Penpushing tasks Governor Abiodun on judicious implementation of United Kingdom support funds

The Penpushing Media has tasked Ogun State Government on need for judicious implementation of the United Kingdom ( UK) award of Global Future Cities Prosperity Fund to  the State, noting that as one of the  beneficiary States  should  see it as a challenge to be more ingenious.

Penpushing reports that, this was contained in a communiqué issued and endorsed by Chairman, Editorial  Board, Funke Fadugba at the end of discuss and deliberations on global future cities prosperity, curbing of incessant road accident and reported ban on commercial motorcyclists, known as Okada riders by the Lagos Government

The communiqué while applauding the choice of the State, emphasized the need by Dapo Abiodun administration on the importance of being focused in the management of the funds in order to achieve the set goals of catalyzing the State to the front row in the comity of States in Nigeria and the world generally.

Penpushing  further reports that the communiqué suggested  that a think tank be constituted to deliberate on the funds and how best it could be utilized for public good, adding that this would underscore the all-inclusiveness posture of the present administration in the State.

The communiqué noted the influx of  strange faces as Okada riders in the State, noting that aside from menacingly plying their trade leading sometimes to death and sever physical injuries to commuters, some of them are of suspicious origin and opening wider door to them would imperil the state and its people on the long run.,

‘In the light of this, it is being proposed that a policy be put in place to ensure adequate data or records for all Okada operators in the State. They must be made to register and those who scale the hurdles would be issued identity cards and made to wear uniforms for identification and control’, the communiqué emphasized.

‘Given the estimated population of Ogun State at 7 million people and develop, the rapid development of new towns, there must be a holistic transportation policy than would incorporate water transportation, especially in riverine areas, the use of metro buses and intra state rail system’.

The communiqué also posited that, there must be a modification and redesign of the roads in the State to accommodate metro specifications bearing in mind operation of motorcycles and bicycles as we have in developed climes.

‘As a State that is coterminous to Lagos and serves as gateway to other states in Nigeria, coupled with its choice as one of the Global Future Cities, Penpushing is of the opinion that the State should brace up for the challenges that the population surge would bring and prepare to deploy pragmatic strategies in providing health care, education, vocational infrastructure and security’.

‘Also, the State should put in place a solid town planning master plan to create new towns and see a way to restructure the already poorly planned towns, especially those on the fringes of Lagos State which are to all intents passing for “emerging mega slums” at the moment’, the communiqué added