Governor Ambode, who spoke at the first quarter Town Hall Meeting in 2018, the 10th in the series since his assumption of office, held at De Blue Roof, LTV Complex in Agidingbi, Ikeja said while the State was entering into the new year with confidence of being on a solid prosperity footing and interesting prospects for all Lagosians, it was indeed gratifying that the support of the people enabled government to achieve a lot and commenced the transformation of the landscape of the State.

He said: “As we celebrate entering a new year, we thank you all for your support and cooperation last year. It was your backing that enabled us to achieve the modest successes we recorded last year and commence the transformation of the landscape of our State. In the last year, we delivered on our promises to Lagosians despite the harsh economic climate.

“Despite the harsh economy, our State budget performed at 82 percent. Total Revenue Generated was N503.7bn representing a performance of 78 percent; Total Recurrent Expenditure was N281.33bn representing a performance of 92 percent, while Total Capital Expenditure was N387.60bn or 76 percent performance.”

The Governor listed some of the key projects delivered last year to include the new Tafawa Balewa Square Bus Terminal, new Ojota Pedestrian bridge, Aboru – Abesan link Bridge and adjoining inner roads, Ojodu Berger Slip Road and Pedestrian Bridge, Jubilee Bridges in Ajah and Abule Egba, Freedom and Admiralty Road in Lekki, new Lands Registry, newly upgraded Jubilee Chalet in Epe, among others.

In addition, Governor Ambode said as at December 2017, the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (ETF) had disbursed a total of N4.5billion to 5,500 beneficiaries who also received training on financial literacy and business management, while keys were presented to beneficiaries of the first set of allottees of Lagos State Rent-To-Own Housing Scheme, as well as creation of Neighbourhood Safety Corps and beautification of the State with the erection of monuments, parks and gardens.

Giving a report of activities of his administration in the last quarter in line with tradition of the meeting, Governor Ambode said between the period under review, the State Government commissioned the first State-owned DNA Forensic Centre in Nigeria and West Africa, and in the coming weeks would sign a contract to upgrade the facility to offer toxicology services, which will make it the first in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“In fulfillment of our promise to our students in tertiary institutions across the State, this administration disbursed a total sum of N635.5million to 8,419 students across the State.

Our government acquired healthcare equipment worth N2.5 billion. The equipment will strengthen the capacity of our health facilities to render improved health services and also facilitate smooth take off of the Lagos State Health Scheme which is designed to enable residents enjoy unfettered access to qualitative healthcare.

“Since the last Town Hall meeting, we have continued the renovation and upgrade of our Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and our people at the grassroots have started to witness a revitalized healthcare delivery. In order to meet the needs of the youth in the area of technical and vocational development, we have approved the establishment of three other Technical Colleges bringing the number of Technical colleges in the State to Eight,” he said.

While reeling out the outlook for the year, Governor Ambode assured that he would sustain the momentum of development and vigorously pursue all on-going projects, with special focus on health and education.

Already, in the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N1.046 trillion budget size awaiting approval of the House of Assembly, the State Government has earmarked N92.676billion for health representing 8.86 per cent and N126.302billion for education representing 12.07 per cent of the budget.

He assured that the State Government in the coming weeks would pay compensation to all those whose structures gave way for construction of the 1.4 kilometre Pen Cinema Flyover/Bridge, as well as those in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, Owutu and other areas where construction activities are ongoing.

The Governor, who also entertained questions from residents, ordered the Public Works Corporation to immediately move in to fix bad roads in Computer Village, Abesan Estate, Oriade, Abule Egba, among others, while the office of the Special Adviser on Primary Health Care was directed to make the PHC in Resettlement Area of Eti-Osa functional in two weeks.

While also revealing that the Market Development Board would be inaugurated in coming weeks, the Governor expressed optimism that when functional, the board would address issues of market relocation for developmental projects, just as he said that the Onikan Stadium will be ready in January 2019.

Besides, Governor Ambode urged all taxpayers to be alive to their responsibility of fulfilling their obligations to the State, saying regular payment of taxes remained the major source of funding infrastructures, and assured that the government on its part would judiciously utilize the taxes to make life comfortable for the people.

