Monday, January 18,2020 / 10:36AM / Ottoabasi Abasiekong for WebTV / Header Image Credit: WebTV

The T.H.E.M.E agenda of the GovernorBabajide Sanwo-Olu administration in Lagos state is already setting the pacefor the second-level industrialization of Nigeria's economic capital. Mr.Gbenga Omotosho, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, made this pointon the sidelines of the recent presentation of the Lagos state 2021 budget tomedia executives and editors.

Speaking on the state's T.H.E.M.E whichare initials representing, Traffic Managementand Transportation, Health and Environment, Educationand Technology, Making Lagos a 21^stCentury Economy and Entertainment & Tourism,Omotosho said that despite the 2020 outbreak of COVID 19 and the #ENDSARSprotest, the state has made focused onimplementing the elements of the strategy.

This, according to the Commissioner,informed the increase in budget allocation to capital expenditure over therecurrent expenditure in the 2020 and 2021budget cycles.

In 2020 he said the ratio was 55% Capitalto 45% Recurrent in terms of allocation while the state achieved 80%performance in execution.

Through the T.H.E.M.E agenda, the InformationCommissioner said Lagos state has aligned its budget framework with criticalinvestment in infrastructure, that will support the industrialization drive.

He noted that key roads like theAbulegba-Oshodi-BRT corridor have been worked on and has reduced the trafficcongestion from about 3hours to 30 minutes.

Speaking further, he said repairs anddevelopment of regional roads like the Lekki-Epe expressway havebeen flagged off that will boost the Industrial zone at the Ibeju-Lekki axis.

He also noted that with regards tobroadband infrastructure, Lagos plans to layout 6,000km of fiber optic cables,with 3,000km earmarked for the year 2021 and the second phase in 2022.

The 6,000km fiber optic cable will supportthe Information and Communications Technology infrastructure in the state,boost broadband penetration and provide fast internet for citizens, hospitals,schools, public zones and also enable the proposedsmart-city project.

Considering the position of Lagos as WestAfrica's economic hub and fifth largest economy in Africa, the issue of powerwhich is a huge concern in Nigeria is also given top priority by the Lagosstate government.

Omotosho said discussions were ongoingwith global energy companies to explore public-private partnerships that couldsee additional independent power plants built across the state.

This, he said, would go a long way insupporting activities of Industrial Zones like Imota in the Ikorodu area wherethe state is building the biggest rice mill in the country.

Responding to a 2020 research analysis byProshare on the need for Lagos to explore a "Night Economy" he acknowledged thefact that the nightlife and its attendant economy need to be strengthened andexpanded.

He identified Entertainment, Tourism, andthe Retail market as the industries to benefit from the concept proposed by Proshare.

The Commissioner further stated that thegovernment will strengthen security, improve the lighting of Lagos, through theretrofitting of street lamps, and provision of the enabling infrastructure foractivities like night clubs, leisure parks, event centers, neighbourhoodmarkets, retail shops, media stations, andcompanies that operate a 24-hour call center service.

Looking at the setback of the COVID-19pandemic and the escalation of violence from the #ENDSARS protest last year,Omotosho said it helped to reinforce the government's resolve in driving theT.H.E.M.E agenda.

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