Bola Tinubu: 5 Notable Achievement to Recall ahead of His Birthday

Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president-elect has played a key role in the nation’s political economy, including the merger of some opposition parties to form the ruling-party, All Progressive Congress (APC).

Tinubu is known for several significant accomplishments across decades. As he approaches his 71st birthday on the 29th of March, it is worth reflecting on some of his notable achievements.

Budget allocation on healthcare

Tinubu, during his tenure as a governor of Lagos State was able to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector from N1.6 billion in 1999 to N11.8 billion in 2006 which is over 1000 increase in a space of 7 years.

Nigeria has had a very limited scope of legal coverage for health insurance over the years with various health care reforms gradually evolving.

Tinubu was able to establish the Lagos State Action Committee on Aids (LSACA) which was able to suppress HIV prevalence from 6.7% to 3.5% during his leadership. The free malaria healthcare scheme which gives free malaria treatment to ages 12 years and below as well as adults of age 60 years and above was initiated under his reign.

Infrastructure plan

One of Bola Tinubu notable achievements was several built infrastructure during his tenure as governor of Lagos State. He understands that solid infrastructure provides an enabling environment for investors and entrepreneurs to thrive as well as its aid to job creation in the country.

In five years of his tenure, he completed about 308 out of the 422 road projects contracts. He also initiated the Lekki Free Trade Zone and the Eko Atlantic which can help boost the economy and solidify Lagos as a mega city. It has also solved some pressing drainage issues in the state.

New agricultural policy

Tinubu has always acknowledged the importance of agriculture as a path to ensure food security in Nigeria. The country has always faced several agricultural related problems such as climate change, lack of technology to boost production and so on.

During his tenure, Tinubu was able to distribute about N150 million worth of agricultural inputs to small and medium-scale farmers to boost food production in the country.

University strike

Lagos state injected N1 billion into the Lagos State University in 2006 under his regime, which was a bid to tackle the scourge in the educational system. He also helped to improve the quality of teaching through the introduction of a Unified Internal Education where N100 million was disbursed to in 2006.

Tinubu established one of the best colleges of medicine in Nigeria, the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), in 1989. Also, the establishment of LASU Information, Communication and Technology Centre (ICT), among others.

Decentralised police force

Tinubu saw the need to have a state security apparatus in Lagos State under his regime, and he intervened by massively supporting the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) which brought a new lease of life to Lagos State security.

He was able to understand that one of the keys to a successful policy in any government is security as it is a representation of the economic well-being of a government.

The RRS which is currently one of the best police units in the country was able to create a safe place for indigenes and residents due to Tinubu’s enormous support.