Lagos partners France on developmental upgrade

Lagos State Government and the French government have agreed on a new partnership, aimed at upgrading slums and scale up infrastructure development projects statewide.

State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, disclosed this while receiving the Head of Sub- Saharan Africa Department, Agence Francaise de Development( AFD), Jean – Pierre Marcella, who paid a courtesy visit on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as part of his two day official visit to Nigeria.

Adebule noted that with a growing population of over 20 million people, Lagos state government alone could not provide all the infrastructure need of its people.

She explained that the desire of government to make life more comfortable for people and improve standard of living necessitated its partnership with various organisations that have the capacity and technical requirements to add value to its urban renewal projects.

The deputy governor, who led other members of the State Executive Council to receive the officials, stated that previous partnership with the French agency in the past had yielded positive result as it had helped government to record success in transportation, water provision and energy.

She thanked the agency for partnering the state government in the extension and execution of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Ikorodu / Mile 12 link road, which she noted has helped to ease transportation problem in that region, disclosing that BRT buses conveniently convey several thousands of commuters on daily basis in the region.

Adebule hinted that one of the top priority projects of the state government is the upgrading of its slum areas and urgently bring development projects to the areas to make life more comfortable for the people of the areas and bring dividends of democracy to their door steps.

While assuring the visiting French agency of government’s total commitment to the implementation of all its urban renewal programmes, the deputy governor assured that the state government would continue to create enabling environment that would give investors a quick returns on their investment in a well secured and safe environment

She stated further that government would welcome any partnership that can help to fast track the implementation of government development projects especially in the areas of provision of portable water, road and rail transportation, housing, development of slums as well as building a clean, safe and sustainable environment.

Earlier in his briefing, the leader of the delegation, Jean Pierre Marcelli, noted that the team was in Lagos as part of his two day official visit to Nigeria to hold consultation with the state government towards strengthening the partnership between AFD and Lagos State government.