Kunle Adelabu & Jare Babatunde
The Chairman of Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area, Builder Sesan Mayokun Daini, on Monday, April 12, 2021, gave his administration’s account of stewardship in the last 1,358 days since he assumed office.
At the parley/interactive session held at the Conference room of the newly commissioned Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Secretariat, were journalists, bloggers, representatives of various youth groups, social media influencers and community developers among others.
While admitting that his administration has not done much in communicating its activities to the public, Builder Daini said that the parley/interactive session is the beginning of an effective information dissemination by his administration.
His accounts of activities presented to the stakeholders covered Security, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructural Development, Welfare and Revenue drive.
Daini, who said that all that was achieved were done within the limited resources available to his administration, also added that the successes were achieved through collective responsibility.
He said that financial planning and consultations with stakeholders played great roles in what the administration has been able to achieve so far.
“It is a collective responsibility of the executive and legislative, the management and all the staff. I also must let you know that there is good understanding with the community and stakeholders”, he said.
“On assumption, we embarked on consultations after which our working document was drawn”.
He said that his administration improved on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which, according to him, is now N50 Million naira from N19 Million naira that his administration met.
“Before we assumed office, the highest revenue generated in this council was N19 Million naira which was in 2015 or 2016. On assumption, we looked at how to block loopholes because the number of residents were increasing”, he said.
“In 2017, we moved from N17 Million naira to about N23 Million naira and in 2018, we all agreed that we have not done too good and that we could do more. We then moved from N22 Million naira to N39 Million naira in 2018 and increased it to almost N50 Million naira in 2019.
“We could not do more in 2020 because of COVID-19 but within our first two years in office, we moved our revenue with about 300% increase without incurring any cost to do that . We didn’t spend any extra cost to achieve that but with dedication, commitment and blocking of loopholes.
“One of the major things that worked for us is financial planning. Life is about planning. We were able to record all these achievements because at the beginning of each year, we usually sit down to set our priority after doing our budget.
Speaking further on how his administration was able to achieve the construction of a new ultra – modern council secretariat despite lean resources, Hon. Daini said that the council never borrowed any kobo to build the edice.
In addition, the Council Chairman also said that his administration never borrow or take any overdraft for the construction of the Secretariat.
“We can all hear what the Governor said when he came to commission this building that initially, it seemed unachievable for a local government collecting the little that we are collecting but that despite that, we still were able to construct this secretariat which, if not the best in the state, it will be one of the best council secretariats.
“This building was constructed without any loan. Sincerely, we are not on debt. We achieved it with the little that we have and we are not indebted to anybody and our government has not taken one naira overdraft”, he said.
“We have been able to achieve it through thorough financial planning and discipline amongst ourselves”.
While stating that his administration faced several challenges many of which he said they survived, Daini described acceptability of new ideas and new ways of doing things that he introduced in the council operations as major challenges so far.
“A new thing will definitely has some challenges. When we came on board, we introduced new things that people found unusual and definitely there are forces against them but with our orientation, dedication, commitment and enlightenment, they got used to them day – by – day and they even became part of those changes.
“One of the major challenges that we faced was in the area of revenue generation and we collectively identified the problems and enlightened and educated people that are involved”.
Speaking on the newly redeveloped Igbogbo garage/market, he said that commercial cabs, tricycles and mini – vans will be accommodated in the new place.
“The reconstruction project will still accommodate the garage. The place is well – structured and planned. We still have our parking there because we are not sending the commercial drivers away”, he said.
“The way it is planned, somebody who comes to the market to buy things cannot drive beyond a certain point.
“We equally created many access for the mototists at the back to serve as alternative routes for them to prevent them from coming into the main road and cause traffic”.
On the new market, Hon. Sesan said that he has improved on the lockup shops that his administration inherited and added that his administration has started discussing a new location for the park in case the location that has been allotted is not enough.
“What we inherited were 14 lockup shops and 43 K – Clamps. After the redevelopment, we now have over 200 lockup shops and almost 100 K-clamps, and while our parked remains.
“There is still park within the new structure and if for any reason, that place has no more space, we have started discussing and negotiating where to use as a park. It is also important to note that the Lagos State Government is doing some restructuring in parks and we are also putting that into consideration.
On road development, he said his administration cannot do much due to the financial situation and that they can only do palliative.
“Like I have confessed earlier, we have done everything within the limited resources and there is little or not much that we can do on roads and what our concentration has been is on palliatives”, he said
“A good example is Igbogbo/Bayeku road because there was a time that I didn’t sleep because of that road and I had to look at how to solve the problem. I consulted and thank God that we are able to do good palliative measures on it”..
He recalled that his administration made contact with Gov. Babajide Sanwo – Olu, a situation which led to the pledge by the governor to do something about the Igbogbo/Bayeku road when he came to commission the newly constructed council secretariat in Igbogbo last month.
“We have also been using our closeness to people in government for them to see reason with us on why they must construct this road and we were all here when the Governor came for the commissioning of this place and promised that before the end of this year, something meaningful will be done on the road.
“Regarding all adjoining roads, we are trying our best and even the Councilors too are making sure that they fix some of the bad roads. We are doing our best but we don’t have the power to do beyond that”.
On perennial traffic on Awolowo Way, he said:
“I agree that there is a need to clear Street trading on Awolowo way to ease traffic but when you have this type of project, you must equally look at your surroundings to understand what is going on.
“We are doing our best and you can see that the frontage of the market is getting better and we have consulted some people, including the traditional institution and market leadership on what should be done to reduce street trading if not complete eradication”.
