Governorship and state assembly elections in Nigeria has been scheduled for March 9, and 29 out of the 36 states of the federation would be electing a new governor for another four-year term.
In each state, across the country, several candidates under different political parties are contesting. The ICIR looks at the campaign promises and manifestos of the main parties in Lagos State.
Located in the Southwest region of Nigeria and recognised as the commercial capital of Nigeria − with the highest GDP in the country −, Lagos State is sure the role model for all other states in Nigeria.
Forty-five candidates are running for the Lagos governorship position, but popular opinion has it that the battle will be a two-horse race between the two main political parties namely, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). It must be stated, however, that since the return to democracy in 1999, the PDP has never won the governorship seat of the state.
BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU (APC)
Born on June 25, 1965, in Lagos, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu studied Surveying and Geo-Informatics from the University of Lagos, before bagging a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Sanwo-Olu is also an alumnus of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, London Business School and the Lagos Business School.
As a public servant, the APC candidate had served as Commissioners of Budget and Economic Planning, Commerce and Industry, and Training and Pensions during the administrations of former Governors Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola respectively.
Here are some of Sanwo-Olu’s campaign promises.
On transportation and traffic management
Not only did Sanwo-Olu promised to fix all potholes and maintain Lagos roads all year round, he has also pledged to complete existing road projects, as well as fix inner city roads. In addition, the APC flagbearer hopes to complete the ongoing Blue Line rail project and begin the Red Line from Agbado to Marina.
Sanwo-Olu said he would build a 5000-capacity trailer park, in collaboration with the federal government, and also work with the Nigerian Ports Authority to develop an on-call system that notifies trailers when to pick-up containers so as to avoid indefinite waiting periods.
On health
The Lagos Health Insurance Scheme will be expanded to accommodate 500,000 households by the fourth quarter of 2019, and the health budget would be increased from 8.6 per cent to 15 per cent. By 2021, all the 345 Primary Health Centres in the state will have a minimum of three doctors, three nurses and five community health workers, while. ambulance points in the state will be increased by 50 per cent, Sanwo-Olu promised.
He also promised to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all as contained in the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
On environment
If he becomes Lagos governor, Sanwo-Olu promised to expand and maintain the linked seven channels drainage system in the state to effectively prevent flooding, as well as construct flood defences in vulnerable areas. The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) will be empowered to effectively drive the elimination of waste accumulation.
On education and technology
Budgetary allocation for education will be upped from the current 12.07 per cent to 18 per cent. “We will immediately embark on the renovation of public schools and make them conducive for learning. Teachers will be trained for capacity enhancement in modern teaching methodology,” Sanwo-Olu’s manifesto read.
“Infrastructure and curriculum of the of ICT-related courses at the Lagos State University (LASU) would be upgraded, and we will create incubation hubs in Lagos for technology startups to flourish while ensuring we introduce coding into our public school curriculum.”
On security
Sanwo-Olu pledged to recruit additional 5,000 officers into the ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ in addition to the existing 5,700, while also partnering with telecoms companies to deploy additional 2,000 stand-alone and integrated CCTV Cameras to cover strategic areas of activity state-wide.
Small business/opportunities for youths
Among other things, Sanwo-Olu promised to commit N60 billion in his first four years in office to support the operations of small and medium enterprise and innovation-driven enterprises. Access to funding would also be increased by 100 per cent through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.
Sanwo-Olu also promised to create 100,000 jobs for youths in his first year in office across several sectors of the state’s economy such as expanded public works, landscaping, traffic management, waste management, community policing, volunteering services, and Tourism.
“We will create tourism calendar around our important events, like the Eyo festival — such that it will attract local and international tourists,” promised.
Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje (PDP)
62-year-old Jimi Agbaje, a pharmacist by training, has contested for the Lagos governorship position since 2007.
His campaign this time around is hinged on what he described as a tripod of liveability, the economy and the future.
On human capital development
Agbaje pledged that his administration will focus on enabling the young people to acquire the relevant skills required for economic development.
“We will deliver an education system that equips our children with future-ready skills and qualifications, from the primary to tertiary level,” he promised.
ICT will be the major platform for learning, hence Agbaje hopes to provide the necessary infrastructure such as computers and internet access in state-owned schools. Also, bursaries and scholarships will be provided to Lagos state students in tertiary institutions across the country.
On healthcare
The PDP flagbearer intends to implement the Universal Health Coverage through the Eko Contributory Health Insurance Scheme. This is in addition to the introduction of mobile and community-based micro-clinics to augment primary healthcare in the state, especially the rural communities.
On the environment
Agbaje said his administration would revive the town planning laws and departments already in place in the state to effectively monitor infrastructural development within the state and ensure that they are orderly and will not cause social or economic dislocation.
He also plans to improve waste management by creating and maintaining dumpsites through the Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA). Locals will also be engaged to report illegal landfilling and ensure that solid wastes are routinely cleared.
On power/economy
Agbaje promised to deliver in the first 18 months, at least 1,000MW of electricity, and an additional 2,000MW for the rest of four years in office. This, he said, will further boost the economy of the state.
“We are on a mission to rebuild our economy and restore Lagos as the hub of industrial and commercial activity in West Africa,” he stated in his manifesto.
As part of efforts at job creation, Agbaje said his administration would create an IT-based job matching recruitment system (job portal) for the youths of Lagos.
Among other things, Agbaje pledged to reduce regulatory bottlenecks hindering businesses in the state, ensure local content in procurement, increase public-private partnership and ensure a transition from informality to formality in government business.
Also, said he would create a fishing and fish processing hub in Epe and Ikorodu; a manufacturing, oil and gas and regional trade hub in Badagry; a logistics, shipping and maritime hub in Apapa, and a professional and financial services hub in Lagos Island and Victoria Island.
On transportation infrastructure
The transport system, under an Agbaje administration, will be modern, reliable, efficient and safe. He promised to ensure adequate law enforcement and remedial plans to recover the roads “from the trailer parks they have become.” Agbaje said he would remove all the trailers parked along major roads within his first 100 days in office.
He also proposed to build a rail-based mass transit system and expand the utilisation of Lagos’ extensive inland waterways for transportation of goods and people.