Babatunde Fashola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Babatunde Fashola
CON SAN
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Fashola delivering a speech in June 2010
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| Minister of Works and Housing | |
| In office 21 August 2019 – 29 May 2023 |
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| President | Muhammadu Buhari |
| Minister of State |
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| Preceded by | Himself (as Minister of Power, Works and Housing) |
| Succeeded by | Dave Umahi (as Minister of Works) Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (as Minister of Housing) |
| Minister of Power, Works and Housing | |
| In office 11 November 2015 – 28 May 2019 |
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| President | Muhammadu Buhari |
| Minister of State | Mustapha Baba Shehuri Suleiman Hassan Zarma |
| Preceded by | Osita Nebo (as Minister of Power) Mike Onolememen (as Minister of Works) Akon Eyakenyi (as Minister of Housing) |
| Succeeded by | Saleh Mamman (as Minister of Power) Himself (as Minister of Works and Housing) |
| 13th Governor of Lagos State | |
| In office 29 May 2007 – 29 May 2015 |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Bola Tinubu |
| Succeeded by | Akinwunmi Ambode |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Babatunde Raji Fashola
28 June 1963 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Political party | All Progressives Congress (2013–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Action Congress of Nigeria (before 2013) |
| Spouse | Abimbola Fashola |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation |
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Babatunde Raji Fashola (born 28 June 1963) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician. He served as a federal minister in Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. Before that, he was the governor of Lagos State for two terms, from 2007 to 2015. He is known for his work in improving roads, power, and housing in Nigeria.
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Early Life and Family
Babatunde Fashola was born on 28 June 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria. His father, Ademola Fashola, was a journalist. His mother, Olufunke Agunbiade, was a nurse. He grew up with 12 brothers and sisters.
Legal Career
Babatunde Fashola became a lawyer in November 1988. He trained at the Nigerian Law School in Lagos. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), which is a special title for experienced lawyers.
Legal Achievements
Fashola has received many awards for his legal work. He was honored by the University of Benin Alumni Association. He also received an award from the Lagos State public service club. He is a member of several important legal groups, including the Nigerian Bar Association. He was the first Chief of Staff to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. In 2022, he received a national honor called Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) from President Muhammadu Buhari.
Political Journey
Fashola started his political career as the Chief of Staff for the previous Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu. He was the first person to hold this role and also be the Commissioner to the Governor's office at the same time.
Key Roles in Lagos State
Before becoming governor, Fashola held several important positions in Lagos State:
- Secretary of the Lands Sub-Committee in 1999.
- Member of the State Tenders Board from 2002 to 2006.
- Member of the Lagos State Executive Council from 2002 to 2006.
- Member of the State Security Council from 2002 to 2006.
Governor of Lagos State
Babatunde Fashola became the Governor of Lagos State on 14 April 2007. He was re-elected for a second term in 2011. As governor, he focused on making Lagos a better place to live.
Improving Lagos's Infrastructure
Fashola worked hard to fix and improve Lagos's buildings and roads. These had been neglected for many years. He worked with both private companies and the government to make these changes happen.
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
He introduced modern, air-conditioned city buses called BRT buses. Special lanes were built just for these buses to help people travel faster.
Lagos Light Rail
Fashola started building the Lagos Light Rail, which is a train system for people to get around the city. The first two lines are expected to be finished soon.
Better Highways
When he became governor, Fashola began a big project to fix the main roads in Lagos. Many roads were redesigned and painted. New roads and bridges were built. Old footbridges were replaced with new, modern ones.
Focus on Education
The Fashola government paid a lot of attention to schools. They built new classrooms and gave out free textbooks. They also provided well-equipped workshops and libraries. Buses were provided for teachers and students to help with transport. They also improved teachers' salaries.
Rural Development
Fashola's government also worked to improve rural areas. They completed over 110 projects to provide clean water and sanitation. They also built modern markets and access roads to connect villages. Over 165 projects were completed to bring electricity to rural areas.
Land Reclamation
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Fashola oversaw projects to create new land from the sea. This was important for city planning. Examples include Banana Island and Eko Atlantic City. Eko Atlantic City is a new city being built on reclaimed land. It will have modern facilities like sewers and its own electricity.
City Beautification
To make Lagos more beautiful, Fashola helped create new gardens and placed statues in public spaces. He worked with artists to add artworks like the Eyo Masquerade statue.
Public Safety
Fashola's government worked to make Lagos safer. They changed areas that used to be hiding spots for criminals into nice environments. He also set up the Lagos State Security Trust Fund to help pay for the state's security needs. In 2007, he appointed former Inspector General of Police Musiliu Smith to lead the Lagos State Security Council.
Helping Haiti
After a big earthquake hit Haiti in 2010, Babatunde Fashola launched an effort to raise money. They aimed to collect one million US dollars to help the earthquake victims.
Water Safety Rules
In May 2014, Fashola made it compulsory to wear life jackets on Lagos waterways. This rule was put in place after a sad accident in 2012 where ten children drowned because they were not wearing life jackets.
Eateries Tax
A new tax was introduced for eateries. This was taken to court, but the government won the case.
Fighting Ebola
One of Fashola's biggest achievements as governor was helping Nigeria become free of Ebola in September 2014. When the virus first came to Nigeria through Lagos airport, he quickly took charge. He cut short a trip and set up an emergency center. A team of 2,000 officials was trained to track down and monitor about 1,000 people who might have been infected. He visited the treatment center to show people not to panic.
Ministerial Roles
After being governor, Fashola was appointed as a federal minister by President Muhammadu Buhari.
- From 2015 to 2019, he was the Minister of Power, Works, and Housing.
- From 2019 to 2023, he served as the Minister of Works and Housing.
Major Projects as Minister
As a minister, Fashola oversaw the completion of several important projects:
- The "Second Niger Bridge" at Onitsha, which had been planned for a long time.
- The renovation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, a major road connecting two big cities.
- The completed motorway between Lagos and Oworonshoki.
- The repair of the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge.
- The completion of the motorway between the capital, Abuja, and Kano.
He mentioned that his ministry signed 800 road contracts. About 13,000 km of roads are being fixed, and 37 bridges are being built.
Evaluation
People from different political parties often respect Fashola for his knowledge and skills.
Personal Life
Babatunde Fashola is married to Abimbola Fashola. They have two children.
Legacy
A railway station in the Agege area of Lagos is named after Babatunde Fashola.
See also
In Spanish: Babatunde Fashola para niños
- Timeline of Lagos, 2000s–present
- List of governors of Lagos State
- List of Yoruba people
