agos is witnessing all-round development, which Governor Akinwunmi Ambode spoke off at the weekend. In this piece, WALE AJETUNMOBI examines the projects already executed and those being executed.
Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode is opening up inner city roads in various parts of the Lagos metropolis. With this, new areas are being opened up and motorists are getting a better experience.
Speaking at a media chat on Sunday in Ikeja, Ambode also said the state government was taking the initiative to refurbish Federal roads and street lights in Lagos State, without necessarily asking for reimbursement from the Federal Government.
“Some of these roads pose problems to the people of Lagos and they do not make us to be globally competitive. So it is in our interest that the roads are upgraded,’’ he said.
The governor explained that his administration was also working on inner roads to link the ongoing flyover project at Abule-Egba.
He disclosed that a new road was being built to link the Meiran/AIT Road to the Lagos State University (LASU) and the Lagos-Badagry expressway.
The governor said the road was also being extended to enable motorists to link Sango-Ota without necessarily going on the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.
He said the state government was also making plans to upgrade a major road leading to the airport.
One only needs to go round the city to understand what the governor is talking about.
The governor’s footprints are everywhere. From Surulere to Festac town, Agege, Alimosho, Ikeja, Kosofe, Epe and more and more, Ambode is boldly written everywhere in the forms of projects. It matters not to him who voted for him or not. He obviously does not care about which area voted for him during the election or not. All that matters to him is the development of Lagos.
In 2016, he championed the construction of 114 roads in all the 57 local councils and LCDAs in the state simultaneously in six months. It was unprecedented in the history of the country. The development brought succor to residents through ease of vehicular movement. Man-hour lost to traffic grid-lock reduced greatly.
In Apapa Local Government, the projects handed over by the governor include nine roads within the Apapa Business District, such as ultra-modern Liverpool Jetty, 12 block of classrooms at Methodist Nursery and Primary School and 4 block of classrooms at Arakan Barracks Nursery and Primary School with standard facilities such as modern toilets, sick bay, furniture, ceiling fans, ramps to accommodate the physically challenged, among others.
The road inaugurated are Marine Road, Bombay Crescent, Randle Road, Ibikunle Akintoye Street, Commercial Road, Burma Road, Plateau Road, Zeek Avenue, Marine Road Extension and Connector Road; otherwise known as Bombay Crescent to Calcutta Road Phase III.The roads were designed to accommodate walkways, street light and drainage system.
In Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, some of the projects that are making the people happy are an Ultra-modern Court Complex and a 360-meters interlocking road with drainage situated in Aduke Street. In Ikorodu, an ultra-modern shopping complex at the popular Sabo Market, the Ota-Ona Dual Carriage Road as well as block of classrooms in Agbede, have won the hearts of the people of Ikorodu for the governor of all.
In Kosofe, the governor inaugurated road projects at Oladele, Shoyebi and Ademola Taiwo/Alamu Taiwo/Ogunsola streets.
In Ifako- Ijaye Local Government Area of the state, the governor last year inaugurated Oluwasijibomi, Folorunsho Streets and Iju Primary Health Care Center, Lonlo and in Alimosho Local Government Area, the governor commissioned the Mosan Okunola Mini Waterworks after over 20 years of being moribund.
In Osodi Isolo Local Government Area, the governor inaugurated the popular Brown Street, Okota Road in Isolo and a Police Post in Ejigbo Local Council Development Area of the State. Brown Street had been in dilapidated form for years. Other projects commissioned are the upgraded Okota Road and the commissioning of Ashamu Police Post in Ejigbo. In Ejigbo, the governor commissioned the rehabilitated Ashamu Police Post in Ailegun, Ejigbo and handed it over to the police.
In Ojo Local Government, Ambode last year commissioned the Usman Mogaji Road and the Data Capturing Centre.
In Amuwo Odofin Local Government, the governor last year handed over 10 passengers capacity fibre boats to Riverine Communities in Amuwo Odofin Local Government and Oriade Local Council Development Area in Ijegun Jetty to aid in conveying school teachers based in riverine areas.
In Epe, the governor commissioned include blocks of classroom at St. Theresa’s College, Oke-Oyingbo, a Town Hall at Ita-Opo, Epe and Regional Water Scheme, Otta-Ikosi, while in Eti-Osa, the 1.9km Unity/1st Avenue Osapa London Road in Eti-Osa Local Government and block of 16 classrooms with modern facilities at Kuramo Primary School in Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
In Shomolu Local Government, Ambode inaugurated a Primary Health Centre and Diagnosis Centre named after him and a 400metres road in Bariga Local Council Development Area. In Ibeju Lekki Local Government, Governor Ambode inaugurated the Origanrigan and Awoyaya PHC.
In the next sixth month, the governor is going to make another history. This time, he is not championing the construction of 114 roads, but 181. Already, the bids have been advertised in the dailies and the Ambode I know will deliver and deliver excellently well.
Epe is also witnessing massive make-over. From roads to the chalet and many more, Epe is wearing a new look. From whatever axis you enter the town from, whether Itoikin or Lekki-Epe Expressway, you are bound to have the feeling that something big is happening here and when you go into town proper, you are bound to give kudos to whom it is due.
Abule-Egba’s story is certainly being re-written. By the time the fly-over bridge being done in that axis is completed, this urban renewal initiative will certainly go down in history as truly radical. The massive work will see the area being transformed and the spiral effect on property prices can only be imagined.