Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on
Friday commissioned the newly upgraded Tafawa Balewa Square Bus Terminal.
With
him were the Acting Commissioner for Transportation,
Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I; APC Chieftain,
Prince Tajudeen Olusi and other Traditional Chieftains.
FULL STATEMENT
FULL STATEMENT
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on
Friday revealed plans of his administration to regenerate the Lagos Island axis
of the State by transforming it into the tourism hub of not just Nigeria, but
Africa.
Speaking at the commissioning of the new
ultra-modern bus terminal built by the State Government in Tafawa Balewa Square
(TBS), Governor Ambode said he is on a mission to create new aesthetics within
the landscape of the Lagos Island which would create jobs and bring back the
dignity of the axis.
The Governor said Lagos Island had been neglected
for too long, and that the TBS ultra-modern bus terminal was the first step in
the journey to totally transform the axis and return its glory.
“Our mission is to turn the Onikan-Marina-CMS axis
to the tourism hub of Africa and so we decided that we would make the first
contemporary bus terminal to start in the Island where the issue of
transportation actually started.
“After this, the next is to go to the JK Randle
Arcade and rebuild the Swimming Pool there, the Lawn Tennis court and the whole
structure there starting from next month. In addition to that, we would build
another Museum in the Onikan axis,” he said.
The Governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari
for approving the release of the President Lodge in Marina to the State
Government, revealing that plans have been concluded to turn the lodge into
tourism centre which would be named as the Centre for Leadership and Heritage.
He said: “The State Executive Council has already
approved that the State House in Marina where Governors of the State normally
lives should be turned to Lagos Historical Centre, while Governors of the State
would now live in Ikeja.
“The whole idea is that this bus terminal that we
are opening today is just the beginning of the urban regeneration that will
cover this place within the next twenty-four months. So, tourism will start
from here and then we will now join the Freedom Park from Broad Street and
create a skyline walkway.
“With these programmes, there will be no case for
us to have anybody that is unemployed around this axis. This place will thrive
economically 24/7 from the design and the concept that we have for Lagos
Island.
“What we are implementing is what we promised in
our manifesto that we will use tourism, entertainment, arts and sport to create
job and promote excellence in this State. As part of the plans, Onikan Stadium
will wear a new look before the year runs out. We are going to cover it,
regenerate it and also bring live back to the Island,” Governor Ambode said.
The Governor also assured stakeholders such as the
transport associations and others that their interests had been protected in
the new arrangement which culminated in the building of the TBS Bus Terminal,
and solicited their cooperation.
“The interest of every stakeholder including
members of the transport associations will be protected and we will also bring
in new buses and then create a lot of activities so that we can celebrate our
history, our culture and then we use it as a focal point to celebrate the whole
of Lagos,” he said.
Earlier, Acting Commissioner for Transportation,
Prince Anofiu Elegushi thanked all the stakeholders for their cooperation with
the State Governor during the construction of the bus terminal, saying that the
project remained the first of its kind in Africa.
At the Commissioning of a new pedestrian bridge in
Ojota, Governor Ambode said the decision to construct the bridge was occasioned
by the inability of the old bridge to carter for the daily human traffic in the
neighborhood.
He said the bridge made of steel would be opened
24/7 with adequate lighting and security, and assured that the axis would be
better for it.
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Politics