The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the move by the State Government to raise N25 billion green bond was to boost the green economy of Lagos, saying that his government is committed in its resolve to reduce carbon emissions in the State.
The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to Government (SSG), Mrs. Folashade Jaji, made this declaration on the occasion of World Habitat Day held at Lagos Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja called on Lagosians to contribute their quota to ensuring a carbon emission free Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner of for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, said all the effort of the Ministry is geared towards making Lagos a 21st Century city of choice.
As he put it ‘’a sustainable smart city of choice’’, saying that in line with this that his Ministry has laid down action plans to launch the Lagos green building initiative before the end of the year.
The guest speaker at the event, Professor Taiba Lawanson praised Lagos for its achievements so far in the area of waste disposal and re-claimation, waste to wealth and efforts to reduce carbon emissions etc, but said more needs to be done for the State to be declared a success.
She noted that the army raised in the battle appears to be mainly from the poor class as the middle-class and the rich are yet to embrace the battle. Hence her call for change of attitude in the overall interest of the country.
For Dr Salawa Idowu who was among the discussants the battle to make Lagos green is still not won, disclosing that Lagos has about 6million automobiles and that 30% of Lagosians use kerosene to cook which emits carbon .He , therefore, posited that we need to encourage the use of BRT buses and rail transportation for mass movement and natural gas for cooking in order to whittle down automobile and stove emissions.
