Lagos — The transportation sector of Lagos State yesterday witnessed a major break-through as the French Government indicated interest to invest the sum of $100 million to ensure effective and efficient transportation system in the state.Country Director of French Development Agency (FDA), Luc Bonnamour, disclosed the plan of the French Government when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) at the State House in Alausa, Ikeja , yesterday.
Addressing Fashola and some state executives, Bonnamour said the visit was to explore priority areas in the state that would help renew the partnership between France and Nigeria particularly in the area of support for developmentAccording to him, the French Government is conscious of the growing population of the Lagos Mega city and the critical need of efficient and effective transportation system to make life easier and better for the residents.
He added: "The fund will be made available next year as a boost to the effort of the state government as it is making effort to develop the transportation sector as part of its 15-point agenda."Also speaking at the meeting with the governor yesterday, Leader of the French delegation, Senator Jacques Legendre, said that France was ready to partner Lagos to develop areas such as "water and sanitation, transport and housing."
According to him, "This would also include support for Nigerian small and medium enterprises through micro-finance," adding "Our delegation is convinced that France would benefit immensely from deepened cooperation and increased partnerships with Lagos State in economic, institutional and cultural sectors."
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FRANCE, PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THEM ONE KOBO!!! BUILD WHAT THEY NEED, NO MONEY TO STEAL!! THIS IS WHAT WE WILL ADVOCATE IN AMERICA, NO MORE CASH OR GRANTS BUILD WHAT THEY NEED!!!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.......DO THE PROJECT YOURSELF FRENCHMAN OR KEEP YOUR MONEY.THIS PUBLIC OFFICERS HAVE NO INTREST OF THE PEOPLE AT HEART FROM THE NUMBER ONE MAN TO THE COUNCILLOR IN LG
In as much as i hale the french government for wanting to invest in Lagos and help the transportation sector,I must also caution them in terms of parting with the physical cash. Fashola is known in Nigeria as one of the outstanding Governors who has set an example with positive changes in Lagos which people can actually see,but he still will delegate a lot of projects to his commissioners,permanent secretatries etc and since he is only human he cannot oversee every single project,besides who knows if the road project will still be ongoing when the next elections come along but in Nigeria with corrupt election practices we dont know if he will be re-elected even though he deserves it even to presidential level but the power that be will not allow that. I would suggest the french government to be involved in every stage of the project and pay for services themslves after investigating to make sure the invoices havent been overpriced by getting different prices from independent contractors otherwise somewhere along the line we all know what will happen.somebody's pocket will be bulging with money they did not work for or deserve. I commend Gov. fashola for his efforts but he can not completely eradicate corruption.he is only one man and the forces against him are overwhelming.I must say hes doing a damn good job.if other people in Government and other politicians were like him,Nigeria could stand a chance to redeem itself from the clutches of poverty,corruption,bribery and wickedness. I dont mean to be pessimistic but this is the sad truth.