Ambode says Lagos will be Africa’s model mega-city by 2025

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said on Tuesday that the state would, by 2025, be Africa’s model megacity, a global, economic and financial hub that is safe, secure, functional and productive.

He also disclosed that almost half of the Lagos state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is used for the payment of salaries, including pensions and gratuities, stressing that as a result, government is expected to explore the economic potentials of the State to meet the needs of the citizenry.

The governor made the submission on Tuesday at the gathering of captains of industry and top government officials at a programme, “LagosMeansBusiness.’’

This event presents a platform for all concerned stakeholders to chat a path for the future of Lagos without any sentiment.

He speaks further: “This administration has decided to focus on three key areas of Power, Education and transport as a way of affecting other sectors of the society indirectly.

“The challenges of Lagos is enormous and it demands a strategic and proactive approach.’’

Lagos, he said, needs structured corporate social responsibility targeted at initiatives that would be mutually beneficial to private sector and government, adding that government would continue to support private sector and pleaded: “We are not true citizens until we become responsible tax payers.”

Ambode assured every Lagos resident that he would make their taxes work for them with a transparent and incorruptible government with good value for taxes paid.

He said taxable adult in Lagos are eight million out of which only 700,000 pay taxes. We will tax those who are rich so as to protect them. That is what property tax which law was enacted in 2002 is saying. After 17 years, the law had not been reviewed.