BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU

Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the up coming Lagos governorship elections in March. A three-time commissioner and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Lagos State Development Property Corporation (LSDPC), Sanwo-Olu isn’t new to the politics and governance of Lagos state. But the question is, does he have what it takes to be the next Governor of the state? Sanwo-Olu spoke to FUNKE BABS-KUFEJI about his plans for Lagos.

Why should the people of Lagos State elect you as the next Governor, what are you bringing to the table if elected and what edge do you have over other candidates?

The people of Lagos State should elect me as the next Governor because I have come to serve, and I am ready to serve and work for the people of the state.

As a Lagosian, born and raised in Lagos, I share the experiences of other residents, who are my neighbours, friends, acquaintances and family. I have first-hand knowledge of the needs and aspirations of the people, so I will deliver practical solutions that will make Lagos better and more habitable for all.

More importantly, I come prepared and ready, having served as three-time Commissioner in Lagos State, and until recently, the MD/CEO of Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), arguably Nigeria’s biggest and oldest real estate development company.

I have a rich mix of public and private sector experience, which can be structured into 17 years of solid private sector experience and 13 years of quality public sector experience.

I have been Special Adviser to a Deputy Governor of the State and later to the Governor. I have served under three Governors of Lagos State. I have run the balance sheet three different banks, where I was Treasurer- Lead Merchant Bank, UBA and First Atlantic Bank (now part of First City Monument Bank). I have also worked as a Seismic Surveyor with United Geophysical Nigeria Ltd (a seismic data acquisition company) in a role, which took me round the whole Niger Delta including the Lake Chad region prospecting crude oil for Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

I think I should let you know that I also ran a startup company in the 90s, which allowed for extensive nurturing of my entrepreneurial skills. I have done so many great things. This 53-year old man called Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has a very broad view of life and extensive knowledge of the working of government in Lagos State. I am the most experienced of the gubernatorial candidates.

I come with a lot of experience and that is the edge I have over other candidates. I do not only know Lagos like the palm of my hands, I also know how to take the State forward.

What will you do differently to improve the welfare of the economically challenged to eradicate poverty?

I plan to run an inclusive government, and a social welfare centered government, where every segment of the society will feel the impact of good governance.

Let me say this to you pointedly, our government will serve the people at the bottom of the pyramid, and work seriously towards creating sustainable mechanisms that will deliver prosperity to every Lagosian.

We will roll-out initiatives and improve on social planning. People who are constrained by their socioeconomic situation and often do not have choices in the matter of social welfare and amenities will live differently and experience quality life.

Looking at THEME, the acronym for our policy agenda, which means Transportation and Traffic Management, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism.

The agenda is conceived not only to make the state better, but also to serve and empower the people including the poor. The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund will be enhanced and strengthened for wider reach. Our agenda is geared towards creating new ecosystems and strengthening the existing ones. We are determined to build a more socio-economically viable state.

For instance, by frontally addressing the issues of transportation and traffic management, commuting within the state will become easier and intra-state travel time will be significantly reduced. This will boost economic activities and facilitate exchanges that will make life more meaningful to the people. We are committed to delivering a multimodal transportation system.

Education is one of the ways of lifting people out of poverty because knowledge is power. The rich amongst us have choices, and can take their children to private schools or private hospitals. They can pay for what they need. It is the poor who do not have a choice that the government must make giving their children the opportunities they need in life, a priority. We must bring opportunities to the poor.

More importantly, we will make health affordable and accessible. Some of the issues around accessibility, affordability and effective healthcare delivery system will be addressed. We have the facilities, but we need to bring a lot of reforms into the health sector that will make healthcare affordable to Lagosians, and qualitative too.

We will look at the State Health Insurance Scheme (SHIS) for citizens and how all these tie into a working healthcare system. We will integrate the reports of the survey into our policy agenda on healthcare. No segment of the state will find access to quality healthcare challenging, neither will affordability be an issue for any category of Lagosian.

In your own view, what are the most pressing problems facing the state? How do these problems compare to those of other mega cities in the world and how do you intend to solve them?

Our THEME agenda is a direct response to the socioeconomic challenges of the State.

So, on the scale of needs, Lagosians have listed traffic management as a very serious issue, but this is a low-hanging fruit our government will easily pluck. Preparative to addressing the problem, we commissioned a study on traffic hot-spots in Lagos,and the feedback revealed that there are over 60 points, where traffic gridlock is always very bad. Now, we identified the locations, and efforts at creatively identifying the causes of gridlock those locations are intensified.

