Lagos — Over the weekend, precisely Saturday July 18, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, embarked on what could easily be described as a ,return to his root,. It was indeed a kind of reunion for residents of Kernel Street in Surulere, Lagos, where the governor lived till he metamorphosed into the Lagos State helmsman. That day, he was in the area to witness the handover of Kernel Street Recreation Park.

The governor explained that it was part of his inaugural speech on May 29, 2007 that as part of its environmental programme, the administration would devote time to reclaiming as many parks and open spaces as it could in order to provide play and recreational facilities to the people.

He added that the handing over represents a demonstration of the credibility of the commitment as a government that keeps promises and honours voluntarily made commitments.

,,From our healthcare programmes such as Immunisation of children against Polio and other communicable diseases that affect children, to the resuscitation of voluntary social clubs in our schools such as the Boys Scout, Boys Brigade, we have put smiles on the faces of mothers by making the healthcare of their children and development of their mind and values our concern,,, he said.

Fashola on behalf of the children who would experience full mind and bodily development by using the facility expressed gratitude to his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being instrumental in securing back the parcel of land which was heavily encroached.

,,Those who are familiar with this place will recollect that this parcel of land which was earmarked in the LEDB master plan for Surulere as a recreation park for the residents was heavily encroached and abused. It was swampy, heavily ponded and characterised by overgrown vegetation, silt deposit, scrapped metals and so on,,, he stated.

The governor recalled that during the period when he served as governor Tinubu,s Chief of Staff, he lived on the street and that it pained him to see children raised on the street including his own children locked in the house for days, weeks, months and years without any opportunity to express their developing energies in the way he did as a child.

,,I felt a sense of failure as a parent, when I watched my children play football in their bedrooms simply because we had failed as a generation to provide for them what we enjoyed and took for granted as children,,, he stated.

The governor appealed that the park is not for revenue generation purposes, but a recreation park for children and residents and neighbours.

His words: ,,While I understand that there may be need to hold social events here for which fees may be legitimately charged and accounts kept to maintain and clean the park, this must never be allowed to defeat the objective behind this project. To do otherwise will tantamount to taking from the children with one hand, what we collectively gave with the other hand,,.

The Lagos helmsman acknowledged the community leaders who assisted tremendously in making the project a reality saying their passion for the project contributed immensely to overcoming challenges faced in the course of this project especially, the peaceful and early recovery of encroached parts of the land.

He reiterated that open space protection is good for a community,s health, stability, beauty and quality of life, imploring all residents to claim ownership of the Kernel Park and jealously protect it.

The governor later named a committee of residents who would manage the park and named them as follows: Isaac Olutayo Opeodu-Chairman, Kernel Street-Chairman ; Victor Olujitan Resident Kernel Street- Member; Alhaji L.O. Salako Chairman, Idita Street- Member; Dr (Mrs) Oyekan Resident Kernel Street-Member; Toni Raymond- Chairman, Itolo Street-Member; Engineer Adegbite- Chairman, Aibu Street-Member; Engineer Ogbogu- Chairman, Animashaun Street- Member; Mrs. Osobase Nana Aishatu -Resident Kernel Street-Member and representative of youths.

The governor also disclosed that as part of his administration,s commitment, seven specialist hospitals for women and children being built in different parts of the state are in various stages of completion.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire said the hallmark of a sustainable environment is a conducive atmosphere to work and recreate, adding that a polluted and chocked up environment exposes inhabitants to polluted air, ill health and shortens life span.

He said the Kernel Street facility went through a fierce battle for its recovery from the period of conception to implementation and commended the initiative of Architect Austin Onaro and members of the residents association in the recovery of the space.

He also said an additional merit of the new facility is that it would reduce traffic congestion in the State and around the area as the residents will stroll to the facility to recreate instead of traveling miles to a similar facility.

Banire implored all residents of the area especially the young ones to take advantage of the park and channel their energy towards productive activities by using the various sporting facilities to recreate and sharpen skills in various sporting activities.

Several of the residents of the neighbourhood praised Fashola for living up to his promises and making them proud to have lived in the same neighbourhood with the Governor.

An elder in the community, Prince Olumide Ogunoye said it was the first time he would witness a land being taken over and turned into a recreation park for the benefit of the larger community rather than being appropriated for a commercial or selfish purpose.