Today, June 25, 2024, is a special day in the life of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, aka BOS of Lagos, the Lagos State Governor. The man who is championing the ‘Lagos Rising’ project completed another trip around the sun in fine style. BOS is 59 today! Obviously, this calls for celebration. And it’s a good day to celebrate a man who has done well in piloting the affairs of Lagos State in the last five years or so. Building on the fine legacies laid by his predecessors, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the man currently in the saddle, BOS, has continued in the footsteps of his predecessors, even surpassing their records in terms of infrastructural development like light rail, bridges, and many others. Governor Sanwo-Olu is walking his way to a historic reckoning as one of the best governors in the political history of Lagos. And this is not overhyped one bit. He has acquitted himself well.
Under the Governor Sanwo-Olu administration, Lagos State’s GDP has reached an all-time high of ₦41 trillion. Lagos is now rated as the seventh-largest economy in Africa. The prosperity Lagos has witnessed under Governor Sanwo-Olu can be traced to the sound economic policies of his government, which are aimed at turning Lagos into a 21st-century economy. Continuing from where he left off during his first term THEMES agenda comprising Traffic Management & Transportation, Health & Environment, Education & Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment & Tourism, and Security & Governance, Governor Sanwo-Olu has stepped up his governance game by completing some of the projects initiated by his government during his first tenure in office. He has embarked on aggressive infrastructure projects, from road construction to light rail projects and human capital development initiatives. For instance, in response to the economic difficulties ongoing in the country, Governor Sanwo-Olu stepped up to the plate. As part of his efforts to lessen the burden on Lagosians, he increased the salaries of the salaries of civil servants by 20%. BOS also increased student bursaries by 12.5%, doled out palliatives to Lagos residents, and organised soup kitchens across the state for the less privileged. And that’s not all; he ordered the sale of subsidised food for Lagosians. In addition, he reduced transportation fares, both train and bus, for Lagosians and made healthcare free for pregnant women in his state. Little wonder he’s loved by his people. He has shown courage, maturity, discipline, and competence in leadership—all traits of a visionary leader.
No doubt, Governor Sanwo-Olu has covered himself in glory. He has successfully made Lagos the envy of other states in Nigeria. A man of special grace, Governor Sanwo-Olu has done well for himself and his state.