Already, we have seen that in some places, the location of fuel stations is one of the causes of the problem. In other areas, offices and commercial buildings without parking spaces are contributors to the jams. Quick Service Restaurants, where vehicles are reversing-out of car parks also contribute to road blocks. But bad roads have come out as the major contributor to gridlocks in Lagos State.

With these insights, we are looking at the locations case-by-case and designing workable solutions that will bring relief to road users. Some of the traffic management experts we are working with have methodically looked into the issues and came-up with smart solutions, including the need to reduce the big roundabouts in some areas.

Part of the solution could also be, for example, in the morning, during rush hours, you see places where traffic is moving on one side and not moving on the other side. A smart solution is to look at how we can extend some of the free lanes in the morning and in the evening reverse same into another lane. This means that in the morning, we turn a 4-lane road into a 6-lane, and reverse the order in the evening because the pressure point has changed. People are going back home from work and other places they drive to in the morning.

See, simple solutions like directing traffic to the free lanes to decongest our roads as quickly as possible, especially in the evening, during rush hours, could reduce travel time and enhance our productivity. Even, there are health benefits to effective traffic management, so it’s a major point of consideration for our government.

We also have people issues to deal with. I mean behavioural issues that we need to address. Many of our people do not understand that they are not the only road users. People must drive responsibly, and need to respect the right of other road users. We need to take some of these messages back home to educate ourselves. People must know that the same right they have to our roads is the same right others have. We must respect ourselves on the roads. Appropriate road use conducts can contribute significantly to removing congestions from our roads.

Similarly, traffic signs and traffic lights must be obeyed. It is only when we do the little things we need to do as citizens that we can solve some of our problems, including the gridlocks on our roads. People should not drive against traffic when there is no need to do so, or when not directed to do so by traffic management officers.

I need to also say clearly that we will bring increased efficiency to traffic management in the state. LASTMA officers will be retrained, and where there is need for recruitment of more officers, we will do that. We will do a lot of enlightenment campaign around the issues, while working on implementable solutions. Every

challenge will get a bespoke solution.

Our focus is beyond just road travels within the state. We are thinking about a multimodal transportation system befitting a megacity state like Lagos. A third of Lagos is water. That suggests that we have a huge water transportation opportunity and alternative. The waterways need to be properly mapped to help navigation.

Where we have water body that needs to be dredged to allow boats to move well, we will do. I am aware that one of the problems with water transportation in Lagos is lack of investment, and operators are not willing to invest because of poor returns. The operators complain of poor patronage. When they take people from Ikorodu to Island in the morning, they return the boat empty without passengers because less people go towards the area in the morning. We will have to look at how we can help them solve that problem, such that the venture becomes profitable and water transport more efficient.

We also have the rail projects that we need to complete, especially the Blueline from Okokomaiko to CMS. We need to complete the track and bring the rolling stock to get it operational. It is about funding. We will find a way to complete that rail project. Lagos needs a transportation system outside the roads that can move thousands of people daily.

As we continue to engage on expansion of our BRT corridors, develop water transportation and deal with the road issues, I believe we will be able to address the problem of traffic gridlock in Lagos. It is worth emphasizing too, that there is no mega city like Lagos, where traffic challenges are eliminated completely. In cities like New York, Chicago, Cairo etc., where they have better public transportation system, they still have traffic issues.

Waste Management in Lagos has been at its worst in recent times, what will be your immediate plan to address this in the short term, and sustain it in the long term?

Waste Management is an extension of the ‘H’ in our THEME agenda. Health & Environment. Waste Management is a component of our plan for the Environment. Well, for some reasons our waste management system seems to have broken down, but I know that environmental cleanliness and waste management shouldn’t not be a challenge.

Lagos State had conquered this challenge years back. So, the current situation will be methodically looked into, and the issues immediately resolved. For instance, if there are issues with the current waste management arrangement, we will certainly address them. If it is about the implementation, we will see what the problem is.

And for increased efficiency of the waste management system, the Private Sector Participants (PSPs) will be looked into. The structure will become more integrated to ensure that Lagos is clean. The refuse needs to go.

More importantly, we now need to go back to ourselves as individuals and embrace a better culture of refuse disposal, which begins with waste sorting. It is when we start sorting our waste that waste management becomes more effective, and transformable to wealth.

We need a total mindset change. Advocacy must come into this. Public enlightenment will play a pivotal role in this attitudinal change. It is not going to be a onesize fits all solution. What I can assure our people is that we will solve the problems associated with waste management in Lagos. Lagos will be cleaner and more livable for all. We will create and sustain the ecosystem that will ensure environmental cleanliness in the state.

