All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has allayed the anxiety being nurtured by residents of Lekki-Epe axis, over the imminent gridlock expected from the operations of Dangote Refinery at the corridor.
To relieve the residents of the burden of gridlock, Sanwo-Olu said his campaign team had started discussions with Dangote Group and other developers in the area on the need for partnership in constructing a dedicated carriageway for the trucks, which would open to Ogun State.
The APC candidate made the disclosure at Yaba, last Wednesday, during his consultative meeting with members of Favourites Club of Nigeria. Sanwo-Olu was accompanied to the event by his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat.
The refinery project, which is said to be nearing completion, is located in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State. After completion, the residents fear there would be more pressure on the Lekki-Epe Expressway due to the looming influx of heavy-duty trucks to the area, which may compound the traffic situation.
But, Sanwo-Olu said his administration would immediately respond to the apprehension, if elected, stressing that there would be alternative route for the oil tankers and trucks that would ply the site of the refinery. He promised that commuters on Lekki-Epe Expressway will not be affected by the refinery’s activities.
He said: “We’ve been hearing people saying Lekki-Epe Expressway would be impassable when the Dangote Refinery starts operation. We are not going to deny that there would be pressure on this important highway. But, we’ve started to respond to this anxiety, and we are already in talks with Dangote Group and developers around the axis to create a new dedicated highway for the trucks that would be plying the route.”
Meanwhile, about 34 political parties have endorsed the re-election of Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) into the Senate during the grand finale of his campaign in Alimosho Local Government Area, where some candidates also stepped down for him.
Making the open declaration on behalf of other candidates and political parties that included Alliance for Democracy (AD) and People’s Progressives Alliance (PPA) at Abesan Mini Stadium, in Alimosho, during Adeola stakeholder’s meeting, Samuel Akinyemi Gabriel, the Lagos West senatorial candidate of the People’s Progressives Party of Nigeria (PPN), who was accompanied by many party leaders, said he stepped down his candidacy in favour of Senator Adeola in Saturday’s election because he likes his (Adeola) style of politics.
“I’m a lover of progressive politics and good governance. We are progressives in our party, too. I also testify to the progressive politics of Senator Adeola over the years. I’m actually a fan of his in the political arena. So, I’m stepping down for him alongside other candidates and 34 political parties, some of whom don’t have candidates. It is a joint decision after considering the major parties and candidates. Adeola is the best choice for Lagos West,” he said.
On his part, Adeola commended the candidates and political parties for acknowledging that he has done his best in effective representation and good governance as a legislator over the years.
He said he will improve on what he has done in the past and fulfil all pledges made during campaign.
“I am in my home base here in Alimosho. I was elected for two terms as a state legislator for Alimosho State Constituency 2. I was elected as House of Representatives member for the Alimosho Federal Constituency and as senator for Lagos West. In all, Alimosho have stood by me with their massive votes and I promise to continue to do that which has earned me their confidence as a representative,” he said.
He urged Alimosho electorate to continue to vote for the progressives as they had done since 1999, stressing that People’s Democratic Party and its candidates must not be allowed to come back to power to continue the looting and mis-governance of their 16 years rule.