BADAGRY/Nigeria: Chairman of Badagry West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Rauf Yemaren, has announced the appointment of 300 junior and senior special assistants, while highlighting a series of infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic empowerment initiatives undertaken by his administration within its first year in office.
Yemaren disclosed this on Friday, October 30, 2026, during a breakfast meeting with journalists at the council secretariat, themed Presenting Our Journey So Far, where he outlined his administration’s activities and future development priorities.
He said the appointments were designed to deepen grassroots participation, strengthen communication between the council and its communities, improve the implementation of government programmes and ensure that residents’ concerns received adequate attention.
However, the chairman cautioned the newly appointed aides against treating their positions as ceremonial titles, insisting that their responsibilities must translate into tangible benefits for the people.
“These positions come with responsibilities. They are not merely titles for personal recognition. Every appointee must understand the importance of discipline, loyalty, accountability, accessibility and service to the people,” Yemaren said.
He urged the appointees to work closely with the administration, respect established council structures and contribute meaningfully to the development of their respective communities.
“We are building a team that understands that public office is a responsibility and that every opportunity to serve must translate into value for the people,” he added.
Reviewing his administration’s performance, Yemaren identified road infrastructure as one of its major areas of intervention, disclosing that 60 inner roads had undergone grading and sand-filling across the five wards of the LCDA.
He explained that the interventions were intended to improve access to communities, ease transportation and facilitate commercial and social activities, particularly in areas where poor road conditions had affected movement.
On education, the chairman said his administration had completed the renovation of Methodist Primary School, Sawa, including the painting of its perimeter fence with educational and artistic illustrations to improve the learning environment.
He also disclosed that construction of a modern Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre at Ganyingbo Topa was nearing completion. The facility, designed to accommodate 504 candidates, is expected to provide improved examination infrastructure for students and other candidates within the area.
The administration, he added, had distributed educational materials, including exercise books, school bags and uniforms, across the eight public primary schools in the council as part of efforts to support pupils and ease the financial burden on parents.
Yemaren also highlighted his administration’s economic empowerment initiatives, noting that equipment had been provided to residents engaged in different vocational activities and small businesses.
The items distributed included motorcycles, grinding machines, deep freezers, sewing machines, plumbing tools, cobbler equipment and other materials intended to strengthen the capacity of beneficiaries to earn a living.
A major component of the empowerment programme, according to him, was the N100 million foodstuff business intervention through which 100 women were supported to improve their trading activities and economic independence.
He said the council had also sustained monthly financial assistance and special welfare interventions for persons with disabilities, stressing that the administration considered inclusion an important component of responsible governance.
In the health sector, the chairman listed interventions involving medical equipment, vaccination exercises, polio eradication campaigns and medical outreach programmes as part of efforts to improve healthcare awareness and access to essential services.
He said the council had also prioritised the welfare and protection of women and girls through initiatives addressing menstrual hygiene, domestic violence, sexual abuse and economic vulnerability.
Yemaren disclosed that, in collaboration with the Department of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the administration distributed more than 2,000 sanitary pads alongside other support materials to teenage girls to promote menstrual hygiene and awareness.
He added that the council had supported campaigns against sexual and domestic violence, encouraging residents to report abuse, seek assistance and defend the rights and dignity of women and children.
According to him, the administration would continue to support programmes that improve women’s economic opportunities, protect vulnerable girls and strengthen families.
While acknowledging that several projects and development needs remained outstanding, Yemaren assured residents that his administration would sustain its commitment to service delivery, accountability and the promise of renewed hope.
He also emphasised the importance of collaboration with traditional institutions, political leaders, community stakeholders, the media and residents in advancing the development of Badagry West.
The chairman said his administration remained committed to building a more prosperous LCDA through people-oriented policies, community participation and the effective implementation of development programmes.
The appointment of 300 assistants represents a significant expansion of the administration’s grassroots engagement structure, although the effectiveness of the arrangement will ultimately depend on how well the appointees discharge their responsibilities and contribute to measurable improvements in service delivery.