On education, there has been very little impact over the years. Public schools are not well equipped and most parents, particularly from the upper middle class still prefer to place their children in private schools. If you are elected how do you intend to change the narrative?

First, we need to know that government has a primary responsibility to provide basic education for the people. As we speak, there are not less than 673 junior and senior secondary schools, about 1,017 primary schools and almost 30,000 teachers catering to more than 1,000,000 students in Lagos State. Lagos State is occupying an unenviable 6th position nationally in the 2018 WAEC exams. This is not acceptable, we used to be in the first three positions back in the day.

So, our approach to restoring the lost glory in education shall be to introduce measures to address three broad issues: students, teachers and school infrastructure. We will invest heavily in developing a strong pool of talented and well-trained young people to drive economic development by increasing budgetary allocation for education from 12.07% to 18% during the tenure of the administration.

We will also collaborate with industry, federal government and the academia to update the education curriculum to reflect current and future industry needs. Because we pride ourselves as government of continuity in Lagos State, we will expand the Support-Our-School Programme in partnership with the private sector by targeting 100 schools across all 57 LCDAs, and provide tax incentives and waivers for private sector organisations partnering with our technical and tertiary institutions. We will scale-up school rehabilitation programme to renovate dilapidated schools, and provide adequate furniture and tools for every child in public schools in Lagos.

What ideas do you have around making Lagos a tech-collaborative state or at the very least make doing business easier for the tech industry towards job creation, innovation, and economic growth and development?

I must be honest with you that I didn’t realize the amount of energy, interest and passion Nigerian youth, particularly Lagos youth have invested in technology, until I began this journey, taking trips to places of interest such as the Vibranium and other tech hubs in the State. However, I had always known that technology is the major driver for sustainable wealth in today’s world. Think about it, few years ago the names that dominated the top 10 countries in the world are the energy giants, but today, it is the other way round. Technology companies have taken over, and they are occupying the first five positions. Once elected as governor, we will facilitate creation of ICT hubs by creating office spaces across all the LGAs/LCDAs in the State within two years of our administration, to promote innovation and empowerment for teeming youths. We are going to be heavy on technology, so we intend to collaborate with local and foreign experts and institutions to establish world class training institutions for relevant skills and expertise, required in the technology industry. We will upgrade infrastructure and curriculum of the ICT related courses at Lagos State University (LASU, provide tax incentives to Internet Service Providers to implement a Broadband Rollout Plan and drive affordable internet access for businesses and homes across Lagos within two years. As we speak, we are the only one who in practical term, have done something in the area of technology, even while on campaign trail. We have what is called Sanwo Free Wi-Fi in the higher institutions as well as big shopping malls in the State. And we intend to do more when we form government such as creation of an IPP dedicated to the technology hubs around Lagos, establishment of an exchange program to match undergraduates in universities within Lagos State with technology start-ups to develop the skills required by the industry before they graduate, stimulate demand by ensuring that the state

government patronises viable technology solutions developed by local entrepreneurs and create a State Council on Advancement of Technology in Lagos made up of key persons in the technology industry, the private sector and government. This council would be responsible for advising the government on policies and initiatives that can advance the growth of technology in Lagos State. With all these in place, we believe that Lagos will be on her way to becoming IT hub in Africa.

Lagos is over populated. Constructing and repairing roads is key. How much attention will you put into the repairs and construction of inner roads as opposed to the focus on major roads by successive administrations?

It is a fact that Lagos has a rapidly growing population, with daily influx of people, majority of who do not return to where they came from. Lagos has a gravitational pull as the commercial hub of Nigeria and this puts pressure on existing infrastructure like roads, housing, hospitals, housing etc.

To the specific issue of your question, both inner city roads and major roads are important and we will focus on both. Lagosians need the inner roads to access the major roads. So, I get it when people complain about inner city roads. We will intervene heavily on inner roads even though many of them are local roads for Local Governments to do. We will reform and restructure our local governments and council development areas to do more on roads within their jurisdiction, while we support them where necessary. The major roads are the trunk A roads we all need to commute from one part of the state to another.

For example, the Airport Road, Festac-BadagrySeme Border road or Lekki-Epe Road and the Coastal road, which is in the pipeline. The Badagary-Seme Border road is a major international gateway to the West Coast. A major economic route though a Federal Road. We will ensure quick completion of the road and many others. We need to open up the state by expanding existing roads and constructing new ones. Our administration under our agenda for Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy have a comprehensive policy options for massive infrastructural development.

About the In one Freedom Of Information Act (FOI), in one of your interviews, you said you will look into the act. What do mean by look into, does this mean you are not keen on having the Act domesticated?

