The Lagos state government has urged the federal government to support it in the development of critical projects and infrastructure.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu made the appeal during a courtesy visit of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 45, year 2023, of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS) to Alausa on Friday.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, noted that support from the federal government was essential for the state to effectively execute major projects.

According to him, most of the major projects undertaken by the state are beyond what a state can execute without the federal government’s support.

“One of such project is the rail project which is currently executed by the state and this requires funding by the federal government.

“Lagos is the only sub-sovereign in the world that is funding rail line projects on its balance sheet by itself.

“We cannot have a population that is growing like this and we don’t have a rail, there will always be congestion.

“The rail is key and its financial implication is huge, hence the call for support,” he said.

Highlighting some of the infrastructural efforts put in place by the state government, Mr Sanwo-Olu stated that electric buses were recently purchased.

He said: “Another important project is the Imota Rice Mill, which processes 32 tons of rice per hour and this requires more land.

“In order to meet up with the required supply of rice to the rice mill, we partnered with Kebbi, Niger, Kano, Ogun and some other states in the South-South.

“If we can continue to do this interaction, there is no reason for Nigeria to import rice.

“In spite of all these, the population of Lagos is another challenge, as Lagos only occupies a small portion of the entire land mass of the country, whereas the state accommodates 11 per cent of the nation’s population.”

He urged the participants to push the narratives to the public and ensure that the citizens understand that they must grow what they eat and eat what they grow.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said that the institute’s visit to the state was essential, adding that the sub-sovereign in the country could make changes in the lives of the people in the state.

Ayo Omotayo, director general, NIPPS, said the visit was to learn and understand how the three variables, namely: industrialisation, energy, security and climate, were being applied in the development of the state.

He said it was also to collate data that would help in compiling a detailed report on the state.

(NAN)