Candidates outline plans to improve Lagos

Governorship candidates in Lagos were locked in a debate last night, with each highlighting how he intends to develop the state, if elected in next month’s election.

The debate, organised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, and Eko FM, was aired live on Lagos Television and on Television Continental.

It was laced with realisable promises and idealism.

The candidates were Governor Babatunde Fashola of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN); Shamsideen Ade Dosunmu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Ayodele Akele of the National Conscience Party (NCP); Yomi Tokoya of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and Adegbola Dominic of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

They answered questions on how to provide good roads, affordable housing, efficient health care services, quality education, improve on agriculture and food security, reduce street trading, increase power supply and reduce corruption.

Fashola said his administration had embarked on road construction and rehabilitation despite lean resources.

He said: “There is evidence that we’re beginning to make progress. It’s a work in progress that has not finished,” he said.

Dosunmu said he would embark on aggressive renewal of roads.

He said jobs would be tendered competitively “so that we can have value for tax-payer’s money.”

Akele said there was no governance in Lagos as far as roads were concerned.

He said he would embark on road reconstruction and develop a metro line.

Tokoya said the ANPP administration would embark on a “road revolution,” adding that he would solve traffic congestion by providing an efficient mass transit system.

Dominic said his government would rehabilitate all roads in Lagos, whether federal, state or local.

On health care, Fashola said available revenue was not enough to meet the demands of health workers.

He appealed to striking doctors to call off their strike in the interest of humanity.

The governor said his administration was pursuing an agressive environmental sanitation to boost the people’s health.

Tokoya said there was shortage of funds to meet the health needs of Lagosians because of corruption.

He said: “It’s possible to pay the doctors,” adding that he would provide free health care, if elected.

Dominic said doctors were not asking for anything special, and that he would meet their needs.

On housing, Akele said he would reduce the price of building materials so that people can afford to build their own houses.

He said his administration would see housing as a fundamental right of all, adding: “We’re going to carry out a massive housing revolution.”

Fashola said he would expand the housing projects in the state.

Dosunmu said he would build eight new satellite towns in four years so that Lagos can be decongested.

He said: “We want to deliver social justice to the people.”

Dominic said he would embark on a massive low income housing for the poor.

Tokoya said laws would be amended to allow for the execution of corrupt persons.

The NCP candidate said he would declare a state of emergency in education, provide free lunch for pupils and provide potable water.