3rd November, 2016
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday disclosed that the government is about striking a deal with a concessionaire to complete the final phase of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway from Okokomaiko to Seme Border.
The decision to concession part of the road to a concessionaire was due to paucity of fund. Ambode had recently said that the government was constraint by fund to carry on with the entire project.
Ambode disclosed this while on a tour of ongoing projects across Lagos. The governor said discussions were at advanced stage to handover part of the road to a concessionaire.
He said government would now be able to complete the project to Okokomaiko and handover the rest to a concessionaire that would take it up to Seme Border.
“Last week, I was outside the country urging APM terminal to commence Badagry Deep Sea port which will attract $2.6 billion to Badagry axis of Lagos.
“On the part of the government, this project must be accelerated and completed on schedule, even though the contract had been awarded to Okokomaiko. We are almost at financial close to give Okokomaiko to Seme border section of the road to concessionaire that will help push the project.
“We believe strongly that the contractors have done a lot of good jobs. We have given them the right of way and we feel strongly that the one that has been awarded should be completed on schedule,” he disclosed.
Ambode said he was committed to the project and economic expansion of the eastern part of Lagos, saying that the surest way to go was to complete the project “because the completion of this project will expand the real estate value and tourism potential in Badagry axis of the state. I am confident that we should have completed the project before the end of 2019.”
While inspecting the stretch of link road from Agbelekale, off Ekoro Road to Abesan Estate via Church Street, Giwa and Aboru, Ambode expressed satisfaction with the progress of the project so far, but charged the contractor and supervisors to ensure the delivery of the project within the first quarter of 2017.
The governor, who was received amidst fanfare by residents who displayed placard of various inscriptions commending him for the project, said the bridge being constructed as part of the project had to be extended from 240 meters to 360 meters due to the nature of soil in the area.
“Just about five months ago, we were here to see the progress of this project. This road is designed to connect all the people living in the Aboru area to Iyana-Ipaja and also to the LASU-Iba road and all the people living within the Ajasa Community. You will recall also that just about three months ago, we were here to open up the Ajasa Command road and this is another project to complement the opening up of the Alimosho community.
“Like the contractor has promised, we hope to finish this project by the end of January next year. We have also found out that we need to extend this bridge by an additional 120 meters because of the nature of the soil in this area. I had earlier promised that this project would be delivered by the end of this year but I’m pleased with the progress being made on this project.
“I want to urge the contractors and the supervisors to ensure that we meet the completion date and that within the first quarter of next year, all the people in Alimosho will enjoy this facility,” he said.
At Irede area of Oriade Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Ambode was briefed by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Ganiyu Johnson and that of Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal who narrated the inter-ministerial work being planned for the axis.
Lawal said a 30 hectare of land at Ado Trade Fair had already been designated for a 500 housing unit which would be constructed in partnership with the private sector.
He explained that the project would open up the area for economic activities and real estate, adding that it would complement the 13 stations of the Blue line rrail project and 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Express road.
In his response, Ambode expressed displeasure with the state of Irede Road, assuring that work would start on the road within the next four weeks.
“It is very clear that this Irede road is in a very deplorable condition. I have come personally to see it and I have received complaints from people of this community. I also see that the economic value that we stand to benefit from upgrading this road is unquantifiable.
“Beyond the fact that we will open up the road to the Lagos Badagry Expressway, we also intend to expand our housing policy and the rent-to-own scheme to this neighbourhood. So, I like to just clearly state that work would commence on Irede Road within the next four weeks,” he said.