Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, advissed states in Nigeria to explore their comparative advantage among themselves especially in agriculture to move the vision of transforming Nigeria economic fortunes for the better.
Ambode gave the advice while welcoming his counterpart from Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who visited him in Lagos.
He said that no state can survive on its own, hence leaders must seek to discover possible areas of partnership that would not only enhance the economy but would create jobs for the people.
The governor said, “What is most important right now is how do we take on our comparative advantage to the betterment of our people? We must start to think about the reintegration of most of the economic activities and advantages that each state has.
“We can create factories here and use products from Kano to sell to the rest of the continent. Kano also stands more like an export zone for most of the West African countries around the zone. So it’s a win-win situation for both states. There is nothing else but for us to just show exemplary leadership that other states can start to think of how we can energize together and carry the vision of Nigeria forward.”
Ambode also said that Lagos and Kano share many similarities considering their mega city status, thus, both cities stand to benefit from each other to tackle the challenges confronting them and enhance their economic productivity.
“If Lagos was to claim that she knows everything, then Lagos wouldn’t be where it is now. So what you are bringing to the table that we would also want to share and learn from you, we know there are common issues like environmental sanitation, security, education and then more importantly about how we can take comparative advantage in the area of agriculture.
“We pride ourselves as the largest consumer of agro products in the country. We intend also to reactivate some of our furniture factory and also be able to produce furniture locally. All we need to do is to get the expertise to turn the hides and skin to become the best leather of the world and that would create employment for the people of Kano and Lagos alike.”
In commerce, Ambode said that the state government was working hard to bring back the Kano Pyramid, assuring that Lagos provides a ready market for agro products as it is the largest consumer of agricultural products in Nigeria.
Governor Ganduje had said he was in Lagos to learn from the strides of Governor Ambode, especially in the area of fighting crime and improving infrastructural development.
“This meeting is between two mega cities in Nigeria. So, we have come to share our problems, we are mega cities and everybody is aware that there are some specific problems that mega cities have to confront; problems of security, crime.
“I was one time invited to witness some equipment you recently donated to the Police through the Trust Fund. I couldn’t come, but I saw everything that happened and I became jealous and that is why I am here so that I can learn from you”.
He said that the Kano State government, being the commercial nerve centre of Northern Nigeria, is leading from the front to revive the agricultural sector especially in the areas of livestock farming, just as he added that the state was one of the largest producers of hides and skin used in making leather.
“The people who are waiting to consume these items are on this side of the country. Also in livestock, with the present problem of herdsmen, Kano State is providing grazing areas to improve their socio-economic well being. These are areas that we can come together to cooperate,” Ganduje said.
Meanwhile, Lagos State government has again demonstrated its commitment to the safety of lives and properties of all residents in the state with the approval for renovation of 12 fire service stations to ensure prompt response to fire outbreak and other incidents in Lagos.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Oluseye Olaniran Oladejo, disclosed this at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja during the Y2016 Ministerial Press briefing by the Lagos State Government in commemoration of the first year anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration.
The commissioner revealed that the state has continued to embark on various public enlightenment campaigns while providing both local and international capacity trainings and conducive working environment for fire fighters to ensure effective service delivery.
According to him, “The ministry embarked on motorized public enlightenment campaign to strategic locations across the state as well as resuscitated the electronic media sensitization programme called EWU INA KII PA AWODI on Radio Lagos to educate the populace and mitigate fire outbreaks and related emergencies in the state.”
“We have also adopted other means of sensitizing the citizenry on how to avert and tackle fire incidents when it occurs. Such as the weekly phone-in programme on Naija FM Radio, bulk SMS to the citizenry to disseminate information on Fire Safety and Prevention as well as the distribution of fliers/handbills to the public.”
Oladejo explained that to ensure availability of water for fire incidents, the Ministry has received approval for the rehabilitation of boreholes in nine existing Fire Service Stations in the state; award of contract for the rehabilitation of 225 existing underground fire hydrants to Pillar Hydrants and the installation of 50 new ones connected to mini micro Water Works within Lagos Metropolis.
The commissioner said that the ministry, through the state Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), participated in an air crash simulation exercise code named “Jaasokun”, in collaboration with NEMA and other Emergency Responders in the state at the location where a Bristow Helicopter crashed in Oworonsoki in 2015.
He added that LASEMA Emergency Rescue Unit has been established at Cappa Oshodi to enhance service delivery with regards to response time during emergencies in the state.