Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called on residents of the State to take all necessary precautions to avoid incidents relating to fire and security misfortune, as well as guard against another wave of COVID-19 in the State during the festivities.
The Governor who enjoined residents to adhere to all safety protocols during the yuletide, gave this indication at the Grand Finale of the Year 2021 Community Day Celebration, held at Police College, Lagos.
Governor Sanwo-Olu mentioned that residents within the communities must be responsive to providing intelligence to security agents, by escalating security threats at the appropriate time to the appropriate authority.
“Residents must be sensitive to fire inducing agents during the yuletide season. Fire can be triggered very easily. In the last two weeks, we have seen fire incidents already at the Plank Market in Jakande-Isolo, and also at the Balogun Market. It is a season when we need to take the message back home.
“As Community Development Council (CDCs) leaders, please take the message back home that because of the harsh weather during harmattan, fire is always a very easy occurrence.
“So, people need to live safe. People need to understand, it’s a period between now and March. Stay safe, make sure you don’t have combustible items around your shops, houses, and ensure precautions on electric gadgets to avert fire incidents.” he said
Security at yuletide
Speaking on the security of lives and property during this season, the Governor gave the assurance of enhanced security architecture, as he called for concerted effort and for residents to be security conscious.
According to him “Security they say is local. Security is important at the grassroots. You have been working with us, continue to work with us. You see something, you say something. All of the neighbourhood watchers are in your communities let them know if you see strange movements.
“If you notice things not meant to be in your communities, pass on the message to them and you can rest assured that the security agents will come around to keep you safe and secured. As we are going into the yuletide season, please let’s be very vigilant and make sure that we are our brothers’ keeper.”
On COVID-19 safety protocols, he said, “We are getting out of it but we cannot be completely relaxed. In all of our engagements, let’s continue to keep those simple protocols.”
Sanwo-Olu who emphasised that his administration is people-oriented, which has informed the execution of grassroots improvement programmes across the State, stressed that the Government is committed to promoting coordinated efforts for a peaceful, harmonious and serene atmosphere for growth and development in communities.
Grassroot development
Mentioning that the development of grassroots government was central to the Administration’s roadmap for development, he said the Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the State have been recognised as the engine for growth.
According to him, the reflection has been recording a yearly increase in the number of CDAs and CDCs, adding that more of these CDAs would emerge to record the highest among states in the Federation.
He however called on the various CDAs to join hands with the Government to ensure the safety and security of lives and property in the State, particular during the festive season.
In his welcome address, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu for his sense of commitment and dedication to grassroots development.
Ahmed described the Governor as a man who has the will to take Lagos to an enviable level in community development.
According to him, “the Community Day Celebration 2021 was to emphasize and amplify the necessity of development as a strategic factor for socio-economic development and empowerment at the grassroots.”
He mentioned that the theme for this year’s celebration, “Consolidating the Ongoing Development in our Various Communities” was apt as the present Administration in the State “is embarking on the expansion of various community development projects across all the nooks and crannies of the State.”
The Commissioner added that the Administration is conscious of the fact that in the overall development of the State, there must be development at the grassroots which he said: “is totally people-oriented development, driven by this administration right from the inception.”
He mentioned that the annual programme is in line with the United Nations initiatives for social development and integration at the grassroots, which was to encourage and support their various self-help projects.
Catalyst for development
The Chairman, Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council, Azeez Amusat, said Governor Sanwo-Olu has been a catalyst fostering grassroots engagement for development across the State.
“On behalf of all the communities, I wish to express my profound gratitude to our amiable Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu who has been the catalyst for all our efforts at ensuring that public participation by all the communities in his Administration is accorded deserved attention and recognition,” he said.
He assured the Governor of the continued partnership of all communities in complementing efforts in public safety and security of all residents in the various communities.
He however urged the CDCs and CDAs “to put in more collective efforts from this yuletide to promote more attention for adequate security and safety of their various communities in rewarding the empowerment of the leadership training by the State Government geared towards the community policing system.”
Awards
The highlight of the event was the recognition accorded to the best performing CDAs in the State with various prizes.
The rewarded CDAs who were empowered with bus facilities include Harmony CDA, Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), which emerged the first position, and the Elepe Royal Estate CDA in Ikorodu Central – second position – for the urban category.
Recognised in the rural category were Oluwanisola CDA in Eredo LCDA, (first position) and the Oke-egan CDA in Olorunda LCDA (second position).
The recognised CDAs executed various community development projects bordering on electrification, roads and drainages, and security, among other developmental courses.