On Empowerment , Daini said:
“We have done a lot of programmes on empowerment. At a point, we engaged 250 women and children in many vocational skills and after graduation, we also supported them to start what they learned.
“We did not stop at that, there are some that we have equally sent out to other places to acquire more skills and thank God for the life of Hon. Babajimi Benson for also providing training for our people and giving us slots in agriculture and other trainings that we engaged our youths in.
“There is also a collaboration going on between the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and the University of Lagos (UNILAG) which has the best skill acquisition programmes in the whole of West Africa and we are in talk with them which will be finalized soon to train our youths and make them better.
“We have supported our youths within the limited resources available to us. We have equally assisted many of our youths to get employment with state agencies and in local government and we intend to do more”.
He listed Miss Adeboruwa Beauty Pageant Sponsorship, Skills acquisition programmes for youth in tailoring, styling etc and Sponsorship of youth empowerment during Igbogbo Day as other empowerment activities of his administration.
Also speaking on what his administration has done in the area of agricultural development, Hon. Daini said:
“We are doing our best and government decisions are best taken when people take ownership of projects.
“What this government has been doing is to consult and try to know what the people want and I will not be solving a problem that is not needed by the people.
“There is a fish pond in Bayeku and because of our interest in agricultural development, we have written to the Ministry of Agriculture and met with them to sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the fish pond.
“The fish pond can train 300 to 400 people with necessary facilities available.
“The place has been released to the local government for us to engage in agricultural development and make things work better for our people.
“We also have people that have suggested home-grown farming projects to us and we are in partnership with them on how to promote home-grown farming based on their enlightenment. The best way to solve food insecurity is by individual farming at home.
“Myself, the Commissioner for Agriculture and the team had met and we are actually fine-tuning how to kick – start the process to improve agricultural development and attend to food security in the state”, he said.
On security, Builder Daini said that his administration achievements are:
“Construction of 63 Squadron base of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Inauguration of the LNSC officers, Presentation of security vehicles to Igbogbo police station, Inauguration of Security Local Joint Table Force, Inauguration and provision of power Bike and walkie-talkies for Local Joint task force and Placement of 50 security officers on monthly salaries.
On Education, he said:
“We embarked on the total reconstruction of Block of seven (7) classrooms into an ultra-modern learning outfit in Lajo Primary School.
“We facilitated one block of 8-classrooms donated by Hon. Jimi Benson at Ibeshe Primary School.
“We also constructed a perimeter fence for Baiyeku Primary School, Methodist Primary School, and LG Primary School, Igbe Laara”.
Other achievements in educational sector by the Daini led administration in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, are – Presentation of free G.C.E and JAMB forms to Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA indigenes; Organisation of Spelling Bee Quiz competition at the council secretariat; and Distribution of learning materials to Primary school pupils as part of the efforts at accentuating the SDG 4.
Builder Daini also said that his administration awarded scholarships to five(5) Students; two Secondary school students and three Tertiary institution students, and also presented Deep Freezer to the Lagos State Girls’ Junior Model College, Agunfoye, Igbogbo.
In the area of Health, achievements listed included:
“Global Diabetes walk and free diabetes screening and community awareness, Breast Cancer Awareness programme by Comrade Daini in conjunction with Heart Wells group and WABIO foundation and Flagoff of health initiative for rural dwellers by National Youth Service Corps in conjunction with Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.
Others are Flag-off of measles vaccination campaign at Ibeshe Public Health Centre, Free Eyes Care Services in conjunction with Eye Foundation Hospital, Facilitation of a new PHC at Majoda, Ibeshe, by Hon. Jimi Benson, and Commissioning of block of maternity wards at Bayeku Primary Health Centre.
Builder Daini, also stating his administration’s achievements in the area of environment, listed:
“Dredging of canals in Igbogbo, Ibeshe, Selewu, and Agunfoye and Environmental Sanitation Exercise by the Chairman, tagged “Keep Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Clean or Leave”, at identified black spots in the council”.
He also added Campaign against hawkers aimed at ensuring that street traders vacate road side to avert the regular gridlock at Igbogbo, Distribution of relief materials to flood victims at Esteem CDA Unity Estate, Igbogbo, and sensitization and creation of awareness on waste refuse management and inauguration of environmental sanitation committee.
On infrastructural development, the Council Chairman listed Commissioning/Opening of U.B.A ATM cash centre gallery by himself on 22nd September, 2017, Flag–off construction of road drainage and street light at Oliwo Amoju – Olayinka Moshood Hassan Street, Commissioning/Opening of Sterling Bank, a new generation bank in Igbogbo and Construction of administrative block and presentation of official vehicles to the legislators as part of his achievements.
Other efforts listed on environment are: “Construction of ultra-modern Kaniyi Owode market in Igbogbo, Opening and Grading of market street to alternate parking of commercial vehicles and the Construction of magistrate court inside the IBLCDA premises funded by Odofin of Ikorodu.
Listed as part of his Welfare interventions are: Prompt Payment of Salaries, Uninterrupted Payment of Staff Bonuses, first of its kind in the history of IBLCDA and Presentation of official vehicles to the legislators, supervisors and traditional rulers.
Others are Presentation of stipends/grants to the aged and traders, Structured Training Programme for eligible officers and Distribution of Covid-19 Relief Materials to various communities and groups.
In addition to his administration’s efforts in improving the Council Revenue Drive, he listed inauguration of the revenue committee for Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, tagging and branding of Revenue team and presentation of two(2) new branded Revenue buses.
