The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tunji Bello on
Monday stated that Lagos has the capacity and potential of becoming
the African version of a Hong Kong in the next 50 years.
Bello who spoke at the Special “Lagos State Showcase Session” at
the ongoing 2017 Nigerian Bar Association Annual Conference holding at
the Landmark Event Centre, Oniru Estates said the greatest challenge
against that attainment is the present federalist structure.
In his words: “Let me give you a clear poser. Would the Apapa Port and
the Lagos International Airport remain so derelict and obsolete if
they were allowed to be managed by proper private investors under the
local authorities as it is in most advanced economies?
The promise of true federalism is to unbundle and exploit the untapped
and hidden potentials of each state, create employment opportunities
for our teeming working population, particularly for the large army of
unemployed guarantee a better future for us all. It is time to move
forward and truly practice what is just for a true federation”, he
added.
Bello called for a stoppage to the present practice of skewed
federalism or ‘military federalism” being camouflaged as genuine
federalism, stating that most states are currently hemorrhaging
socio-economically.
He added that the nation is supposed to have a federation governed by
federalist concepts and principles, but in reality, the government is
being run as a nation on a unitary platform.
He emphasized that Lagos has been leading in championing the
principles of true federalism since 1999, added that this has been
done at a great inconvenience and is a humongous sacrifice.
He stated that in the last two years, the present administration has
sustained a blend of progressive vision and action that is not only
been robust but exemplary so as to project the image of the state and
put residents in a proper perspective.
He noted that Lagos is the most cosmopolitan, economically viable and
hospitable state in West Africa and stressed that it has become a
sprawling megacity which is characterized by rapid urbanization and
the attendant increase in population.
Bello urged lawyers to join forces with the Lagos State Government in
genuine institution building stressing that it is time now to
collaborate and unlock the states, saying; “the time of sitting on
the fence is over”.