By Dipo Olowookere
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State for the 2019 governorship election, Mr Jimi Agbaje, has promised to look at other ways to boost the economy of the metropolis.
Speaking recently at the launch of his campaign, Mr Agbaje said he will look critically into his blue economy policy to make more money for the state.
According to him, this he would do by making money out of what Lagos is massively blessed and surrounded with, lagoon, to create several job opportunities for residents.
“I have not jettisoned my blue economy agenda for Lagos. When I am elected as Governor of Lagos State by His grace, I will make efforts to commercialise our waters.
“There are several ways Lagos can make money from the abundance of water it is surrounded with. I will open the water transport system, which will boom the lifejacket manufacturing sector, boat-making sector, fishery and many others businesses that have connection with water.
“You can see that the blue economy has not been tapped into in Lagos State, but I promise to make this industry the next oil industry,” Mr Agbaje said while answering one of the questions asked by a journalist at the event.
On power generation, the PDP candidate said 1000 megawatts of electricity would be targeted in four years to muscle up and boost the economic fortune of the people. He said the plank of his health care programme would be built around health insurance schemes.
He also promised to restore the glory and standard of education in the state by providing more accessible to quality education as opposed to the current ineffective system.
“I am running a believable administration and I am in the race for service not for self. They are in politics for themselves.
“They have said that I am their ‘customer’. But I want to tell them that the customer is the king and he is always right.
“By March 2019, the rest will be history because thiselection will be decided by the people of Lagos who yearn for freedom, and notby political parties,” he told the enthusiastic supporters.Mr Agbaje also used the opportunity to introducehis deputy, Mrs Haleemat Oluyemisi Busari and promised that they would “carrythe load together” instead of the culture of making the deputy a “spare tyre”.
Mr Agbaje will contest for the Lagos State top job with candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Babajide Sanwoolu.
