On Tuesday 30th July, 2024, it was exactly the third year of Prince Usman Akanbi Hamzat as the Executive Chairman of Ifako-ijaye Local government in Lagos State.
On the day, one would be very surprised to see a large number of people across all walks of life trooping into the local government secretariat premises to celebrate the third year in office of the Chairman, but such surprise would quickly give way to admiration as soon as the Chairman began to roll out a very long, verifiable and impactful List of infrastructural development and people-oriented attainments of the local government in Ifako-ijaye Local government, the list is unprecedented in the history of the Local government in about the three decades of its creation.
Hon. Usman Akanbi Hamzat arriving the venue of the Media Parley to mark the three years in office with some of the LG officials
These achievements, as rolled out by the Chairman in the course of the commemoration program were attained under the HEEDS agenda of the administration.
HEEDS AGENDA of Prince Usman Hamzat's administration stands for:
- Health, Sport and Environment
- Educations and technology
- Empowerment of youth, women and the aged
- Development of infrastructures
- Security and sustainable initiatives
It is this HEEDS agenda that has been the compass with which Prince Honourable Usman Hamzat has navigated governance these three years in the local government that has brought the paradigm shift and unprecedented mileage covered in the developmental projects in Ifako-ijaye Local government.
Hon. Hamzat flanked by the right by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Awoniyi-Akerele and at the left by the council Secretary, Hon. Kolawole Fasusi
Hon. Akanbi Hamzat addressing the Media, Residents and other Stakeholders of Ifako-Ijaiye LG during the Media Parley to mark the Three Years of the Chairman in office
Hon. Akanbi Hamzat answering questions from members of the Press after the Media Parley to mark the Three Years of the Chairman in office
For the 'H' in the HEEDS AGENDA which serves for Health, Sports and Environment, Prince Usman Akanbi Hamzat's administration was able to achieve the followings in the area of health care services:
- Procurement of many medical equipment and other consumables for the Primary Health Centres in the Local government.
- Regular free HIV test and medical check-ups for residence which is done thrice a week since the start of the administration (Wednesday for the communities, Friday for the Muslim communities and Sunday for Christian communities)
- Rehabilitation of the Primary Health Centres in the Local government which are located in the Ifako, Obawole and Ogundimu areas of the local government.
- A special five-day medical outreach for the people of the local government which held from 8th to 12rh of May, 2022 which was aimed at providing specialised health care services to the residence of the local government
- Introduction of provirus vaccinations program
- Provision of palliatives to residence
- Annual health day to mention but a few.
Hon. Hamzat during the World breastfeeding day program in the LG
On environment, Prince Usman Akanbi Hamzat's administration recorded the followings:
- Removal of refuse on regular basis
- Construction of trenches and drainages around the local goverment
- Removal of overgrown weeds in all the schools within Ifako-ijaye Local government area.
- The bio-eradication of polluted environment at Ogundimu area
- Annual cognisance observation of global warming phenomenon as well as other environmental related global
- Treatment of lot of water wells, and boreholes within the local government area
On 'E' which stands for education and technology, Honourable Hamzat's administration in Ifako-ijaye has achieved remarkable infrastructural developments within the schools in the local government area. Such include the renovation of the school buildings within the Bishop Oluwole Memorial Primary school as well as distribution of free school uniforms and school bags; distributions of new sets of furniture; construction of art and craft centre as well as perimeter fencing of African Church Primary School in Idi-agbon area; Perimeter fencing of St. Kizito School complex in Fagba area; as well as the distribution of sanitary pads to female secondary school students throughout the local government area.
To encourage Higher education, Honourable Hamzat's administration executes annual distribution of Jamb and GCE forms which has assisted hundreds of young Ifako-ijaiye residents in pursuing higher education in different Higher educational institutions across the country.
In the area of technology, Hamzat's administration has not achieved a mean feat but a great one. Especially, in the area of the application of technological aids for educational enhancement. In this line, the local government has organised regular training for teachers in the use of various educational technologies which is line with the global educational services.
