FASHOLA ADVOCATES CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AS PANACEA TO MALARIA

…As JCI visits, decorates Governor as Life Patron for sterling leadership
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola , SAN on Monday called on citizens to always maintain a clean environment as a way to prevent the scourge of malaria in thesociety.
The Governor who received members of the Junior Chambers International who paid him a Courtesy visit as part of events to usher in their 30th anniversary, noted that a clean environment would prevent mosquitoes from breeding and in effect stop the spread of malaria fever.
He explained that since mosquitoes thrive well in stagnant water, the easiest way to prevent malaria is to get rid of such stagnant water by always maintaining the drains and clearing gutters to allow water to run freely in them.
Fashola called for a rethink of the strategy of distributing mosquito nets, stressing that rather than the nation buying more mosquito nets or producing more anti malaria drugs, thought should be given to and action be taken towards eradicating malaria parasites outright.
He maintained that there was no basis for the existence of stagnant water anywhere in the country when it is fully known that same serve as a breeding ground for larvae of mosquitoes, reminding that there is always a consequence for every action taken by people at any point in time.
He informed that the present administration in Lagos has decided to embark upon indoor spraying to reduce the incidence of spread of mosquitoes adding that the measure has proved very impactful.
On prison congestion, Governor Fashola sought to know when new prisons were last built as the country is still majorly dependent on prisons built by the colonial masters, adding that Lagos was looking at how to build bigger prisons with larger capacities that would also serve as centres for reformation, rehabilitation and human development.
“People should be better off after a prison experience than worse off. So one of the things we are looking at is a school. An opportunity where while you are serving a custodial sentence, you can work earn income, save part of it, so that when you finish, you have a chance to have some money saved aside, hoping that you have learnt your lessons and get back to life. At least, for many of those non serious offences”, he explained.
He explained that Lagos is already promoting laws on non- custodial sentences for some offences like traffic offences where people who have run foul of the law engage in community services.
While acknowledging the pioneering role played by Jaycees Club in the tree planting campaign in Lagos State, the Governor said the present administration has also planted more trees and seen to their sustenance.
Speaking against the backdrop of his conferment with the life patronship of the JCI, he reiterated that the highest honour that anyone could get is the privilege to serve his community.
According to him, the various awards are just symbols of honour but the real honour lies in being given an opportunity to serve, saying it has never formed part of the campaign manifesto of any leader to come into office to receive awards or be recognized.
Governor Fashola said part of the credit for the successful containment of the Ebola Virus Disease in Lagos should also go to members of the JCI who constitute part of the 21 million residents of Lagos who cooperated with the State preventing the disease from assuming epidemic proportion.
He maintained that the success was achieved with the heroic disposition of the health workers in the State who confronted the disease headlong and that the same should apply when there is crime and the service of heroic Policemen would be needed.
He noted that when a nation is facing challenges like Nigeria is doing, it ought to draw from the heroic ideals of youths like the JCI members to continue to propagate ideas of the common good.
He said between 1960 and now, the resources of the nation has grown while the most important resource which is the people has also multiplied, maintaining that if anything is wrong with the country, then it is about the people and their attitude.
Fashola described JCI and similar clubs as being responsible for building the life and minds of people while preparing them for the challenges of a more complex life in later years.
Speaking earlier, the Local Organization President, Junior Chamber International, Tanimomo Gamaliel acknowledged the role of Governor Fashola in redefining leadership through his immense contribution in Lagos State and placing Nigeria on the world map.
He said the club in recognition of the sterling qualities of the Governor has decided to confer the life patronship of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) on him and also intimate him with plans to institute an annual Babatunde Raji Fashola Colloquium.
Mr Gamaliel said the JCI has pioneered many developments across several sectors in the State including the tree planting campaign exercise in 1984, the Prison reform project in 1988 and several community based projects and initiatives.
He stated that the club which is a non partisan, non political association is keen on partnering with the Lagos State Government in the field of community development.
The Governor who had earlier been decorated with the JCI life patron badge was supported during the courtesy visit by members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba, Special Adviser on Youth and Social Development, Dr Dolapo Badru, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr (Mrs) Ranti Adebule, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs Sola Oworu while the outgoing JCI President was accompanied by the new President, Mr Ademola Alade amongst other members.