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| Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd left), addressing Captains of Industry, entrepreneurs, State Executive Council members, and other stakeholders during the 2014 Central Business Districts Stakeholders’ Forum with the theme, “Strategic Partnerships, Re-Development and Sustainability – The Lagos Island Central Business District”, at the Banquet Hall, State House, Marina, Lagos on Wednesday, January 29, 2014. With him are: Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business District (CBD), Mrs. Derin Disu (left), Chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr Oba Otudeko (2nd right) and the former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Supo Sansore (right) |
Lagos Woo Private Sector on Regeneration of Lagos Island CBD, as Gov. Fashola Affirms That the area already has Master plan
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday unfolded its plans to redevelop and regenerate the Lagos Island Central Business District through strategic partnership with the Organised Private Sector, with Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) emphasizing that the Island CBD already has an infrastructure Master plan that is being followed religiously.
The Governor who spoke at an interactive session with top players in the Corporate World held at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos House, Marina added that the Island CBD master plan was one which took about three years of hard work to evolve.
He added that it has grown from a concept plan to an infrastructure master plan and forms the bits and pieces that are being implemented in the Island CBD, adding that the revitalization of the City Hall and regeneration of Campos Square were parts of efforts to achieve this.
“The rail coming into Marina fits very well into the infrastructural master plan. The reconstruction of the Tinubu fountain fits very comfortably into the master plan. The cable car is also part of the transport solution for the plan that has been envisaged”, he added.
Fashola also said because of the interest shown by the entrepreneurs in terms of the power, the state Government has made public its plan for power and would not only serve public building or religious organizations but will also service private buildings in the CBD in the coming years.
“There is also a plan to provide gas on the island. If it comes, we are ready in less than a year to provide all of the power that the CBD needs because we have an audit of the power demand for that area. There is positive news that gas would come back to the island either by the end of this year or first quarter next year. If that materializes the land to expand the existing power plant is already reserved when we took over the place where we built the pilot power plant and when we did the design, we were thinking of about 156 buildings in the Lagos CBD”, he stressed.
Speaking about distortions to the original plan for Victoria Island, the Governor said the existing plan for the area was not compromised by government but by everyone as many people have let out their buildings to be converted into high rise buildings.
“We know that investments have been made in Victoria Island, the existing plans were not compromised by government. At least not acting alone but by all of us. We all let out our homes into high rise buildings so it first to make the change if we really desire it. There is a master plan for the state. There about eight master plans that would come together to form the Regional plan”.
Fashola who also responded to fears about the Eko Atlantic City and flooding issues said water level is rising in Europe and many distant locations and should not be regarded as a local problem because it is the same that Atlantic that is here that extends to United States.
“All the real estates on that water front was empty and the road was gone, what did we use to do, we used to pump sand but now we have provided some solutions and they are not solutions out of the pockets but those informed by research but whether they will solve the problem permanently or not, I can’t say here. Even the Dutch solution which is the benchmark is not fool proof. It is not true that any flooding problem is attributable to Eko Atlantic City”.
“We have taken the best advice and professionalism. To see how it is working, just cast your mind back about 15 years ago at the peak of the rainy season, the flooding used to reach the Law School, NTA, but we have not had that kind of flooding in the last 5 or 6 years, even at the height of the problem, the solution is working”, the Governor emphasized.
Governor Fashola who also responded to a question on the arrangement with a group from Arizona said it is not aimed at disparaging anyone but an idea to make a statement of commitment of the Arizona group to invest in the state and not coming to take over anybody’s business.
“In our enlightened self interest, what is the next step, the Central Bank has taken a position, AMCON has taken a position and if we start from the low hanging fruit, by repairing all the existing buildings, paint them and bring their life back, it would go a long way”.
Speaking on a question about the activities of the area boys, the Governor said no one can pretend that it is not a general problem but a reflection of the economic situation that people face.
Said he:“If activities return to that CBD, it means we would provide opportunities for them to get decent and gainful employment. If we return the night life back there why can’t they work in the clubs, why can’t they work as security men and assist in parking?
