By Bisade Ojoye
commissioner for economic planning and budget, Lagos State; Nike Aboderin, director, finance and account, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor, Lagos State, his deputy Obafemi Hamzat; Rabiu Yadudu, managing director, FAAN, and Ope George, Director General, Public Private Partnership, Lagos State Government, during the opening ceremony of Ehingbeti Lagos Economic Summit 2022 in Lagos.
Federal Government has issued approval letter to Lagos State government on the proposed Lekki-Epe cargoes and passengers Airport, Lagos.
The airport, when completed, is expected to cater for about 5m air- traveling passengers around Lekki, Ajah and Epe axis of Lagos state annually.
While officially handling over the approval letter for development of the airport to the Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 2022 edition of the Lagos Economic Summit tagged “Ehingbeti” on Victoria Island, Lagos, the Aviation minister, Hadi Abubakar Sirika, said, the state is qualified to embark on the project, looking at the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos.
The proposed airport, he said, is crucial, especially as the state embarked on its 30-year Development Plan to make the state the model mega city in Africa and one of the best in the world, adding that “the airport would be effective to link Lagos with Africa and the rest of the world, through the aviation industry. The Lekki airport is the right step in the right direction.”
To him, “aviation has the uniqueness to link markets and opportunities, which Lagos can offer.”
Giving her welcome Address earlier at the event, the Co- chair of Ehingbeti 2022, Mary Iwelumo, said, the Ehingbeti is an important platform for private and public sector stakeholders in Lagos State to engage around the State developmental agenda as it continues to be an invaluable tool for moulding the growth ambition of Lagos, having birthed several landmark projects in the State.
Stating that the focus of this year’s edition of Ehingbeti is “building and achieving consensus on the path to sustainable socio-economic development of Lagos State”.
Iwelumo, who is also a Partner at PwC Nigeria, said, “it is the intention of the economic summit group to introduce and officially launch the Lagos State Development Plan(LSDP 2052) – a holistic plan that clearly articulates initiatives that will guide the State’s ambition of becoming Africa’s Model Mega City, a Global, Economic and Financial Hub that is Safe, Secure, Functional and Prosperous”.
“With the growing youthful and vibrant population, there is no slowing Lagos down. Case in point, this year, based on the number and quality of start-ups, the Global Start-up Ecosystem index ranked Lagos as 81 of the top 1,000 startup cities, reflecting a +41 shift from it’s position in 2021.
“This is a substantial milestone as it is the first year where an African city (Lagos) made the global top 100 list. This is just one of many milestones recorded in Lagos. These successes will result in the migration of more people into the State. As Lagosians, we must be ready for this influx,” she pointed out.
The LSDP 2052- a plan for Lagosians by Lagosians, she said, is expected to play integral part in galvanising the vibrancy of Lagosians and sustaining the State’s growth trajectory for the next 30 years.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget, Lagos State, Mr. Sam Egube said Lagos was not progressing by luck or accident but evolving through the rigour of conversations and exchanges of ideas coming from platforms like Ehingbeti and the commitment of successive governments, determined to execute resolutions reached at Ehingbeti.
“It is for this reason that we say in Lagos and argue everywhere we go that for the benefits of national growth and nation building, Lagos should not be treated as just a state but accorded special status as a national asset. Lagos continues to lead the Nation in demonstrating what her future can be and indeed take her into the continent as we pursue the objective of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
“As long as the earth remains, we will continue to have challenges that have not been resolved yet alongside victories over challenges that are being achieved. Indeed, the plane will take off and fly despite the presence of gravity. Also, Investment decisions are taken due to observed opportunities and observed progress. That is the spirit of Lagos, that is the spirit of Ehingbeti,” he stressed.
The governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu said cities around the world, were facing a combination of threats and opportunities capable of amplifying globalisation, technology, climate change and even global pandemics like Covid-19”
“These threats and opportunities are often intertwined, meaning that, for example, climate change represents both a challenge to lives and livelihoods as well opportunities for innovation and reinvention”
He promised the state was committed to planning and strategies, not just for today but for tomorrow as well because he believed that, the future of Lagos was in theirs to build, assuring that the 30-year development plan was in the right direction in its continued march towards global governance and excellence.
”Without implementation, even the best of plans are of no use to anyone. After putting in the work to craft and articulate the plans, we must proceed to put in the hard work required to implement it, regardless of the difficulties and obstacles involved. There is no meaningful decisions that will be made without some measure of pain and sacrifice. This is where dedicated leadership is required. As a State government, we will provide the required leadership to move from plan to action, and to transform Lagos from megacity to model megacity,” he pointed out.
He said, Lagos State would continue to achieve its potentials, built on resilience, its rich heritage of culture, innovation and entrepreneurship and most importantly, its people.
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