Lagos Inaugurates Resilience Office

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has inaugurated the Lagos Resilience Office (LASRO) with a promise that the state government would continue to explore creative ways to address the myriad of challenges confronting the state.

Ambode said the state’s challenges would be confronted by replicating the best international models that have worked in some developed nations.

The governor, represented by the state Commissioner for Finance, Akinyemi Ashade, at the event maintained that his administration would continue to focus on the opportunities that Lagos offers rather than allowing the state to be overwhelmed by its challenges.

“As a government, we will keep a focus on the opportunities that Lagos offers while we will also continue to explore creative means like a developmental partnership in addressing our challenges,” he said.

He explained that the establishment of LASRO would pave way for a more developmental partnership that would, in turn, be useful in addressing the issues of traffic congestion, housing, power supply and unemployment, among others.

The governor stated that the selection of Lagos State as one of the 100 resilient networks is not only a significant honour, but also an impetus for the state to receive support for a better Lagos today, tomorrow and for future generations.

He added that the state government’s partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation was premised on the belief that the 100 Resilient Cities programme and their city resilience framework would amplify and expand those qualities and capabilities Lagos would need in an increasingly unpredictable future.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Abayomi Kadiri, said the event, among others, showed Lagos State Government’s commitment to transforming the fortunes of the state through collaboration that works specifically with the setting up of LASRO.

Giving the background to 100 Resilient Cities (100RC), the permanent secretary disclosed that the member cities of the 100RC provide support to one another through knowledge sharing, support to create a resilience plan that reflects each city’s distinct needs and serves as an innovative platform that provides tools and resources for implementation of the identified plans.

“LASRO has the mandate of making the State better, through the promotion of the well-being of the citizenry, and building resilience by helping people, community and institutions prepare for, withstand and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stresses,” Kadiri reiterated.

He commended the state governor for his vision for residents of Lagos State and also Rockefeller Foundation for the choice of Lagos as one of the resilient cities in the world.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Lagos Resilience Office, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibironke Sodeinde, used the occasion to call on members of the public to complement government’s resilience efforts, saying LASRO requires the contribution of everyone.

“Everyone is needed to cooperate with the government by protecting government infrastructure within your neighbourhood. A situation whereby the government spends a lot of resources on the same infrastructure every year due to lackadaisical attitude on the part of the residents is totally uncalled for,” she noted.