Oloyede Almaroof: How I Plan To Transform Oshodi Completely, Boost Trading
Otunba Oloyede Almaroof Kehinde Adeola popularly called Kendoo, the newly sworn-in Chairman of Oshodi Local Government has unveiled his plans to transform Oshodi and its environs within a short while and consolidate on the ongoing face-lift of the commercial hub.
Hon Oloyede said he will not disappoint the electorates for giving him their trust and mandate, and voting en mass for him during the just concluded Lagos State 57 Local Government (LG) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) elections.
Speaking with THECONSCIENCEng after casting his votes on Saturday July 24 and during his swearing-in ceremony by Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu at the Lagos State House, Alausa on Tuesday July 27, the highly respected businessman and politician said he will hit the ground running to bring massive development to the commercial town of Oshodi and its environs.
Oloyede Almaroof said as an experienced businessman he will bring that to bear to ease trading, reduce cost of shops, provide infrastructure, provide security, empower area boys and make life easier for residents with the support of other agents of the government.
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“I feel very happy and blessed for the mandate. Moving forward we are concentrating on the people to bring the dividends of democracy to them. People should not lose interest in government as we will bring in development to the people.
“From schools, malls, environment, roads, security and health. We will hit the ground running. I have been in the system for a while and I understand how to handle the processes and workings of government to ensure good results for the electorates.
“As a businessman with my modest achievements, I want to bring in innovation into governance; transform the community that raised me into what i am today and change the face of governance.
Speaking further, the new Chairman said: “The current administration has tried but we can do more. We will start with fixing inner roads and roads linking to state roads; boosting trading and health. As an hypertensive patient I want to create diabetic centre, cardiac centre and mother and child centre within two years so that people can access these health facilities here. Then our schools especially the primary schools are in bad shape. We will provide toilet, water, laptop and Internet to schools.
Otunba Oloyede Almaroof added that, “My kids enjoy learning more because of access to internet. So my coaching to them is extra. The Internet has empowered them to learn on their own and get information. I want an average Oshodi pupil to access internet to make learning fun. We want to provide laptops for primary schools.
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“Look at the airport road and transport terminals, We will compliment that through rebranding. We will get the boys off the streets with empowerment and getting them soft loans, vocational skills and helping them to set up. That will remove hooliganism, street fights and violence.
Speaking on ease of trading in Oshodi, Otunba Oloyede Almaroof remarked: “You just spoke my mind. I said this to my people. As a property developer, I have gone around and discover that to have a standard shop, You will need about N25/30million for 5 years which is rather high.
“My plan is to engage the local hands at the council to build affordable shops instead of outsourcing. I will empower the council appropriate departments and people to do that. I have spoken to an expert in a first generation bank, we will also partner them to create a microfinance bank that will grant very low interest rate loans with incentive. Once you repay, you get 3 times higher than previous loans. You collect N300,000 loan and repay and we give you N900,000. That will encourage people to comply.
Talking about his plans for Security, Otunba Oloyede said, “If anything criminal happens around Oshodi it’s always called Oshodi.But we are ready to face the challenges. I have spoken to some security personnel around and will push that forward, we will equip security personnel with cars, gadgets, hilux. It’s not so expensive. It only takes determination and will. And we will do that.
