Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday inaugurated a six-man ad hoc committee to investigate the N24 billion Light-Up Project by the state government.

The inauguration of the committee followed the resolution at the plenary presided over by the speaker, Mojisola Meranda, at the assembly complex in Ikeja.

Ms Meranda named the six-man committee to include Abiodun Tobun, Desmond Elliot, Stephen Ogundipe, Abiodun Orekoya, Femi Saheed, and Sabur Oluwa.

She said the committee was expected to report to the assembly in two weeks.

Ms Meranda said all hands must be on deck to light up Lagos, adding that the project was important to everyone.

“This is the only way to reduce the problem of insecurity; when everywhere is very dark, you need to know who is approaching you to find out if the person intends to attack you; that is what the project intends to achieve.

“It is also important at this point to sensitise the local government chairmen that any road contract given out, street lights should be part of it.

“They should go together and not start cutting costs, thereby making the government start breaking anything again after constructing the roads,” she said.

Ms Meranda also said street lights could be done, adding that all it required was for people to be trained to produce and install them.

“Production of street lights is something very important, and I think we should start looking in that direction in order to get that fixed,” she said.

She also appealed to state citizens to see the government’s property as their own and protect them.

Earlier, the lawmaker who moved the motion, Sa’ad Olumoh (APC-Ajeromi/Ifeolodun I), urged the assembly to call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to expedite action on the project by awarding the contracts.

Mr Olumoh said this was to ensure that the street light project, as contained in the 2025 budget, was actualised.

He also urged the house to call on the governor to direct the commissioner for energy and mineral resources through the general manager of the electricity board to ensure that the street lights on the ground were up and running.

“This is because there are budgetary provisions for them in this year’s budget,” he said, stressing that local governments should also provide street lights within their respective areas.

Contributing, Stephen Ogundipe (APC-Oshodi/Isolo I) said street lights would curb the activities of vandals.

The majority leader, Temitope Adewale (APC-Ifako/Ijaiye I), said the essence of governance, as provided for in section 42b of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), was about the security and well-being of people.

Mr Adewale said most of the areas in the state did not have their street lights functioning, stating that this should be addressed to enhance security.

Other lawmakers supported the motion and called on the government to step up action on the light-up Lagos project. 

(NAN)