I know that the Freedom of Information Act is passed to ensure openness and accountability in government. And because it is meant to facilitate social progress, I will certainly look at it if elected.

The general perception is that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu controls the affairs of Lagos State and sitting governors defy him at their own risk. What is your relationship with Tinubu and how do you intend to serve the people without reinforcing this perception?

Let me be upfront with you. Asiwaju Tinubu is my leader and mentor. I have tremendous respect and admiration for him, just like many people do. He is a leader who has invested time and resources in creating a large pool of aspiring leaders across the country, not just in Lagos State.

I have a very good and fantastic relationship with him. I also want to correct a very wrong impression people carry around, especially people in the media. Asiwaju does not have any negative influence on any sitting governor in Lagos. He has very positive one. His focus is on development. He has worked for Lagos, and still working for Nigeria. He was the pacesetter for all the good things happening in Lagos. He brought innovation and revolutionary ideas to public service, which his successors have built on.

He has never told any governor after him to stop working for the people. If there is anything he has done and will continue to do, is to see Lagos move higher and higher in all indices of human development.

As Governor of Lagos I will continue to seek his wise counsel in the administration of the state. He had eight solid years as Governor and was a very successful governor by all standard. For any Governor or leader that wants to succeed, the best is to seek counsel from predecessors.

You are a banker, a public servant and politician. Who is Babajide Sanwo-Olu when he is not wearing any of the caps above?

I am a husband, father, brother, friend, a family man and benefactor. I have been married for about 30 years to a beautiful and strong woman, who is a Medical Doctor. If you asked my wife about me, I am sure she will say I am not a bad husband and my children will also say I have probably not done badly as a father. My family members and friends think I have not done badly too. People around me will be in a better position to give more candid testimonial than whatever I can say about myself.

When you are not working or campaigning for reelection, what do you enjoy doing or how do you relax?

I have lived a very busy life since I started my first work after NYSC. As a banker and public servant, I have had to work late nights and run very tight schedules. Running for election now is another basket entirely. The campaign schedule and activities have been grueling to say the least. The little time I have outside campaign, I try to spend with my family, read some books; because I love reading a lot and watch football.

I am an unrepentant Arsenal fan. On a lighter note, I am a supporter of every club now because I need everybody’s vote. I don’t want Chelsea, Man U supporters and others to be angry with me. So, I support all the clubs in Premiership and Champions leagues.

How are you effectively able to juggle your work and being a father and a husband?

I must say that I am lucky that my children have attained the age, which does not require any roundthe-clock parental monitoring. They are aware and independent to take on many aspects of life, and following the right paths in their various endeavours.

So, as a father that is savvy with modern technology, what I do with them now are regular chats through different means of modern communication; and occasional visits.

In fact, for some of them who are out of the country, the proximity brought about by technology makes it feel like we are not geographically far away from each other.

Therefore, I am able to effectively conduct and combine my personal engagements with my parental roles, without lagging behind on any front.

Also as a husband, I am fortunate to have married a woman, who, by all standards, is a perfect definition of a supportive wife and committed friend. The bond and understanding we share are tremendous and unrivalled. And I must state that this sustains our love, despite the demands of our respective professional endeavours. That’s why management, planning and cooperation are also essential components of successful parenting and matrimony.

Do you have any pet peeves?

I would say lack of passion and sincerity.: As a result-oriented person, I know passion is a critical component in driving any vision from conception to reality. And in sincerity, I am aware that great goals can be achieved when actions are conducted with all sense of sincerity. So, in anyone, or whichever environment I find the two lacking, is an instant turn-off for me.

Any last word for the electorate on why it is important for them to go out to vote in the coming election?

I think there should be continuous education in the country on the importance of voting by citizens in an election. There should be growing understanding amongst the populace that their vote is the power they have to bring about improved living standards, secure society, quality education, sustainable infrastructure and better health system they have been clamouring for. And that this can only be achieved by their participation in an election, and by voting a candidate that is competent and can deliver on those essential needs for the people.

People should also know that by voting a wrong candidate in an election, the solutions to many of the social problems will be long delayed.

And that’s why we, at the APC, have a lot of programmes to educate our members and other members of the society on the importance of voting. So, the people must know the power they carry with their vote and must use the power wisely by voting the right candidates at elections.

As a result-oriented person, I know passion is a critical component in driving any vision from conception to reality. And in sincerity, I am aware that great goals can be achieved when actions are conducted with all sense of sincerity. So, in anyone, or whichever environment I find the two lacking, is an instant turn-off for me.