Engr. Olufemi Daramola, Special Adviser to the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure declared at the Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the first year of the second term in office of the Governor at at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Last week that 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 meters) that are currently ongoing in different parts of the State.
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, some of which are the 3.89km Ojota – Opebi Link Bridge and approach Roads, providing 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+ 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.”
He listed some of the ongoing roads to 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.
Engr. Daramola, stressed that the provisions of roads would further drive development and open up the host communities.
He stressed that Mr Sanwo-Olu, remains steadfast in his commitment to prioritising projects that will positively impact the well-being of Lagosians.
He also noted the tireless efforts and round-the-clock supervision of all projects across the state as part of the governor’s vision of making Lagos a Mega State through a consistent project development drive aimed at positioning the State as an economic destination with functional infrastructure.
Engineer Daramola, highlighted some of the projects ongoing to achieve such feats, which include the Lagos Lagoon Highway, the 7th Axial Road, the Construction of Taiwo Street, by China Town, Ojota, the construction of Shasha Link bridge [part of Union Road/ Shomorin/ Mortune Avenue/ Adama Dania/Mohammed/behind Airport Roads, Construction of Ayetoro/ Ashipa/ Parent’s Choice Ayobo-Igando Link Bridge/Alh. Shekoni Str, Construction of Ijegun-Ijeagemo Road to link LASU Iba Road.
Others are the construction of the Okota/Apapa-Oshodi Expressway Lord’s Chosen Road with link Bridge, the construction of the Awodi-Ora /Olodi road with link Bridge, Ajeromi and the Construction of the Amukoko/Ogbowankwo link road with Bridge, Ajeromi.
He also stated that since the inception of Governor SanwoOlu and Deputy Governor Obafemi Kadiri Hamzat, the Public Works Corporation has intervened on a total of 2,702 roads, covering approximately 431.32 km using an average carriageway width of 7.3m.
According to the Engr. Daramola, “This briefing represents an account of stewardship on some of the achievements of this administration as it relates to Infrastructure anchored by this Office in shaping our State’s infrastructural development and economic landscape.
“ I want to express my gratitude for the leadership of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, as they have shown a deep sense of commitment to the completion of all inherited projects and also embarked on new strategic projects that will stand the test of time despite the global economic downturn.
“Furthermore, this administration has continued to deliberately invest in infrastructure as a critical development driver of the State’s economy, and along the line providing hundreds of jobs for Lagosians as well as bringing immediate and impactful succour to commuters”, he stressed.
The Special Adviser pointed out that the Lagos State Ministry of Works and the Office of Infrastructure have the responsibility to plan and implement the State’s policies on works and infrastructure development to drive mandate and vision to be excellent in sustainable infrastructure development and service delivery, a position critical to the T.H.E.M.E.S.+ Agenda of the administration as it aligns with the First Pillar which is transportation and traffic management.
He described the completion of 172 roads translating to 177.93km and further execution of 253 projects which on completion will translate to 298.22km at the end of this administration as a tall stride that will give Lagosians true dividends of democracy.
Daramola said: “It is also important to note that we have completed 2.510Km bridge (2,510m) while 3.13km (3132 meters) is currently ongoing at different parts of the state.
“To appreciate the workings of the Ministry of works and office infrastructure, it’s essential to understand the Vision, Mission and Mandate that guide our actions, the work culture that defines our approach, and the core values that underpin our every endeavour.
“Our Vision, to be excellent in Sustainable Infrastructure Development and Service Delivery. Our mission Providing resilient public infrastructure and services for the benefit of the citizens. Our mandate to develop qualitative first-class infrastructure to support the State’s Growing Population as well as serve as the Critical Development Driver of the State’s vision of being Africa’s model megacity and global economic and financial hub.”
Daramola, revealed that all these projects are evenly and well spread across all the three senatorial divisions of Lagos State to ensure no part is left out adding that Lagosians will not regret the confidence reposed in this administration by 2027.
Daramola, thanked the media for their support and collaboration with the administration describing it as one which had bridged the information gaps with the public.
“The projects are distributed across the senatorial districts, divisions and local governments in the state as promised by Mr Sanwo-Olu to ensure no area of the State is left out.
Dr. Adekunle Olayinka, his counterpart manning the works arm of the Ministry, said 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, stressing that through the office of works, has deliberately continued to invest in building infrastructure as one of the platforms used for discharging the social contract signed with Lagosians.
“Our projects, we have continuously provided jobs for hundreds of our people and provided impactful economic succour to those living in the State”, he said.
As the office saddled with the statutory responsibility of developing, upgrading and continuously maintaining public buildings, “we have successfully constructed and maintained the commercial court, Tapa, Lagos Island, renovated the Lagos State Code of Conduct Bureau, Magistrates’ Court at Ikorodu, Ajegunle, Surulere, Yaba, Ajegunle, constructed Citizens’ Mediation Centre Offices, Alimosho, Renovation of Magistrates’ Court at Ebute-Metta, J.I.C. Taylor Magistrate Court, Igbosere, Lagos Island, Igando, Ogba and Ikeja Magistrates’ Courts.”
Adekunle stated also that the construction of a commercial court at Tapa Lagos Island, the construction of Judges and Magistrates’ Quarters, Epe are part of the projects completed in line with the policy to provide adequate and timely delivery of Justice to the citizenry.
According to him, the administration has been providing infrastructural support to the Nigeria Police Force in order to deepen the operational efficiency of the security apparatus and agencies that enforce law and order in the State.
“This has led to the construction of the Police Model Area Commands at Elemoro (Phase II) as well as the Police Model Station, Alausa”.
The Special Adviser also highlighted the importance the Sanwo-Olu administration placed on the restoration of public health infrastructure with the ongoing construction of a new Massey Street Children’s Hospital to cater to the steady and increasing large number of patients requiring paediatric services., established in 1914 as the First General Outpatient Clinic and Referral Centre in the State, and converted to a Pediatrics Hospital in 1961, can no longer cope with those who daily throng the hospital to access medical services.
“We are rebuilding, remodelling and repositioning the Children’s Hospital into a 7-storey, 150-bed, Modern and fit-for-purpose pediatric General Hospital offering secondary integrated care services for both inpatients and outpatients.
“The project when completed, will allow the State to provide excellent Medical Care to Children at over 37% completion”.
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