Lagos to build 30,000 square metres World Class convention centre

Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday said his administration has begun the process of building a 30,000 square metres top class International Convention Centre that would boost trade and investments in the state.

Ambode speaking at the Lagos House, Ikeja where he received a delegation from the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), led by the President, Dr. Nike Akande, disclosed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct the centre had already been signed.

He said the Convention Centre, which would be constructed in the Victoria Island area of the State, upon completion, would be of international standard and would compete favourably with the best convention and exhibition centres across the world.

While emphasizing the importance oforganisationss such as the LCCI in growing the economy, Ambode commended the leadership of the organization for partnering with the State to develop the economy, especially in ensuring that businesses and investments continued to thrive.

He added that the LCCI remained a veritable instrument to reach out to investors and the private sector, assuring that his government would continue to partner with the organization in the best interest of the people.

“We will continue to be partners in progress and I believe strongly in improving on the ease of doing business and like we have always tried to reiterate, our administration is actually built on a tripod. First is security and we believe that if we are able to secure the lives and property of our people, we will create an atmosphere that we can actually now create job opportunities that we allow investors to come in and those local investors too.

“By so doing, we are creating jobs for our people and in creating that template and that platform, we believe strongly that our revenue will grow and in growing the revenue, we will now use it to provide infrastructure for our people and that is the platform upon which this administration is built,” he explained.

Earlier, Akande said her delegation was at the Lagos House on a courtesy visit to the Governor as part of activities to further improve on the relationship which had always existed between the State Government and the LCCI.

“We like to commend your administration for the tremendous achievements in the last one year and it is a reflection of the clarity of vision and focus. It also demonstrates an exemplary commitment to the ideals of service. Evidently, governance in Lagos State has gained momentum in the last one year despite the downturn in the economy.

“The Governor has not only sustained the good legacies of his predecessors but he has created a new development trajectory for Lagos State. Governor Ambode’s disposition is calm and amiable; his style is effective and his approach is inclusive, while his strategy is result-oriented,” Akande said.