Privileged Lagos pursues bigger and better facilities for residents
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Lagos has received Abuja’s approval for Lekki Airport it conceives to transit five million passengers a year, compete with the two federal airports in Ikeja, create more jobs, and raise internally generated revenue (IGR) now at N40 billion per month.
Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika presented the approval document to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos Economic Summit 2022 which unveiled the Lagos State Development Plan 2022-2052 (LSDP 2022-2052).
The plan would prioritise infrastructure development, build a thriving economy, and focus on human-centric economy, Sanwo-Olu pledged.
He said it would also ensure effective governance to achieve an inclusive economy for all residents of Nigeria’s richest and most populous state.
He disclosed at the event, also called Ehingbeti Summit, that the 30-year development plan focuses on 20 strategic areas built on four pillars – thriving economy, human-centric city, modern infrastructure, effective governance.
The growth plan, he stressed, is the beginning of a greater and better Lagos.
He said to fine-tune it, the focus of this year’s summit is a long-term socio-economic development plan for residents, and its implementation requires purposeful and dedicated leadership.
“As a government, we will provide the right leadership to move us from just an idea to move us to be able to transform Lagos from just a mega city to a model megacity.
“We will continue to build on our resilience.
“I am delighted as your fifteenth Governor of what the Lagos Development Plan has to offer this great state.”
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Economic powerhouse, meeting point
Sanwo-Olu reiterated the summit has been known for decades as the economic powerhouse and meeting point for Lagos, Nigeria, and the entire West Africa, per reporting by The Guardian.
The forum is where citizens, businesses, governments, regulators, civil society organisations, technocrats, partners, students, and international players exchange ideas.
Attendees brainstorm development roadblocks and chart forward a path that accelerates sustainable economic development of the state.
Since its launch over two decades ago, Sanwo-Olu said, the summit has convened the best and the brightest in the class, stakeholders and engagement, and idea-focused development strategies.
“Over the next two days, we will be listening carefully to policymakers and sharing thoughts with leading minds and listening to futurists, we will also listen to innovators and investors and I believe we will all be united by focusing on the development of this great city.”
Global cities play a critical role in defining their nation’s progress and prosperity, he said.
They also face both threats and opportunities amplified by globalisation, technological keep up and climate change, he added, and reaffirmed the commitment of Lagos to turn such challenges into economic opportunities.