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Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday, called on the private sector to partner with the state government in the continued campaign for environmental regeneration and sustainability, through the building of more parks and gardens across the state.
The governor said this at the maiden edition of Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Greening Stakeholders’ Forum with the Private Sector, held at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
At the event themed: “Sustaining Our Green Lagos,” Ambode, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tunji Bello, disclosed that the state government had in the last eight years, set-up no fewer than 300 parks and gardens across the state, creating over 97, 000 jobs in the process.
“All over the world, the issue of environmental degradation and the consequent threat to mankind has been of great concern to all stakeholders; government, corporate bodies, non-governmental organizations, religious bodies, as well as environmentalists,” Ambode said.
“The Lagos State Government has invested a lot in creating and maintaining these parks and gardens. This greening initiative by the state government is capital intensive and to sustain it, funding has to be sourced from other sources.
“It’s pertinent to note that the amount needed to establish a world class recreational park or garden ranges between N100 million to N200 million, depending on the size, features and location of the park. The state government had in the past eight years set-up 300 parks and gardens across the state. Sixty-seven of these parks, representing 22.3 per cent are managed by private concerns.”
Speaking further, Ambode revealed that next year, the administration will commence work to build a Metropolitan Park on 5-hectares of land, at Ayeteju in Ibeju-Lekki, along the Lekki-Ajah expressway.
“This proposed recreational park will serve the people of Lekki, Ajah, Ibeju, Epe and its environs. When completed, it will be the biggest publicly owned in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, and will feature a mini zoo, playing area of children, fitness centre, multipurpose game court, and other features,” he said.
Against this backdrop, Governor Ambode, urged the private sector to step-up and join the state government toward sustaining a Greener Lagos.
