•Says $1.65bn Lekki seaport ready in 2019
By Oluwole Farotimi
Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) to immediately embark on extensive repair on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in order to improve driving experience of motorists in the area.
General Manager and Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Works, Ayotunde Sodeinde, told newsmen yesterday that the corporation has already mobilised workers to commence work immediately on several sections of the road.
“Immediately Governor Ambode gave us the directive, we moved into the area to commence extensive work on the roads. We have been here since Tuesday and work has commenced in earnest,” he said.
He said the repair works will include covering all potholes on the road while the drainage systems would also be cleared.
Sodeinde listed the roads earmarked for repairs to include Iyana Ishasi – Ribamu Bus Stop (both sides), Ketu Bus Stop – Cele Nica, FGC Ijanikan – Iyana Era, ACOED Pedestrian Bridge – Alafia Bus Stop, Former Toll Gate – Ibiye/Morogbo and Pure Water Bus Stop – Magbon (both sides).
Other roads expected to get a facelift include, Ile-Epo Bus Stop – Oko Afo Outward Badagry, Mowo Bus Stop – Elijah Araromi Bridge (both sides), Limca Bus Stop – Mosafejo (both sides), French Village – Low Cost Housing Scheme and Ibereko (both sides). Sodeinde said the repair works on the Lagos Badagry-Expressway was in line with the mandate of the present administration to ensure zero tolerance against potholes.
He expressed optimism that when rehabilitation works are completed, it will, to a large extent, reduce traffic congestion in those areas.
“The governor has said it times without number that he wants all the roads in Lagos to be motorable and free of potholes.
He wants the hard life that Lagosians are going through to be alleviated. He cannot stand Lagosians going through hardship due to bad roads.
Meanwhile, the state government, yesterday, cancelled routine restriction of vehicles and people on environmental sanitation days saying it does not conform with the megacity status of the state.
Speaking at the monthly press conference at his Alausa-Ikeja office, Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare said Lagos, has become a mega city that can no longer afford to restrict its people at home again.
Adejare said Lagos, as the fifth biggest economy in Africa should function round the clock and added that the government cannot afford to shut down the state.
In a related development, Ambode, yesterday, said the Lekki seaport will be completed in 2019.
Ambode, who spoke in Lagos at the formal unveiling of the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, otherwise known as Lagos Global, said efforts put in place so far have ensured that the state remained the desired business having attracted massive Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) such as the $1.65 billion Lekki Deep Seaport.
He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello and assured that the seaport would be completed in 2019 and upon completion will be the deepest seaport in Sub-Saharan Africa, adding that the Badagry Creek Industrial Park, a $1.3billion investment meant for completion in 2018 and the $12 billion Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Park were among other investments coming to the state.