Sanwo-Olu appeals to National Assembly for intervention fund to rebuild Lagos
By Modupe Shodeinde
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed to the National Assembly for special intervention fund to help in the infrastructural restoration of the state in the aftermath of the EndSARS mayhem.
The governor sought for the National Assembly to set aside funds in the 2021 Appropriation Bill to rebuild and restore Lagos State.
He made this appeal during the Rebuild Lagos: Dialogue and Partnership event to inaugurate the 8-member Board of Trustees of Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund which held at Ikeja.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the state government does not have enough financial capacity to shoulder the rebuilding process alone, therefore it called for assistance from the Federal Government.
“We seek to restore the infrastructure that was destroyed, to revive the energy and confidence of everyone who has been affected by these losses, to help restore the confidence of the people of Lagos in the infinite potentials of Lagos.
“But the state government cannot do this alone. We need all the help that we can get. We require the assistance of the Federal Government, from both the executive and legislative branches.
“I would like to appeal to the National Assembly to take steps to set aside funds for this task of rebuilding and restoring Lagos in the 2021 Appropriation Bill being deliberated upon currently by the Assembly.
The governor said that the fund should also consider other states affected by the violence that ensued from the #EndSARS protest.
Sanwo-Olu called for cohesive efforts and contributions of the private and public sectors to make it easier for the state to be rebuilt.
According to him, Lagos will remain the economic hub of the nation in the foreseeable future.
“But in terms of servicing the present infrastructure alone, the committed amount of money and effort required will be such that Lagos State will not be ready to cope. It will even be unfair to expect the state to bear this heavy burden on its own,” he said.
Members of the Lagos Rebuild Trust Fund include Mr. Yemi Cardoso (Chairman), Prof. Kanyisola Ajayi, SAN, Mr. Gbenga Agboola, Mrs. Bola Adesola, Mr. Sam Egube, Mr. Jimi Hotonu, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, and Mr. Muhammed Yahaya.