On the 'E' which stands for Empowerment, the administration of Honourable Hamzat regularly organizes series of Empowerment programs for the residents and masses in the Local government with start up capital, equipment and amenities given to the participants. Different classes of people in the local government who regularly benefit from the administration's Empowerment program includes: the market women, the youths, students and the less privileged.
The local government has been able to empower over 5000 residents in all over the last three years, another unprecedented feat in the history of the local government.
Hon. Akanbi Hamzat during an empowerment program in the LG area with the Hon. Supervisory Councillor on Legislative matters and Ethics, Hon. Emmanuel Olaibi
In the area of of development of infrastructures which 'D' stands for in the administration's HEEDS agenda, Honourable Hamzat's administration has achieved a lot. Especially, in the area of road construction and repair.
The list of road constructed in the last three years of the present administration in ifako-ijaye local government includes:
- Aina Ajobo road in ward A, a 621 meters road which is 80 %completed
- Akinte street in ward D, a 450 meter road which is already fully completed
- Rehabilitation of Oluwasijibomi street.
- Rehabilitation of Aliyu street, a 367 meters road fully rehabilitated
- Ndike Aborishade street, a 603 meters road that is fully completed
- Rehabilation of Abdulsalam Steeet, a 233 meter road
- Rehabilitation of Awe street, a 245 meter road
- Rehabilitation of Alhaji Mustapha street, a 724 meters road within WARD D
- Rehabilitation of UNA road, a 127 meter in WARD D
- Rehabilitation of Oshola street, 256 meter road
- Construction of Orimolade street in WARD B, a 312 meters road that has been fully completed
- Adeshina street WARD E 539 meters road fully rehabilitated
- Rehabilitation of Alamutu kudirat WARD d, a 370 meters road
-Rehabilitation of Folorunsho street in WARD A, a 255 - meter road
Others include:
-Rehabilitation of the 94 meters Obawole bridge - Ongoing construction work on Oni street road in Ajuwon Community.
- Akinte street in WARD D which has been fully completed
- Rehabilitation of Ayinla Street off Agbado Road in Ward E that been completed
Hon. Akanbi Hamzat inspecting the Aina Ajobo road while under construction
Paving stones been laid on Aina Ajobo Street
Statistics show that Honourable Hamzat's administration completed 38 roads with 16 still under construction. Records show that up to 70% of Ifako-ijaiye roads are completed with at least a road project in every month of the last three years. This is unprecedented!
It is also in the credit of the administration that the Ogundinmu/Ajuwon street water project was undertaken during the regime.
Verifiable statistics show that during Honourable Hamzat's administration in these last 36 months, has embarked on a total of 81 major infrastructural projects within 6 months. This statistics implies that an average of two projects is executed every month of the three years of the administration.
Hon. Akanbi Hamzat with other LG officials and other Stakeholders
In the area of Security and sustainable initiatives, the Administration of Honourable Hamzat has embarked on provision of effective government social services to the people of Ifako-ijaye Local government area which has helped to alleviate and mitigate the present general economic hardship experienced currently in the country.
In heeding the voice of President Tinubu who had called upon government at both State and local government levels to come up with social policies to help the masses as a fall out of the Removal of fuel subsidy in may 2024, Honourable Hamzat's administration has initiated a free grassroots welfare services and packages which reached up to 7,639 residents at 55 different locations within the local government. Statistically, on the average, over 200 people's lives are been impacted on a monthly basis with the welfare packages and the social benefits.
Meanwhile, in charting the course for the Ifako-Ijaye local goverment administration in the next one year which will mark the conclusion of his first tenure, Honourable Hamzat has promised to double efforts so as to deliver in double proportion of the present level of achievement while he promised the completion of all developmental and structural projects that has either been identified or started by his administration.
Such includes the completion of Ifako-Ijaiye stadium, new legislative building, as well an ultra modern multipurpose hall within the local government.
No doubt that the statistics of the infrastructural, structural and developmental achievements catalogued above is unprecedented. Surely, the records of Honourable Hamzat's three year regime in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government will remain unbeatable for many years to come.