SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF AGEGE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ALHAJI HON. GANIYU KOLA EGUNJOBI (JP), ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF MKO ABIOLA MARKET ON MONDAY, JULY 7, 2025SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF AGEGE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ALHAJI HON. GANIYU KOLA EGUNJOBI (JP), ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF MKO ABIOLA MARKET ON MONDAY, JULY 7, 2025
Good morning.
Protocol
My distinguished colleagues in governance,
Our revered traditional rulers,
Leaders of thought, captains of industries, and community stakeholders,
Gentlemen of the press,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Weeks before I was first elected the Chairman of this council I granted an interview to a national newspaper during which I said: “I was going to put Agege on World Map.”
Have I? Well, it’s a figurative statement. It’s also not in my nature to sit in judgement over my own case.
Be that as it may, am convinced that my administration will be on the right side of history.
In the last eight years my administration embarked on 60 projects in total, some of which have been completed while some are ongoing with the view to complete them before my tenure ends on July 28, 2025.
Am not leaving Agege the way I met it in terms of infrastructure and human capital development.
Onibeju street, Alowonle Street, Ajibose Street, Elicana street,Ajakaiye Street, Arigidi/Sonaya Street, Adegbola Street, Adeliyi Street, Onilude Street, Raufu Alajo Street, Okanlawon Street, Ogunjobi Street, Old Union Street, Alagbigba Street, Onafuwa Street, Apostolic Street, Shodipe Street, Abolore street,Anuoluwapo Street, Oredapo Street, Ashafa Street, Mayaka Street, Sarumi Alawo Street, Akerele Street, Ashiata Street, Abeje Street, Ashaolu Street, Kosoko Street, Onibeju Street, and Fanimokun Street now wear new looks due to roads and drainages constructed by this administration.
Some of the streets now have as their feature: streetlights, also provided by this outgoing administration.
We constructed block of six classrooms at Dopemu Primary School, constructed block of six classrooms at Oduduwa Primary School, we renovated block of six classrooms at State Primary School, Iloro, we reconstructed creche and constructed nursing building(both at Maternity), and built an event centre at the council secretariat for public use.
We also constructed a storey building for office purpose at Ijaiye Road, built one of Nigeria’s best legislative buildings, and to the glory of God, we are the first and only local government in Nigeria to build a Computer-Based Test centre.
On my watch, the council constructed an e-library, constructed Ajegunle Primary Health Centre at Oluremi Street, and that of Awori and equipped them medically.
Additionally, in the health sector this administration procured three ambulances for medical emergency.
Moshalasi Alhaja
Market prior to this administration was more or less a regular crime scene, we changed the narrative.
The fact that this administration takes hygiene seriously made us to build public toilet in our markets.
Our passion for education propelled us further to construct block of classrooms at Apostolic Street.
You need to know that we have some projects ongoing, and among them: the rehabilitation of a portion of the road at Shiaba Street, another one at Olugboso Street, and Oluremi Street, the construction of road at Toyin Balogun, another at Alowonle Street, rehabilitation of the road at Lawal Street, rehabilitation of a road at Bolaji/Ogunjimi Street and another at Shodipo Street and Ijaiye Street.
In the spirit of preserving our historical fact, in respect of Oba Ogunji’s statue that was previously located at Pencinema until the bridge construction led to its removal, we are in the process of erecting another at the junction between Oba Ogunji and Ijaiye Roads, precisely at Odo-eran.
In our bid to improve the lots of our traditional leaders, from the Baales to the two Obas, we increased their salaries. As I speak, plan is underway to give Olu of Agege, Oba Kamila Isiba and Ologba of Ogba, Oba Lateef Egbeyemi, a car each before I leave office.
It is worth mentioning that during this my tenure, the council bought four shuttle buses for pupils of our public primary schools, and year in, year out, we have shared school uniforms, bags, writing materials to the pupils while maintaining regular provision of chairs and tables to the schools.
Over 8000 petty traders and artisans have received N100 000 each from us in our monthly financial support programme for struggling families, while 250 rehabilitated youths since EndSARS Protest have been on the council’s payroll, receiving N10,000 each.
Fifty other persons engaged under the council’s security outfit, Agege Crime Fighters, have also been receiving 50,000 each from the council.
The administration in line with its commitment to the welfare of Agege residents, by itself engaged over 300 non-pensionable staff and put them on salary of N30,000 each, monthly.
I will not leave without telling you that this administration initiated a plan to build a luxury estate at our annex office Maternity area.
A public-private partnership project, all papers relating to it have been signed and sealed. The direction of travel is for the incoming administration and the contractor to deliver the project.
Now to the business of the day – the official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the MKO Abiola Market.
A project also conceived under a Private-Public Partnership arrangement, is a partnership between the council and Urban Shelter and Truworth Ventures.
The state-of-the-art market will redefine commerce in Agege and Lagos as a whole.
Named in honour of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, a man who stood as a towering figure for democracy, resilience, and people-centered development, this market will not only stimulate local commerce, it will also immortalize a legacy that represents justice, equity, and economic empowerment.
Let me state clearly that this project is not just bricks and mortar; it is a platform for opportunities.
Opportunities for hundreds of traders and artisans to have access to modern stalls, and facilities while thousands of shoppers will benefit from the improved business ecosystem it would create.
Its impact on Agege, her residents and its economy, from the stage of construction to completion; and while in use will be nothing but positive.
In one aspect, it will create employment opportunities all through, and by that grow the economy of our dear community.
In another way, it will improve the ease of doing business in Agege, and beautify our landscape.
To our partners, Urban Shelter and Truworth Ventures, thank you for believing in our vision and investing in our people. Your expertise, passion, and professionalism give us confidence that what we begin today will stand the test of time.
To the good people of Agege, this market belongs to you. I urge you to take ownership, protect it, and use it to better your lives and those of your children.
On this note, I say a big thank you to the people of our dear community for the honour of electing me as the council’s executive chairman twice.
I have done my bit, and will not cease to discharge my responsibility until July 28, 2025 when my successor will take the baton of the council’s chairmanship from me.
This coming Saturday, Agege electorate have the opportunity to elect the new Executive Chairman of the council, i urge them to exercise this civic right wisely by mostly casting their votes for my party, the All Progressives Congress chairmanship candidate, and his running mate, Alhaji Tunde Azeez (Disco)and Abdul Ganiyu Vinod Obasa respectively; and all APC councillorship candidates across the seven wards.
In conclusion, I thank all stakeholders, the political class, community leaders, civil servants, traders’ associations, and our ever-supportive residents, for your unwavering trust and partnership.
May this groundbreaking mark the beginning of a new era of economic excellence in Agege.
Thank you, and God bless Agege Local Government.
God bless Lagos State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Alhaji Hon. Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi JP
Executive Chairman, Agege Local Government
July 7, 2025
