Tribute: APC UK South West Celebrates “Life, Legacies” of Lateef Jakande

Tribute: APC UK South West Celebrates “Life, Legacies” of Lateef Jakande.

The leadership of All Progressives Congress(APC) Southwestern States of United Kingdom chapter has celebrated th “Life and Legacies” of the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande popularly known as “Baba Kekere”.

Alhaji Jakande, who was governor of Lagos State between 1979 and 1983, died yesterday at the age of 91.

The APC South West States Caucus Tribute reads;

” The entire APC UK South-West States Celebrate The Life of Baba Lateef Kayode Jakande (23 July 1929 – 11 February 2021)

A successful journalist and former governor of Lagos State in Nigeria between1979 to 1983, and later took up Ministerial appointment (Works) under the Sani Abacha military regime (1993–98).

Baba Jakande returned to his creator on 11 February 2021 at the ripe age of 91 years.

Within his 4 years as governor of Lagos State Alhaji Jakande’s administration recoded tremendous achievement – some of which are enumerated below.

His government built

• The current Lagos State Secretariat which houses all the state ministries as well as the popular round house hitherto occupied by all subsequent governors of the state.

*The Lagos State House of Assembly complex.

• The Lagos State Television
• The Lagos Radio
• Lagos State University established
• General Hospital established in zones all over the state with assurance of free health care.
• Teacher Training College and the College of Education introduced
• Low cost houses built in Ijaiye, Dolphin, Oke-Afa, Ije, Abesan, Iponri, Ipaja, Abule Nla, Epe, Amuwo-Odofin, Anikantamo, Surulere, Iba, Ikorodu, Badagry, Isheri/Olowu, Orisigun etc.
• Water Management Board and Waste Disposal Board established
• The Adiyan Water Works constructed to increase water supply in Lagos state to 18.16 million litres per day.
• Iju Water Works reconstructed and expanded which was first commissioned in 1915. This increased daily capacity from 159 million to 204 million litres per day.
• His government purchased and commissioned the giant car crusher equipment. The equipment was designed specifically to crush derelict vehicles in Lagos State. It had the capacity to crush 45 vehicles per day.
• His government constructed, rehabilitated and resurfaced Epe/Ijebu-Ode Road, Oba Akran Avenue, Toyin Street, Town Planning Way, Alimosho-Idimu-Egbe Road, Idimu-Iba-LASU Road, the new secretariat road and several others.
• His government constructed Victoria Island/Epe Road and thereby creating an ‘oil rig’ for Lagos State.
• Asphalt Plant established for the Department of Public Works.
• Electricity Board for Rural Electrification established with provision of street lights.
• His government modernized, expanded and commissioned Onikan Stadium in 1982.
• His government established a singular school system and ensured genuine free education in Lagos State and the beneficiaries of this policy are in different positions of eminence in the country and around the world.
• Also raised the primary schools in Lagos State to 812 with 533,001 pupils (against 605 primary schools with 434,545 pupils he met in 1979) and secondary schools to 223 with 167,629 students (against 105 schools with 107,835 students in 1979).
• He also constructed 11, 729 classrooms with the maximum of 40 children per class between March and August 1980, by 1983, he had constructed over 22,000 classrooms.
• In July 1983, two commercial passenger boats christened “Baba Kekere and Itafaji” to run the Mile 2 – Marina (CMS) route via the lagoons were inaugurated by his government to mark the official launch of the Lagos State ferry services.
• His government took over the ownership and financing of Lagos State Printing Corporation in July 1980
• His government established the first State Traffic Management Authority (Road Marshals).
• His government established small scale Industries Credit Scheme which preceded the EKO bank.
• LASACO Insurance established

*His government expanded existing market and built new ones.

• Traditional Medicine Board established

May Almighty Allah grant him AHLUJANA FRIDAUOS.

Signed
All Members of,
APC UK South-West States Caucus.”