Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has declared that his administration is set to commence the implementation of the Lagos Development Plan.
Ambode told a delegation of the UK Department For International Development (DFID), led by Mr Ben Mellor, the Country Representative in Alausa on Tuesday that the framework for implementation of the masterplan is already in place and ready for kick-off.
Governor Ambode disclosed that the Development Plan was geared towards achieving a long-term vision of the government in all sectors. “We should be able to put together issues that are germane to our people and carry out programmes that will be of tremendous benefit to the people of Lagos State. We will like you to also know that in whatever we are doing, we will open up areas that will be of benefit to Nigerians in general,” the governor said.
Ambode also pledged his commitment to running a transparent and all-inclusive government that would not only be accountable, but also be people-driven. His words: ”I have concluded plans to embark on a tour of the 57 Local Governments in the State to afford me the opportunity to listen to the challenges of the people first hand and address them accordingly. We believe strongly that we should scale up community governance in this state which is more about communities and more about our people as well as what they want, ” he said.
Mr. Ambode commended the partnership of the State Government and the DFID over the years, saying that it has not only been a success, but has impacted on the people in no small way. He expressed optimism that the synergy between Lagos and the Federal Government for the first time in 16 years, would go a long way to scale up the partnership with the DFID and share the model to other states of the federation.
In his remarks, Mellor commended Ambode for his strides since he assumed office and observed that his decision to run an-all inclusive government conformed with the ideology of the DFID. He lauded the steps taken by the governor to align ministries and engender public service reforms to increase proactive and performance-based strategic administration that would improve service delivery to the people.
By Olisemeka Obeche (with agency reports)
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