Social media influencer, Japheth Omojuwa engaged the governor of Lagos state, Akinwunmi Ambode in a Sunday chat on Twitter.

Omojuwa asked Ambode questions regarding his governance of Lagos state and issues affecting Lagos as well as what he’s doing to effect change.

During the question and answer session, we grasped 10 things.

1. Ambode finds the job challenging

Japheth Omojuwa – Ethiopia just commissioned its Light rail project started after that of Lagos. Any progress with the Lagos one?

Akinwunmi Ambode – This project is driven by commercial loans and bonds leaning on the state’s IGR. Work is going on but not fast enough to meet our expectations. That arrangement can’t be sustained. We are negotiating a better package that will deliver the project by the end of 2016. I appreciate the responsibilities and privilege of being the Chief Servant of the State. This responsibility comes with a lot of challenges. The most challenging aspect of my job has been managing the resources of the State to meet expectations of Lagosians. It is challenging meeting expectations in a period where we are experiencing dwindling resources. We have many problems to take care of with limited resources.  It is a challenge to choose which projects to embark upon and which to keep in view for later. The consideration is always which project would benefit the generality of the people.

 

2. The challenges had nothing to do with his cabinet

Japheth Omojuwa– Is there a chance these challenges are because you named your cabinet quite late?

Akinwunmi Ambode – Not really. These challenges are always there. Besides, I don’t think we named the cabinet late. We had to do a lot of restructuring of the Civil Service before we brought in the Commissioners. Many states still do not have Cabinets. The Cabinets as nothing to do with the challenges, they are separate entities. The cabinets didn’t come late, he did  a lot of work to get them.

 

3. Why there’s increased traffic in the state

Japheth Omojuwa – Sir, Traffic robbery has really escalated with Eko Bridge the most notorious. What are you doing about this?

Akinwunmi Ambode – We will deploy more traffic officers to the roads to direct traffic and enforce the laws. There are some new projects going on in VI. These are contributing to the traffic situation. But a lot of it is caused by human attitude; those disobeying traffic laws. Those patronizing street hawkers and traffic officers who are not doing their job. There has been some improvement in the traffic situation but we will not stop at that.
We will try to finish the road constructions and fix the pot-holes to ease traffic. I am concerned with the traffic robberies that have been reported in Lagos especially along Eko bridge. I recently received an email from a representative of Iretiola Doyle telling me of her experience at the hands of street robbers. These stories bother me because it is my responsibility to secure this State.  We are changing our security strategy especially as we enter the ’ember months that are notorious for crime upsurge.

 

4. Ambode’s working on new strategy to curb traffic robbery

Japheth Omojuwa – Traffic seems a major concern. Is there respite in sight for the recent upsurge in traffic in Lagos?

Akinwunmi Ambode – Our government will continue to support the Police and strengthen our Rapid Response Squad (RRS) but I assure you we will make our homes, offices and roads free of crime and violence. We also want residents to use our toll free lines and report crimes. We also ask that people should stop reporting fictitious crimes. Because our officers expend energy that should be used to chase real incidents investigating events that did not happen.  That could be the criminals’ mode of operation too Just yesterday, I told the Commissioner of Police that we must change our policing strategy. It seems the old strategy is not working. Old strategies of curbing crimes isn’t working anymore, new ones are being worked upon. People also should be cooperative to work with security agencies.

 

 

5. Ambode is his brothers’ keeper

Japheth Omojuwa – Lagos recently donated N150 million to the IDPs in the northeast, what informed this gesture?

Akinwunmi Ambode – We did it to show support for these States who have a burden handling these IDP’s. It was done out of compassion and concern. These people have been denied of their means of livelihood and their homes. Lagos is a cosmopolitan State and we have residents who have relatives in these areas.

 

6. Ambode has old people and pensioners at heart

Japheth Omojuwa – You recently paid a backlog of pensions, can we trust you not to owe pensioners for that long again?

Akinwunmi Ambode – We will ensure we are up to date in our payments. There are still some outstanding payments and we are working to clear them. I promised to run a govt. of inclusion. We will continue to go to the hinterlands and make sure government presence is felt.  There is an initiative called the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN).