Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday opened the revamped secretariat of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area which was completely razed and looted by arsonists in the destruction that trailed the #EndSARS protests in October 2020.
The governor also commissioned a state-of-the-art primary health centre (PHC) in Alaba-Oro, Ifelodun Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Amukoko area of the state.
The two-storey fully equipped healthcare facility is a project of the LCDA, which was designed to provide monthly health services to an estimate of 5,000 people in five local councils. The council named the edifice after the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu.
Mr Sanwo-Olu described the development as a “positive turnaround” for residents of the council, given that the land on which the PHC is built was formerly a dumpsite.
While inaugurating the PHC, Sanwo-Olu said the facility would increase access to quality health services for people at the grassroots and further raise the capacity of the state government in healthcare intervention being delivered.
The governor said the delivery of a fully equipped health centre by the council showed how leaders at the lowest tier of government could strengthen the state government’s development drive, urging council chairmen across the state to replicate similar projects in their communities for more positive impacts.
He said: “I am humble to be commissioning this first class healthcare edifice, which was fully undertaken and delivered by the chairman of Ifelodun LCDA. This speaks to the modest effort being made by the council towards improving lives of our people at the grassroots. The quality of project delivered has challenged us a government on the need to bring up projects that will only benefit people at the grassroots level, but one that will transform their lives.
“This is another demonstration that good governance at lowest tier is pertinent to accelerating socio-economic development. There must be collaboration between local councils and state government to further enhance service delivery and make people in local communities to feel the impacts of the Government. I commend the leadership of Ifelodun LCDA for this befitting health centre that will serve our people.”
Ifelodun LCDA chairman Fatai Ajidagba said the construction of the PHC was financed from the council’s internally generated revenue (IGR), noting that the project was embarked on based on the request from the residents.
The PHC has tuberculosis care department, eye and dental clinics, pharmacy section, medical laboratory, X-ray department, ultra sound scanning section, children immunisation centre and maternity, among others.
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu donated six brand new vehicles (four pickup vans and two cars) to the council to help smooth administrative duties.
The governor also performed the ground-breaking for the rebuilding of the magistrate court burnt in the council secretariat.
