Dipo Olowookere
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Sunday directed that contractors must begin massive rehabilitation work on critical roads and highways across the state from Monday, October 14, 2019.
The Governor, who declared a state of emergency on the various dilapidated highways and carriage roads within the metropolis, said eight engineering firms have been instructed to immediately mobilise to the respective sites and commence major construction work on the identified roads.
He gave this directive after series of meetings with the eight multi-national engineering firms and a subsequent directive that work must commence on major highways identified as critical to reduce traffic congestions on highways in Lagos.
The contractors deployed by the government include Julius Berger, Hi-tech, Arab Contractors, Metropolitan Construction, Slabaugh Construction, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Rajaf Foundation Construction, and RCF Nigeria Limited.
“This afternoon, we have just concluded meeting with various reputable construction companies and all of them have been given the brief to immediately commence major construction work in various parts of the State.
“The exercise will begin tomorrow with palliative work on the selected roads, which are both on the Island and Mainland divisions of the state,” he said.
“The contractors have been given the mandate to start mobilising to their respective sites without further delay. Their activities must first give our people an immediate relief on the affected roads so that there can be free flow of traffic even during the rehabilitation work”, the Governor emphasised.
To complement the major construction work on the highways, Mr Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) would be carrying out repairs of 116 inner roads across the State, in addition to over 200 roads already rehabilitated by the Corporation in the last three months.
He maintained that he was aware of the pain experienced by road users which was aggravated by persistent downpour, appealing to residents to bear with the Government while efforts were being made to assuage their pains and bring permanent relief.
“We expect the rains will begin to subside in this month of October and this is why we are mobilising our contractors to immediately start the major construction work on the identified highways and bring permanent relief to residents. I am giving all Lagosians the assurance that the contractors will start the construction in earnest and will deliver on the terms of agreements reached with them”, Sanwo-Olu assured.
He said officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will also be working round the clock to control traffic in areas where the construction would take place.
Also speaking on the development, the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, listed some of the critical highways and roads to be constructed to include Ojota stretch of the Ikorodu Road, Motorways-Kudurat Abiola Way, Apogbon Highway, Babs Animashaun Road, Agric/Ishawo Road and Ijede Road in Ikorodu, as well as Lekki-Epe Expressway from Abraham Adesanya to Eleko Junction.
She affirmed that there would also be massive re-construction work on a network of roads in Ikoyi, Ikeja GRA and Victoria Island.
