The Centre forAnti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has decided to present to residents of the state the score card of the incumbent Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode.
Although it is trite knowledge that democratic governance anywhere is a complex affair, it must be acknowledged that running a state with a population estimated to stand at over 20 million is a feat.
In addition to this, is the task of handling there ins of government in a democracy that has not matured. Also, the peculiarity of Nigeria’s brand of democracy which is still in the grip of corrupt god-fathers among many other vices, poses a daunting challenge to any individual who finds himself in the saddle of power. Despite the difficulties involved in running Nigeria’s most populous state Ambode has left his footprints in the sands of time.
Most of the information contained in this press statement was gathered through research work devoted to the publication of CACOL’s Lagos Open Parliament Four (LOPFour). LOP Four is an attempt to measure the performance of the state government in key aspects of the socio-economic life of the state under Ambode.
The data summary which covered the period spanning November 2016-February 2018 indicates that
over 2000 residents who responded to questionnaires distributed by our researchers adjudged the current administration to have performed above average in areas like provision of security, job creation,
economic empowerment and youth development. Other areas in which the state government scored pass marks are transportation, Light Up Lagos Project and upgrading of infrastructures in public primary schools.
The data shows that in the area of security, majority of residents attested to the positive impact of the state government’s heavy investment in this sector.
Indeed, mediareports show that the Ambode administration acquired security equipment worth billions of Naira for the State Police Command and Rapid Response Squad.
In addition, the combined impact of the creation of Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps(LSNC) and the execution of the Light Up Lagos Project is believed to have contributed in no small measure to
significantly reduce the activities of hoodlums in the state. The supportive disposition of the state government towards Federal Government owned security agencies operating in the state have also
contributed immensely to the decrease in crime rate in Lagos.
The government’s creation of more job opportunities, its investment in youth development and general economic empowerment for residents of the state are also believed to have contributed in enhancing the improved security of lives and property in Lagos. The overall effect of this investment is the decline in the state’s crime rate.
For instance, majority of the respondents attested to the fact that there is a decline in cases of kidnapping across the state.
Indeed, it is also noteworthy that 62% of the respondents lauded the state government for implementing policies that are favourable to the economic and commercial life of the state.
In the area ofyouth development, 55% of the respondents agreed that the Ambode administration had done well. In the related area of sports development, 54% of the respondents agreed that the Ambode
administration invested significantly in the sector.
More than half of the respondents also agreed that the administration of Ambode performed above average in the area of rehabilitating public primary schools.
Respondents also agreed that the current administration made appreciable impact in the area of road and water transportation.
Mediareports also confirm that the state government within this period completed hundreds of local government road projects.
The construction of flyover bridges at Ajah and Abule-Egba tremendously eased traffic in these areas. The same result has been achieved with the provision of many lay-bys along the Third Mainland
-Iyana-Oworo-Toll Gate axis.
The state government’s Bus Reform Initiative also led to the introduction of hundreds of new buses and construction of many modern bus shelters across the State. The government also completed some major bus terminals and commenced work on Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT corridor along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. Many pedestrian bridges are also under construction along this route.
Ambode scored close to a pass mark in the health sector. The percentage of residents who agreed that the state government’s healthcare system was effective stood at 47%. Indeed, this must be confirmation of media reports that the state government upgraded several primary healthcare centres across the state.
Ambode’s performance during his second and third year in office was a consolidation of his achievements during his first year in the saddle.
LOP Three which was published in 2016 confirmed this assertion.
There is evidenceto indicate that the Governor tackled the menace posed by insecurity immediately he assumed office. The crime rate had climbed to an all-time high under the immediate past administration.
During his first year in office the governor also scored high marks in the educational sector.For instance the state government’s model schools which had suffered seriousneglect under the previous administration were rehabilitated.
The new administration also embarked on the repair of 114 roads across different local governments in the state.
Ambode also made his government’s impact felt in the health sector during within one year in office.
Nevertheless, some residents of the state do not believe that the current administration deserves all the accolades it has received from majority of the respondents. Many residents of the state feel that his administration handled the issue of waste disposal poorly.
For instance, up to34% of the respondents did not share the view that kidnapping cases have declined in Lagos. It is also noteworthy that 30% of the respondents did not agree that the crime rate in their area had reduced. In the same vein, 38% of the respondents did not share the view that the Lagos State Neighbourhood and Safety Corps was efficient in their area or that the Waterways in the State were safe. This is a clear indication that there is still a lot of room for improvement in the state’s security sector.
For instance despite the fact that 62% of the respondents lauded the state government for implementing policies that are favourable to the economic and commercial lifeof the state, 31% rejected this position.
This could only be interpreted to mean that the government is expected to improve its performance in this key area.
Despite the factthat 55% of the respondents agreed that the Ambode administration had done well in the area of youth development, 37% disagreed. This significant percentage ofthose who disagreed means that the state government needs to expand its intervention in this area.
A significant 38%of the respondents also disagreed with Ambode’s performance as positive in the area of assisting small scale entrepreneurs to grow. The same percentage applies to respondents who evaluated the administration’s project to Light Up Lagos and the rehabilitation of public primary schools.
The data furtherindicated that majority of the respondents gave the current Lagos government thumbs down in the areas of housing and provision of potable water. Whereas 46% of the respondents rejected the assertion that Lagos State Housing Scheme was satisfactory, 44% agreed.
Also majority of the respondents constituting 64%, rejected the assertion” Lagos State Water Corporation Supplies Water in your area”. Only 28% of the respondents agreed with the statement.
This is a clearindication that residents of the state are dissatisfied with the Ambode administration in these two sectors. The implication is that the present administration needs to invest more in these two critical sectors in order to adequately and permanently change the lives of residents of the state for the better.
The percentage of respondents who were indifferent to some of the questions in the questionnaire also deserves to be analysed. In many cases they were insignificant but high in few cases. For instance 24% of the respondents were indifferent to question 14which ask: “Is the water clean and drinkable?” This question is actually a follow up to question 13 which asks: “Lagos State Water Corporation supplies water in your area?” A significant percentage of indifferent respondents clearly don’t agree with question 14, but perhaps feel apathetic to take a stand.
Hence, they could be categorized as having disagreed with the question. If this percentage is added to the 45% of respondents who directly disagreed, a total of 69% could be said to have disagreed with the question.
This percentage is actually closer to the 64% of respondents who disagreed with the immediately preceding question 13.
The 22% of respondents who were indifferent to the question “Lagos interactive app is effective and provides easy access to government by Lagosians” is also noteworthy. Like in the case cited above, the fact that the respondents rejected this statement also means they indirectly disagreed. However, this level of apathy could be attributed to the ignorance arising from the low level of internet penetration among Nigerians generally.
The 20% of respondents who were indifferent to the question “Lagos is fairly subsidizing pilgrimage costs” may be a reflection of the population of Lagosians who are either unconcerned about religious issues or the pilgrimages associated with Islam and Christianity.
Finally, we wish touse this opportunity to inform the people of the state and Nigerians in general that LOP Four would be launched very soon.