Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, called on
the private sector to partner with the state government in the continued
campaign for environmental regeneration and sustainability, through the
building of more parks and gardens across the state.
The governor said this at the maiden edition of Lagos State
Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Greening Stakeholders’ Forum with the
Private Sector, held at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
At the event themed: “Sustaining Our Green Lagos,” Ambode,
who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tunji Bello,
disclosed that the state government had in the last eight years, set-up no
fewer than 300 parks and gardens across the state, creating over 97, 000 jobs
in the process.
“All over the world, the issue of environmental degradation
and the consequent threat to mankind has been of great concern to all
stakeholders; government, corporate bodies, non-governmental organizations, religious
bodies, as well as environmentalists,” Ambode said.
“The Lagos State Government has invested a lot in creating
and maintaining these parks and gardens. This greening initiative by the state
government is capital intensive and to sustain it, funding has to be sourced
from other sources.
“It’s pertinent to note that the amount needed to establish
a world class recreational park or garden ranges between N100 million to N200
million, depending on the size, features and location of the park. The state
government had in the past eight years set-up 300 parks and gardens across the
state. Sixty-seven of these parks, representing 22.3 per cent are managed by
private concerns.”
Speaking further, Ambode revealed that next year, the
administration will commence work to build a Metropolitan Park on 5-hectares of
land, at Ayeteju in Ibeju-Lekki, along the Lekki-Ajah expressway.
“This proposed recreational park will serve the people of
Lekki, Ajah, Ibeju, Epe and its environs. When completed, it will be the
biggest publicly owned in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, and will feature a
mini zoo, playing area of children, fitness centre, multipurpose game court,
and other features,” he said.
Against this backdrop, Governor Ambode, urged the private
sector to step-up and join the state government toward sustaining a Greener
Lagos.
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