“The rail is coming now, the transport will berth in Marina, the cable car will complement it, the buses are running. There is so much that would still happen. So that when you know what we are doing, it can inform your decision making process”, he stated.
The Government received positive commitments from many of the Corporate players on the regeneration of the CBD with the Director General of the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Mr Oscar Onyeama giving commitments to partnering with the State in regenerating the Lagos Island CBD.
While declaring the regeneration plan as very timely, Mr Onyema said the NSE has been working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and some of the banks on how to beautify the streets around there, adding that with what has been showcased at the programme, the NSE will take a step back and study the proposal on how it can partner the state.
The Managing Director of AMCOM, Mr Chike Obi, who also spoke said the agency is planning to have a head office in Lagos but would want to have assurances from the Governor and his team that the regeneration plans for Island CBD as enunciated at the parley, would be strictly adhered to, citing the example of the Victoria Island which, he said, was not being religiously followed anymore.
Another contributor and President of LIMGE, Mrs Taiwo Taiwo, said the fortunes of the Island CBD has greatly improved now compared to what it used to be in the past, adding that with the practical examples of structures like Elephant which she manages, the rate of tenancy has increased with many businesses now relocating to the Island.
The Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, said his presence at the event is an endorsement of the plans of the State Government for the regeneration of the Island CBD, saying it is a manifestation of diligent decision making.
He charged the State Government to ensure that in going forward it tries as much as possible to retain the old names of the streets in the CBD because of the sweet memories.
The Managing director of UACN Properties, Mr Hakeem Ogunniran, commended the State Government for its regeneration efforts on the roads in the CBD, adding that the moment it started that, UACN properties also started repainting its Kingsway buildings in the area and this catapulted the patronage of the office spaces, saying if the proposed plan is put together faithfully, it would create something unique in Nigeria.
Other speakers, like investment banker, Mr Bolaji Balogun called for the provision of more incentives to motivate investors to cite their businesses in the Lagos Island CBD as compared to other business districts in the country.
The Chairman of Vigeo group, Mr Gbolade Osibodu called for the creating of a soul for the Island CBD where night life can be recreated through the provision of security, a view that was corroborated by Mrs Taiwo Taiwo.
In his remarks, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Supo Shasore, stressed the need to situate a sustainability school in the Central Business Districts of the State “as a catalyst project for the CBD” adding, “We don’t want to bequeath to our children a CBD that is not sustainable”.
Introducing two resource persons from Arizona who came to carry out a feasibility study on the possible location of a Sustainability School in Lagos, Shasore declared, “Whether there will be a Sustainability School in Lagos or not, what we should be envisioning is a CBD where sustainable practices are carried out throughout the CBD and, indeed, the State”.
In his short presentation, one of the resource persons, Mr. Dan O’Neil, gave an outline of the proposed Sustainability School including the design and feasibility study saying the institution when on stream would provide short courses, Certificate and Degree Courses.
According to him, the key principle of the institution was to provide solution-drivers and project -based learning to enhance Private Public Partnership initiatives and propel research and project implementations.
And in her opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Central Business Districts, Mrs. Derin Disu, called on the Private Sector to key into the plan and agenda of the State Government to rehabilitate the Lagos Island Business District and bring it back to life again.
Noting that the strategic importance of the Island lay in the fact that it is home to many trans-national corporations, financial institutions and national conglomerates, home to the largest stock exchange in Africa, the Special Adviser listed the investment opportunities existing on the Island to include “prime land with higher potential yield for investors compared to Ikoyi and Victoria Island, Development of Hotels, Resorts and Boutiques, Development of high-rise mixed-use apartments, Water transportation etc.
The event was witnessed by members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Ben Akabueze, Finance, Mr Ayo Gbeleyi, Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, Commerce and Industry, Mrs Sola Oworu, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Town Planner Toyin Ayinde, Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs Florence Oguntuashe, Special Adviser on Revenue and Taxation, Mr Bimbola Shodipo and several top players in the corporate world including an executive director at First Bank Plc and former Finance Commissioner in the State, Mr Tokunboh Abiru.
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