Sanwo-Olu’s Govt Delivers 178km Roads, 2.6km Bridges In Last One Year 

By BENJAMIN OMOIKE

LAGOS, Nigeria – As part of efforts toward developing first-class infrastructure to support the State’s growing population, the Lagos State Government has completed and commissioned 172 roads translating to 177.93 kilometres as it increased the pace of work on 253 other projects, totalling 298.22 kilometres of roads, 2.510 kilometre of bridge (2,510 metre) and 3.13km (3132 metres) that are currently ongoing in different parts of the State.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Engr. Olufemi Daramola, made this known today at the Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the first year of the second term in office of the administration of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Mr. Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

Daramola, who expressed delight at some of the transformative infrastructural projects underway in Lagos, said these reflect the administration’s commitment to progress and development, noting that some of the projects are the 3.89km Ojota – Opebi Link Bridge and Approach Roads to provide a direct route between Opebi, Mende, Maryland, and Ojota; Abiola-Onijemo link road with bridge, a 643m length of road and 135m length of the bridge section that traverses a swampy terrain to serve as a strategic link from College Road, through Ajayi Street, Ogba to Aruna/Obawole/Iju-Ishaga in Ifako-Ijaiye.

He said: “Infrastructural development remains a critical development vehicle for realising the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda and the Greater Lagos vision of Africa’s model smart city, hence the delivery of new road projects, massive upgrading and rehabilitation of existing roads and construction of new bridges that have brought succour to the people and helped in delivering dividend of democracy to the citizenry”.

“Other ongoing road projects include Babafemi Dada with Bridge-Yinka Folarin-Jamiu Lawal-Shalom Academy Road Network in Alimosho Local Government Area – a 1.57Km semi-rigid pavement road with 250m long Deck on Pile (DOP) that replaces the former wooden bridge (Idowu Egba Bridge) and will provide a shorter route for motorists connecting LASU-IBA road (Idowu Egba bus stop) with Candos road (Academy bus stop) in Baruwa community;

“Upgrading of Old Ojo road, Amuwo Odofin into a dual carriageway with a total length of 7km running parallel to Lagos Badagry Expressway from Irede Junction to Maza Maza, being executed as Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) in two phases to serve as a strategic bypass to the Lagos-Badagry Expressway for motorists from Ajeromi-Ifelodun through Kirikiri town, linking Ojo Local Government via Irede Road (Abule Oshun); and Eti-Osa – Lekki – Epe Expressway, which traverses Abraham Adesanya Intersection to Epe T-Junction with a total length of 47.88 Km,” he added.

Engr. Daramola stressed that the provisions of roads would further drive development and open up the host communities, just as he assured that all ongoing projects would be completed before the expiration of the tenure of the administration.

The State Government has also vowed to deliver on some of its iconic projects such as the 150-bed New Massey Street Children’s Hospital, Lagos and the 280-bed General Hospital, Ojo.

Also highlighted are rebuilding, remodelling and repositioning the Massey Street Children’s Hospital, into a 7-storey, 150-bed, Modern and fit-for-purpose pediatric General Hospital; the construction of Kosofe and Ijede Fire Stations; the Students’ Union Arcade Ojo Campus; the construction of the Faculty of  Management Sciences Complex  Phase 1, the Construction of the Central  Library Phase 2A, the renovation of the Nigerian Law School Hostel, Lagos Campus and the remodelling of the University of Lagos Main Gate.

He also listed the construction of the Central Library, the Faculty of Management Sciences Complex, the construction of LASU Business School and some projects at LASUSTECH, Ikorodu Campus; the Multi-Agency Office Complex, Alausa, Ikeja; and the redevelopment of J.K Randle Centre For Yoruba Culture And History, Onikan, Lagos and the Multi-storey Car Park, Onikan among others which are at various stages of completion.

Daramola also highlighted the completion works for Urban Regeneration Projects including Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi; Renovation of Iga Iduganran Official Residence and Palace of  Oba of Lagos; Renovation of Buildings in the Premises of the Lagos House, Marina; Construction of 11- Floors Luxury Apartment Building Isale-Gangan; Construction of Prototype Oba’s Palace, Badagry as well as the completion of 52 Bedroom Hotel and Upgrading of VIP Chalets, Badagry.

According to the Special Adviser, the Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA) has implemented several projects to improve and maintain public infrastructure assets, creating employment and opportunities for small/medium-scale businesses to thrive.

He, however, called for the strategic participation of the private sector, noting that notwithstanding the building of infrastructures by the Government, the present administration is convinced that the future of any meaningful infrastructure delivery should be private-sector driven with the government strengthening the operational environment and legal framework for Private Sector Participation.

Charging the Organised Private Sector to leverage the endless opportunities of the strategic position of Lagos as one of the fastest growing economies in the world to be solution providers, the Special Adviser stated that Lagos is open to collaboration with interested investors to support the ongoing efforts of this administration to effect key reforms in transportation, environment, public infrastructure and tourism sectors to further put the State on a sound footing for economic growth and development.