According to former United State of America President, Thomas Jefferson, “The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest. Only aim to do your duty, and mankind will give you credit where you fail.”

This assertion best described Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu.

When he got to the saddle as the Governor of Lagos State on the 29th May, 2019, many never gave him no chance, but over three years down the line, he has proved bookmakers wrong with his outstanding footprints that has seen the State witness giant strides in various sector.

Governor Sanwo Olu first term in office has seen him been a leader that has always achieve good governance with his honesty, passion and vision that has brought about policy-making and execution which has propel the State to further stand its ground as the commercial hub of the nation.

Sanwo-olu’s performance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos is exemplary, and it ensure that the Centre of Excellence remains on top of the situation.

Looking at the success rate of the state in addressing the pandemic, there is no doubt that Governor Sanwo-olu has become a shining light and a beacon of hope by providing exceptional leadership in public office in the management of COVID-19 pandemic, not only in Lagos but throughout Nigeria.

Lagos remains the epicenter of the pandemic in Nigeria but the methodical handling of the virus by Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu is exemplary.

Against all odds, he has set Lagos on a new trajectory of economic growth and development via with his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda.

In the last three and a half years, the Sanwo-Olu administration has completed and commissioned more than 970 road projects. These include the Agege Pen Cinema Bridge, Oniru network of roads, Ikoyi network of roads, Lagos-Ogun Boundary roads Phase II, Lekki Oniru Traffic Circulation Projects and 37 networks of roads in Ojokoro.

Others are Isawo-Agric road, Ikorodu, Oshodi-Abule-Egba BRT lane, Ijede Road Phase 1 in Ikorodu, Tedi-Muwo Link Bridge, Lagos-Ogun boundary Roads in Alimosho and 6 reconfigured Roundabouts – Allen, Ikotun, Maryland, Lekki and Ajah among others.

The government also carried out 110 palliatives and 361 sectional rehabilitations on roads across the state, while over 650 inner roads were rehabilitated by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation [LSPWC].
The state’s education sector has also been positively impacted by the governor. One visible way through which this has been achieved is the renovation and construction of public schools.

To beef up the teaching personnel in public schools, about 1,500 new teachers were recruited, while 15,000 others were trained through the Eko EXCEL programme on 21st century modes of teaching and learning. With the strong impact of the EKO EXCEL programme, the face of public education has been positively altered in the state. An acronym for, “Excellence in Child Education and Learning”, the programme is designed to reposition public education and improve methods of teaching to meet contemporary demands.

The Sanwo-Olu administration has equally improved the public health sector. Lagosians and Nigerians in general will not forget in a hurry the innovative and brave way Sanwo-Olu managed the outbreak of COVID-19 in the state.

As part of efforts to tackle the third wave of the dreaded Coronavirus, 10 COVID-19 Oxygen Treatment and Sample Collection Centres as well as 20 Local Government Area (LGA) Based Sample Collection Sites were activated.

Similarly, four Mother and Child Centers (MCCs) in Epe, Ajah, Badagry and Igando were completed and commissioned, while the reconstruction of the New Massey’s Street Children Hospital in Lagos Island is on course. When completed, it will be the biggest Children’s Hospital in Africa.

Comprehensive renovation of public health facilities is equally ongoing at Ebute-Meta Health Centre, Harvey Road Health Centre, General Hospital, Odan, Lagos, General Hospital, Isolo, Ketu-Ejirin Health Centre. The administration has also revamped the Jigi Bola initiative (blindness preventive programme) across all LGs and LCDAs in the state.

With the inauguration of newly upgraded/rehabilitated fire and rescue service headquarters and three newly-built fire stations, the government has equally recorded a major asset expansion in its emergency response services.

The huge investment committed to the retooling, upgrading/renovation of fire stations is to make the state’s Fire and Rescue Service more effective and enhance its performance. The turnaround reinforces Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to the security of the lives and properties of Lagos inhabitants.

The governor is not just putting in place world-class infrastructure; he is also building a formidable public service to help drive his vision for Greater Lagos. The public service is a major vehicle and formidable delivery arm of government services to the people.

While most states of the federation are incapable of paying the salaries and pensions of their workers, the state pays as and when due. Just last December, the governor approved the payment of 100% of the staff’s basic salary as an end-of-the-year bonus.

Without a doubt, Sanwo-Olu has creatively used his first tenure in office to transform Lagos into a 21st-century economy supported by world-class infrastructure and modern social amenities.

With the steady strides of the governor and his team, it has been demonstrated that with the right leadership, an enabling environment can be created for the citizenry to prosper. In my view, with Sanwo-Olu’s pedigree and performance; he remains the man to beat in the coming election.