Press Releases

Take Best Practices Back Home, Gov. Fashola Advises Nigerian Travellers

Sep 17, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has advised Nigerians who have the opportunity to visit other countries to always observe and bring back home the best practices which make such countries work.

Governor Fashola gave the advice at the weekend while addressing pilgrims on lesser hajj (Umrah) from Lagos and other States who attended the Tafsir programme organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture in Mecca, Saudi Arabia as part of the just concluded Ramadan.

According to the Governor, close observers of the rapid transformation of the Holy City of Mecca would testify that it had changed remarkably in the past 30 years adding that he told those who accompanied him to the venue of the lecture that personally he had been privileged to see how about eight tunnels meant to ease traffic congestion had developed in the City over the last seven years.

Governor Fashola noted that when Nigerians return from places like Mecca and London with stories of a clean city with efficient transportation systems and security, they often forget the fact that it took the efforts of the people of those places to achieve the state of facilities being commended.

“l think all of us, from the leader to the rank and file public servant, whenever we have the opportunity to travel out, should observe the best practices in our destinations and make mental notes to take back home. Most times when our people travel, they come back home with nice stories like “Mecca is clean”, “the buses are good” etc without acknowledging that it’s their people that are responsible for such laudable state of things. When we say the security of Mecca or London is good, we should not forget that it’s their people that made all the difference,” Governor Fashola said.

Emphasising that the blood flowing in the veins of the people in the climes often praised is not different from that of Nigerians, the Governor said the power to change things for the better lie with the people adding that there was also a need to do away with the mentality that certain things must not be touched.

Citing the example of the Holy Mosque in Mecca which is maintained on a daily basis with structural adjustments being made where necessary, Governor Fashola noted that rather than agitate that certain things cannot be tinkered with for improvement, the knowledge given to man by God should always be used to improve his environment.

The Governor had earlier told his audience that he got the idea for the current Orange coloured uniforms with reflector stripes being worn by LAWMA Street Sweepers from Mecca during last year’s lesser hajj when he saw those cleaning the streets of Mecca wearing a similar uniform.

The Tafsir programme which featured lectures and prayers from renowned clerics for Nigeria, Lagos State and the Governor had in attendance the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, the Solicitor-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro and father of the Governor, Alhaji Ademola Fashola among other dignitaries.