From left: Mr Olanrewaju Fatai, the Council Manager, Hon. Fatai Gbadebo the SLG, Executive Chairman Barr Moyosore Adedoyin Ogunlewe, Hon. Oluwole Șosanya, Vice Chairman, Hon. Idowu Oluloro the Leader of Kosofe Legislative Arm, during the media parley on Monday

By Funke Cole

The Executive Chairman, Kosofe Local Government Area, Barr. Moyosore Adedoyin Ogunlewe (MAO), on Monday gave an account of his three years of stewardship in office, where he reeled out his achievements thus far.

Speaking at a media parley at the council secretariat in the company of the Vice Chairman, Hon. Oluwole Sosanya, Leader of Kosofe Legislative Arm, Hon. Oluloro Idowu, Mr Olanrewaju Fatai, the Council Manager, Hon. Fatai Gbadebo, the Secretary to the Local Government, and other members of his excos, Ogunlewe, expressed optimism that every residents of the council regardless of their social strata, political affiliations, religious bias, will continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy in fulfillment of his electoral promises to the people.

He said, “Three years ago, you entrusted me with the leadership of this great local government. You placed your hopes, dreams, and aspirations in our hands, believing in our vision for a better Kosofe. Today, I am both humbled and proud to present to you our scorecard – a testament to our collective efforts and achievements over the past three years.

Pressed further, he said, “When we assumed office in July 2021, we made a solemn promise to work tirelessly for the development and prosperity of Kosofe. We pledged to focus on key areas that would significantly improve the lives of our people – infrastructure, health, education, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment.

“Today, I am pleased to report that we have made substantial progress in each of these areas. “Let me start with our infrastructure development initiatives, which we aptly named “Kosofe Works.” Infrastructure is the backbone of any thriving community, and we recognised its critical importance from day one. I am proud to announce that over the past three years, we have constructed a total of 30 roads across all seven wards of our local government.”

The lawyer said the risk of sounding immodest several road network projects dot the Kosofe landscape all across Mende, Anthony, Ogudu, Ifako/Gbagada, Oworo I and II, Ojota axis and environs with additional 11 on the works, including drainages, construction of blocks of classrooms, boreholes, primary healthcare centres, just as he has made interventions in the primary and post primary levels of education in the council.

“Furthermore, we have keenly observed that most communities within the Council Area have challenges of accessing good consumable water and following the demands of Councillors representing the seven political wards we embarked on the construction of the first phase of 10 boreholes of which 10 have been fully completed and running.”

While enumerating some of the newly constructed projects including the Customary Court, NULGE Building, general renovation of Council Secretariat Buildings, laying of Council Chapel Slabs, electrification of Council Secretariat, amongst others, Ogunlewe said all these were done to enhance high level of productivity of its workforce.

“On healthcare, Kosofe Local Government under my Administration has provided good and accessible healthcare delivery. Residents have attested to getting affordable Services in all of our Primary Health Centre including the construction of Oworo PHC, purchase of ambulances, provision of free consultations and free drugs for staff, mini health mission/free eye glasses for  residents, monthly fueling of PHCs , quarterly deworming exercise, quarterly polio vaccination.”

Under his administration, the Kosofe Food Bank, an initiative to help cushion the effect of the spiraling food inflation especially for the vulnerable and less privileged members of the council as palliatives.

“In view of the economic situation of the country and increase in food prices, my Administration initiated a Food Bank where staple food items were distributed to the vulnerable and residents across the council.”

Ogunlewe who boasted that the council relied totally on the internally generated revenue and its monthly allocations from the federal government without recourse to any external loans, assured that his administration will continue to work towards uplifting the people and the council in general, even as he expressed his token of appreciation to the leaders of thoughts in the community include the Governors’ Advisory Council, traditional rulers, market women, transport unions, community development associations amongst other stakeholders for their support and encouragement thus far.

“Conclusively, this Administration has pursued Infrastructural, socioeconomic and educational development with legitimate allocation from the federal government, internally generated revenue and not by loans. It is, however, important to also emphasise on the need for residents to discharge their civic rights and pay rates and tolls to the Local Government to enable us to provide more dividend of democracy,” he stressed.