The first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Chief Lateef Jakande has passed away in the early hours of Thursday at age 91.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu confirmed the death saying, “With gratitude to God for a worthy life well spent in the service of Lagos State, Nigeria and humanity, I announce the death of a venerable statesman, outstanding politician, public administrator and the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Twitter.
Alhaji Lateef Jakande was a former journalist who became governor of Lagos State in Nigeria from 1979 to 1983, and later was Minister of Works under the Sani Abacha military regime.
The administration of Lateef Kayode Jakande as the first civilian governor of Lagos state lingers in the memory of many Nigerians, especially Lagosians who witnessed the period. His achievements have remained a benchmark for governance, not only in Lagos but in Nigeria.
During his tenure as governor, he introduced housing and educational programs targeting the poor, building new neighbourhood primary and secondary schools and providing free primary and secondary education. He established the Lagos State University (LASU). Jakande’s government constructed over 30,000 low-cost housing units in Ijaiye, Dolphin, Oke-Afa, Ije, Abesan, Iponri, Ipaja, Abule Nla, Epe, Amuwo-Odofin, Anikantamo, Surulere, Iba, Ikorodu, Badagry, Isheri/Olowu, Orisigun etc.
His government built the current Lagos State Secretariat which houses all the state ministries as well as the popular round house hitherto occupied by all subsequent governors of the state and established the Water Management Board and Waste Disposal Board in August of 1980.
Jakande’s death comes just about a month after a former Military Governor of Lagos, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu also died.
