Lagos Assembly urges Sanwo-Olu to expedite action on light-up project

….setup adhoc committee to probe “Light-Up Lagos” project

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have called on the governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to expedite action on the award of contract for the light-up Lagos project.

The lawmakers made this resolution on Monday under Matter of Urgent Public Importance on streetlight in Lagos moved by Hon. Lukmoh Olumoh (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 1).

Olumoh explained that in the past, the House had made resolutions on the siting of streetlights across the state , lamenting that Lagosians were not enjoying any streetlight.

He added that the non-availablity of streetlight in the state is paving way darkness and insecurity.

Olumoh added that monies were budgeted in the 2025 budget for the project and so the state government should award contract for the execution of the project.

“The government should ensure all streetlight are up and running since they are budgeted for in the 2025 budget.

” This House in the past have made various resolutions that the state should be lighted up.

“Lagosians today are not enjoying any streetlight and this has put them in darkness. It has also paved way for insecurity.

” We are aware that we need to explore other alternative by using solar light which the President had projected and this should be replicated in Lagos too. We can use solar to power the streetlights in Lagos.

” I call on our colleagues to join me in this motion that we should have light on our roads. governor SanwoOlu should expedite action to award contract to ensure our roads are light-up, so that darkness of will be a thing of past on our roads”, said Olumoh.

Corroborating the prime mover, Hon. Gbolahon Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2) said “I back what Hon Olumoh raised. Recently I received calls from my constituents concerning the lack of light on our roads.

“The state government can explore solar energy. There is need to quickly put the light back and award the contract so that the challenges could stop”.

In his remarks, Hon. Desmond Elliot (Surulere 1), explained that in his constituency, the benefits of streetlight were enjoyed, stating that it had helped in the area of security.

Elliot suggested that local governments could complement efforts of the state government by deploying solar light in their council areas.

Hon. Bonu Solomon (Badagry 1) said “One of the challenges of the streetlight in Lagos is the vandalisation of the infrastructures by vandals.

” If we are to go by the way of solar, it is good but we need to ensure the security of the infrastructures.

“We can also deploy CCTV to address the security aspect, so that the solar streetlight that would be built would be secured”.

Contributing to the debate, Hon. Stephen Ogundipe (Oshodi/Isolo 1), said “Light up Lagos is an iniative of the present administration and so we must sustain it. We need to emphasis the importance of the streetlight but the state government must do more.

“There is budget for it and so I see no reason we should not have the streetlights on our roads. With streetlight everywhere, the issue of insecurity, open defecation and other ill acts would be curbed”.

Hon. Femi Saheed (Kosofe 2), said ” I think the State government have done so well by budgeting N24b for the project.

“But one thing is that we need to change our attitude towards public infrastructures. To sustain the initiative and development, our tertiary institutions should engage in training and researches in the area of solar energy development to ease access to it and also tap into the budget for development”.

Gbolahon Ogunleye (Ikorodu 1) said, “The state government should ensure the project spreads across the state including the remote areas like Epe, Badagry and Ikorodu. Schools and health centres across the street should not be left out”

Meanwhile, the debate took a new twist as Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1) expressed concerns over what had happened to monies budgeted for the project.

“My concern is about the transition period. Are we saying monies were not allocated before now? Where are the contractors. A committee should be setup to investigate why there is no streetlight in the state”.

Backing Tobun on his assertions, the Majority Leader, Hon. Temitope Adewale, said ” Beyond the streetlight, we need to look into what has happened to the project interns of funding.

” We have other issues like infrastructural decay. I know everyone is speaking the minds of their constituents. In my constituency, the Fagba bridge is yet to be completed. There is no street light in the area where the project is.

“There is need to investigate the monies budgeted for the projects and the contractors including the road projects”.

Also, the lawmaker representing Amuwo-Odofin 2, Hon Wale Rauf, said ” Everywhere in Lagos is experiencing lack of streetlight. This is affecting business owners in the state.There is need to reach out to Dangote Limited since it is its environment. The company has CSR role to play in this.

” I want to thank the governor for the projects in my constituency and commissioning of projects recently”.

However, the Speaker of the House, Rt (Hon) Mojisola Meranda, canvassed for the sensitisation of the local governments on the need to complement the state government regarding the light-up Lagos project.

“There is need to sensitise local governments that road contract should come together with streetlight.

“Concerning solar streetlight, we can do it in Lagos. We should be able to produce solar light in the state.

“We need to up our game in our maintenance culture. We should not wait till infrastructures get spolt. We should be proactive . On the security of the infrastructures, it is a joint effort by all including the citizens. When you see something, you say something “.

The House, however, set up 7-man adhoc committee to investigate the challenges facing the implementation of the Light-up Lagos project.

The Committee is to be chaired by Hon. Sobur Oluwa (Ajeromi-Ifelodun 2) while the members are; Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1), Hon. Stephen Ogundipe (Oshodi/Isolo 1), Hon. Femi Saheed (Kosofe 2), and Hon. Desmond Elliot (Surulere 1).