the areas of infrastructure development (development
of boundary town roads, waterworks, mass transportation) as well as revenue and
taxation (including PAYE remittances and boundary town revenue management and
collection),” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said that other areas encapsulated in the MoU
included trade and investment, resolution of boundary disputes, and security
(including intelligence sharing and gathering).
The areas also include environmental and physical planning
activities (including urban renewal, emergency and disaster management, inland
waterways management, and traffic management) and agriculture/food security.
He said that the next step would be to establish a joint
committee that would implement the terms of the MoU until the states would
formally establish a joint development commission with the approval of the
Houses of Assembly of both states.
Sanwo-Olu called for greater collaboration among the 36
states of the federation so as to foster development in the country.
In his remarks, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun,
described the establishment of the commission as a deliberate effort of two
forward-thinking governors.
Abiodun said that the collaboration was a success story
because it was the first time that there would be a formal, structured
framework of bilateral engagement by the two states, that would have
legislative backing
”It is undeniable that we share historical and cultural
affinities, and long before now, successive administrations have mouthed and
attempted to have some omnibus or spatial arrangement to have Lagos and Ogun
states to work together.
”But, again, never had there been a time that this was
encoded or a law-backed structure, institutional arrangement; human and funding
resource requirements formalized to actualize what and what remains the right
way to uplift our people and improve their prosperity.
”So, what we are signing today is a historic memorandum of
understanding that takes cognizance of what had been envisioned, leading to the
establishment of the Prof. Akin Mabogunje’s Committee on Redeployment of Lagos
Megacity Region Plan in 2005-6,” he said.
Gov. Abiodun said that before now, he and Sanwo-Olu had
jointly formally written to President Muhammadu Buhari to release the
Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta and the Ikorodu-Sagamu roads for Lagos and Ogun states to
jointly reconstruct.
He said that another manifestation of their working together
was the Adiyan Water Works that, though, was in Ogun State supplied water to
the people of Lagos State and would also be supplying water to Ogun State.
”One thing is clear: people do not care who and who is to
execute a project just as there are no federal people, state people nor local
government people.
”What matters to the people is to get the job done. The two
states are, therefore, important stakeholders in this development agenda.
“If we jointly do this, there will be a development which
will continue to increase employment generation, poverty alleviation, and food
security.
”The official launch of this commission today will further
initiate and accelerate more projects necessary to aid ease of movement of our
people, goods, and services as well as increase industrialization along with
all our border communities and ensure wholesome development of our dear states.
”Therefore, I call on the private sector to support and collaborate with governments in the success story of the Lagos-Ogun Joint Development Commission,” Abiodun said.