‘A lot is happening in the backroom’ — Sanwo-Olu speaks about his efforts

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos state, says a lot of is “happening in the backroom”.

Speaking on Tuesday at The Platform, an annual conference organised by Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos, the governor said there is no need to make noise about his efforts since he assumed office on May 29.

“We can do a lot more. A lot of things are happening in the backroom. We don’t need to make a lot of noise about it. What Lagosians want is results,” he said.

“It’s a marathon, it is not a sprint. I can assure you that Lagos will not only be greater, Lagos will see a level of development that it has never seen before.”

The governor said his administration is working towards enhancing the quality of education.

He said he has granted approval for the recruitment of teachers, adding that more teachers are needed before the end of the year.

“The only major recruitment that I have given approval for in the last 100 days is for teachers,” he said.

“We need to get about 3,000 to 4,000 teachers before the end of the year. But we are also focusing on how to improve the learning outcomes in schools.

“We do not have enough bio-medical technicians, not doctors, who can handle equipment. For us as a government, we have seen it as a challenge.”

On the plans to tackle transportation problem in Lagos, he said his administration would engage in rail, water and the bus traffic system across the state.

He also said the state budget is around $2 billion with a local debt ratio of about 20 to 25 percent.

“To solve the traffic issue in Lagos, we are trying to harmonise bike riders so we can know who they are and manage them,” he said.

“To solve the transport problem on a short to medium term run, it’s to use what God has given to us. Let’s do rail, water and the bus traffic system.

“We have not spent $12 billion on rail projects in Lagos. We have spent just about 5 percent of that.

“Our state government budget hovers around $2 billion. And we have a local debt ratio of about 20 to 25 percent.”