Given the height of works in all sectors in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, the perception of a few pessimists when Engineer Valentine Buraimoh emerged as Executive Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, was “Can anything good come out of Israel?” They cited Dr. Buraimoh’s gentle mien, which they believed did not fit into the mould of a performer.
The Mayor, as he is fondly called by his numerous admirers, has been working round the clock in several sectors. He also initiated new policies to raise the ante in the development of the local government and redefine grass-roots governance since he took oath of office on July 22, 2017.
Immediately he assumed duties, he hit the ground running by embarking on a lot of policy reforms and within the first year in office, he has brought finesse, dynamism and purpose to governance in grass roots.
Dr. Valentine Buraimoh a recipient of the prestigious Lagos Panorama SDG Grassroots Award, recently in a media chat while giving an account of his stewardship to commemorate the third year anniversary in office unveiled his plan to inject more funds into the health sector in post-COVID-19 period in the local government.
According to the council boss, “Unexpectedly, the pandemic struck. The year of the Mask evolved because Lagos State became an epicentre, lockdown was inevitable “.
“The pandemic took the world by surprise, we never envisaged it but we quickly swung into action by making sure we started with safety procedures. We accommodated Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, doctors posted to Amuwo and health workers because of lockdown. It has gone a long way in reducing drastically the positive cases in the area”.
“We have to improve on our health facilities now, we are going to spend more on the health sector in the post-COVID-19 era”.
“We have to provide more first-aid boxes in schools, expand various activities in our health facilities in Abule Ado, Mile-2, Festac Town and build more ultra-modern Primary Health Centres.
On strategic step taken by his administration to cushion the effect of the pandemic, Buraimoh said, “The administration immediately refocused its lenses, thus, making the welfare of the masses a priority”.
“We commenced an aggressive advocacy of safety procedures across the councils, also led sensitization drives to markets, motor parks, fliers, among others”.
“We distributed food relief palliatives through community leaders who could easily identify those in their various communities that fall within the scope of the targeted beneficiaries”.
”Procured operational vehicles, a mini-bus for contact tracing for health workers, SUV for Nigerian Police, Area E Division domiciled in the council, the year of the mask has been quite challenging, yet our resilient conviction. “In spite of all this, the administration did not collapse. The administration continued to run the initial proposed consolidation agenda”.
“Reconstruction of sectional portion of the 4th avenue, 31 road, and shopping centre/mama Jay with interlock stones were carried out”. Ongoing reconstruction road include the 5th avenue road and underground drainage”.
“Construction of a new area office in Abule Ado was completed. Primary school blocks were renovated in Abule-Ado and Festac town respectively”.
“Under the leadership of this administration, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government is committed to pursuing the mandate of a greater Lagos by engaging the THEMES agenda for the development of Lagos and would be ready to serve the local government for another one more term.”
Little wonder then, the administration of Engr. Valentine Buraimoh has increased the tempo of socio- economic and infrastructural developments in Amuwo Odofin Local Government.