“I urge all taxpayers to be alive to their responsibility of fulfilling their obligations to the State. Regular payment of taxes remains the major source of funding the infrastructure being put in place to ease transportation, provide security build new roads and refurbish existing ones,” the Governor said.

Responding to a question from a resident on efforts made to forestall any invasion by herdsmen, Governor Ambode allayed fears, saying that the State Government had taken precautionary measures to ensure safety of lives and property of residents.

“We have already prayed at the beginning of this year, herdsmen would not be our portion, but after prayer, we will work. So, all the issues that you have raised, I am not taking them for granted, I will look at them and also make sure that all our security agencies are on alert and up to date to mitigate any action or intrusion that may arise from that particular quarters,” he said.

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Onanuga who made the suggestions as a panellist at the two-day National Health Dialogue on UHC organised by some NGOs and Premium Times in Abuja, recommended for a robust government, civil society and media partnership to raise public awareness on healthcare needs and demands to achieve UCH in the country.

Represented by the Head, Health, Gender and Population Desk of the agency, Mohammed Tola, the managing director tasked media practitioners in the country to get acquainted with provisions of health laws and issues to report accurately and correctly.

Onanuga explained that health issues must be taken seriously and the only way to achieve that is for media practitioners to have adequate knowledge on health matters.

He also urged stakeholders, especially NGOs, to empower media practitioners through training and equipment to sharpen their skills and deliver effectively.

Besides, the managing director enjoined government health agencies and CSOs to provide relevant data and information to enable journalists report accurately.

Onanuga further advised journalists covering the health sector to go beyond daily reportage as they were expected to conduct indepth analysis of pressing issues in the health sector.

“For us to record success in health sector, the media must be used as tools for advocacy.

“Journalists should take advantage of Freedom of Information Act to get necessary information needed to hold government and healthcare service providers accountable and transparent by delivering accessible and qualitative service.

“We must report activities of the government in the sector, monitor infrastructural development, procurement and disbursement of drugs and equipment as well as immunisation activities,” he said.

Onanuga stated that the only way that could be achieved is when media practitioners have adequate knowledge concerning health related issues.

Meanwhile, some cancer survivors at the event appealed to the Federal Government to establish functional Cancer Treatment Centres across the country to enable patients access medical care.

Some of the survivors who spoke to NAN after the conference urged government to speed up interventions to save lives.

Ms Comfort Daniel regretted that it was unfortunate that some of the treatment machines were not available in many parts of the country and she had to travel to Lagos to access Radiotherapy.

“If not for the support of well meaning Nigerians, NGOs and the media, I would have died of breast cancer. Sometime an NGO known as Pink-Blue sponsored my trip to and fro by air to Lagos to access radiotherapy.

“I was diagnosed of breast cancer when it was in stage 2 in 2014, because I didn’t have money and before I sourced for fund, there were a lot of delays and it deteriorated to stage three,” she said.

Daniel said that cancer treatment was expensive that government needs to intervene and provide necessary equipment, drugs and support for cancer patients.

Ms Gloria Orji, the Abuja Cancer Governor, also urged government to take necessary actions to provide treatment centres to carter for those suffering from various forms of cancers.

Orji, who recovered from breast cancer in the last five years, noted that the country was endowed and there was no reason why people should be dying of the disease that can be prevented and treated.

According to her, the treatment is expensive that even a middle class in the country cannot afford not to talk of the poor.

“To treat some types of breast cancer require not less than N12 million, you can now understand that a poor person cannot afford the treatment.

“I know of a person that was diagnosed of cancer and when she was told of what is required for the treatment, she said she cannot afford it that she will go home and die and she eventually died,” she said.

She appealed to the government to act fast to prevent high rate of mortality from cancer.

On her part, the Wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr Zainab Bagudu, told that NAN the rate at which people are dying of cancer related disease was unacceptable.

Bagudu said that governments need to revive and strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) to provide services to the larger population of Nigerians.

According to her, when there is functional primary healthcare, it will help in early detection and that will go a long in reducing the fertility rate from the ailment.

She also underscored the need for government to act fast in providing the necessary functional equipment for the treatment of cancer.

Bagudu added that Nigeria had the resources and it was not right for cancer patients to travel to overseas to access medical care.

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