Press Releases

Nigeria At 48: Fashola Calls For Renewal Of Faith, Hope And Confidence In Nation's Capacity For Greatness

Oct 1, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday charged all Nigerians to use the occasion of the country’s 48th Independence anniversary as a rallying point to renew faith ,hope and confidence in the country‘s capacity for greatness.

Governor Fashola who spoke at the Parade and march past to commemorate the 48th National Independence Day of Nigeria held at the Police College, Ikeja through the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, RT Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji added that now is the time for all those bestowed with the mandate to serve the people at all levels to offer selfless, sound and sacrificial services to the people.

He added that clearly the country is at a critical period in its development which does not give room for trading blames or passing the buck.

Said he: “It calls for all hands to be on deck, working together to transform the country and place Nigeria on the map of modern, industrialized economies in the next 20 years”.

Continuing, Governor Fashola said: “This will mean that there will be tough decisions, sacrifices, hard work and change in policy directions which in turn will assign responsibilities and duties to every citizen, every sector and every organization in the country”.

He added that this year’s celebration provides another moment of sober reflection, adding that as a nation we may need to ponder over the progress made in the last 48 years.

Governor Fashola reiterated that the country may also need to reflect and compare notes with international best practices that usually benchmark growth in every sector of national life as well as the impact of governance in addressing the challenges facing the people.

Said he: “We may need to find out what are the chances that duties and responsibilities, equity and justice, transparency and accountability will become virtues of public conduct and private yearnings in our life time?”.

He affirmed that after a successful political and economic transition of power between two civilian governments in 2007, it can safely be asserted that Nigeria has successfully broken a 39 year old political jinx while also laying the foundation for sustainable democratic governance.

He contended that the country has indeed moved a step higher in achieving a stable polity through the synergy that exists among all the three arms of government despite all the challenges.

He declared that in Lagos State, the present government has left no one in doubt concerning its intention and commitment to justify the mandate overwhelmingly and massively given by the electorates by setting targets and timelines for itself to translate promises into policies and programmes beneficial to the people.

He added: “We have, in the past one year and four months, implemented far reaching policies, some of them initiated by the immediate past government and many others formulated by us, to improve the quality of life of the people”.

Governor Fashola added that in doing so, every sector has felt the impact of the state government with roads being rehabilitated and many others undergoing construction in various areas just as jetties are being built to enhance water transportation.

He informed that in a few weeks’ time, CCTV cameras and other security gadgets would be mounted in strategic locations in the state to be closely monitored from the Control Room of the Central Security Command building nearing completion.

He expressed the belief that the commitment of government at all levels to implementing the Vision 2020 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) would create the required foundation for a rapid economic growth and development.

He called on everyone to join hands to build on the labour of Nigeria’s founding fathers, valiant heroes and heroines, and the martyrs of our democracy in order to bequeath a Brighter Rewarding Future for incoming generations.