Lagos State Government on Wednesday reiterated its commitment towards providing an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the State.
Oyerinde, responding to questions on a live programme on Lagos Television “Talk Time” today, added that stakeholders and business owners also have a role to play in achieving the desired goals of the State Government to transform the business districts and entire State to 21st century economy.
He sought the cooperation of stakeholders operating within the Lagos Island business district to curb environmental and traffic issues on the Island, noting that CBD is very germane and critical in achieving the T.H.E.M.E.S. Development Agenda of the State Government in the areas of traffic, clean and sustainable environment as well as providing intelligence information gathering to combat crime in the business districts.
The Special Adviser revealed that the aim of the present administration is to enshrine the best global standards of business transactions in the State’s Central Business Districts (CBDs) through strategic partnerships with stakeholders.
“The State Government has expended enormous resources and wherewithal on beautification, painting, rebranding, reconstruction and general uplifting of Lagos Island CBD axis to ensure that a serene and conducive environment is in place for businesses to thrive. We, therefore, call on stakeholders to cooperate with the State Government and see CBD as partners in progress”, Oyerinde said.
He recalled that the creation of the Central Business Districts by the former Governor emeritus, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in 2017, underscored the veritable business and investment potentials inherent in the CBDs and the need to address the challenges of maintenance of infrastructure within the business districts.
“Since the creation of CBD, the travel time within the Lagos Island Business District has drastically reduced through the removal of unnecessary impediments to free human and vehicular movement, security has been beefed-up as activities of hoodlums and miscreants have been reasonably curtailed and the aesthetic value of the environment has greatly improved”, the Special Adviser asserted.
He disclosed that CBD is collaborating with other agencies of government in ensuring proper harmonisation and synergy of all enforcement agencies operating within the Central Business District for effective management of the business activities in line with acceptable international standards.
While noting that iron barriers will be erected on some streets within the Lagos Island Business District to curtail the influx of traders into the walkways and roads to obstruct the flow of traffic in the axis, Oyerinde appealed to business owners operating within the business districts to obey rules and regulations in order to ensure that the set goals and objectives of the State Government are achieved.