Inspite of the judicial workers’ industrial action, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, last week, commissioned new projects in Epe and Agbowa urging Lagos residents to ensure continuity in the governance of the State as the only viable means to continue to enjoy accelerated development.

Projects commissioned included a High and Magistrates Court House and Nigeria’s first solar powered Primary Healthcare Centre in Epe and the first phase of the 10,000 Housing Unit being undertaken in Agbowa by the Government in partnership with First World Communities Limited (Chois).

In his remarks at the commissioning of the Court House in Epe built by Messrs Conswealth Nigeria Limited, which he named after a former Chief Judge of the State, Justice Ligali Ayorinde, Governor Fashola emphasized that the only way to ensure continued delivery of dividends of democracy such as have been enjoyed by residents in the last seven and half years was to retain the ruling party in the State in the coming elections.

The Governor said the handover of the Court House was to bring access to justice closer to the people of Epe, to reduce cost of obtaining justice and also to bring public service employment to the grassroots adding that people have to be employed if the administration and dispensation of justice must take place in the new Court House.

Urging the people to continue to pay their taxes as contribution to the commonwealth for a common prosperity, the Governor declared, “This is what we have done with your money. If you must enjoy a common prosperity, you must contribute to the common wealth. This is not oil money or money missing. This is money that you can eye-mark”.

“You can see what we have done and we will continue to do it in the tradition that demonstrates how committed we are to matters that concern the people”, Governor Fashola said adding that the Court House in Badagry and in Ikeja have been completed and ready for commissioning.

Managing Director, Conswealth Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tunde Alayaki, the contractor that handled the construction job stated that the complex meet the required standard that befits a modern judicial complex. “Not only that we used the best of materials, but we also ensure that the aesthetic aspect is not lost”, said Alayaki.

Before commissioning the 480 units Agbowa Housing Estate, Governor Fashola expressed joy that by dint of careful planning and in strategic partnership between government and a private sector led initiative, First World Communities Limited; a once dense forest has been turned into a modern pristine community.

“Just two years ago, all of this place was forest; a once unapproachable, unmaneuoverable dense forest, but it is today an urban and modern community with well spaced out bungalows, road network, green area, pristine accommodation and it shows the character of what very strategic, people oriented and committed governance can do”, reiterating that all that has happened was done by the peoples’ taxes “in the hands of a government that is accountable and cares for you”.

Noting that the first phase of the project has delivered 480 units, the Governor, who said the total commitment with the First World Communities under the Cooperative Home Ownership Incentives Scheme was 10,000 housing units, added, “This is one of our multi-pronged approaches”.

   Governor Fashola explained further that the government was not only building bungalows in sub-urban communities but also delivering on a promise to initiate a rent-to-own scheme that allows participants to pay less than they would otherwise pay in the Lagos Home Ownership and Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS).

“This is another strategic partnership that enables the private sector to now get involved; and government is running its own. We cannot have a single tunnel approach to the housing problem. The sectors are different, the incomes are different, the cadres are different and the housing needs are also different”, he said.

Thanking the Chairman of the First World Communities Limited for his commitment to the initiative, Governor Fashola, who urged other private sector investors to key into the project.

  Earlier in his welcome address at the commissioning of the Ligali Ayorinde Court House, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, said the project represents the commitment of the State Governor, which he made in 2008 to improve the working environment of judicial officers in the state.

In her remarks, the Chief Judge of the State Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, commended Governor Fashola for the attention he has paid to the welfare of judicial officers in the State through the building of modern and well equipped courtrooms adding that it has enhanced the prestige of the officers.

At the commissioning of the Agbowa Housing Project, the Commissioner for Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje, enjoined private sector developers to partner with government to solve the housing problem in the State saying government could not do it alone.

Chairman of First World Communities Limited, Brigadier General Tunde Reis, in his remarks, said there was need to take a systematic approach to the housing challenge in the State adding the Lagos State has commenced such approach to solve the problem.

Thanking the State Governor for giving him the opportunity to partner in the project, the Chairman, who promised to deliver the rest of the project, also expressed gratitude to the local communities and leaders for their cooperation in making the delivery possible.