Inauguration ceremony: Sanwo-Olu commissions over 27 projects in two days
…Commissions dual carriageway bridge, new markets, 12 other projects in Lagos East
…13 others projects across LGAs
By Moses Adeniyi
No fewer than 27 projects across Senatorial Districts of Lagos State, have been commissioned in the space of two days by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu between Wednesday the 24th of May and Thursday, 25th of May.
The commissioning of the projects are part of the series of activities lined up for the inauguration ceremony of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat for a second term in office.
Recall NewsDirect had reported how that the Inauguration Committee had set aside three days of the 11-day inauguration agenda for state-wide project commissioning.
On Thursday, a newly designed access roadway linking four Local Councils in Lagos State was opened to vehicular traffic, solving a major traffic problem and ending decades-long wait for the beneficiary communities.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, received on Thursday by a crowd of residents of Kosofe Local Government Area (LGA), officially commissioned the Ogudu-Alapere Link Road and a bridge.
The dual carriage infrastructure cuts through Ogudu into Alapere in Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and drops on Lagos-Ibadan Highway. At its Ogudu end, the link road leads motorists to connect Ikorodu Road.
The Ogudu-Alapere Link Road, designed with interlocked concrete blocks, was part of 12 other capital projects commissioned by the Governor in Lagos East Senatorial District, as part of pre-inauguration activities lined up to usher in Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Besides, the Governor commissioned the newly rehabilitated Prince Adesoji Ajose Street in Ogudu, just as he inaugurated two international markets in Ikosi-Isheri LCDA.
Sanwo-Olu said the delivery of the road project testified to his administration’s prioritisation of purposeful governance.
He stressed his government deployed a two-pronged approach towards addressing gridlocks being experienced in the area by prioritising rehabilitation of strategic roads and link bridges, as well the development of new roads.
“As a government, we have worked assiduously to bring respite and succour to road users in the state by putting in place an enduring framework for the delivery of road infrastructure, as well as provision of supporting drainage infrastructure to sustain these roads. Ogudu Community in Kosofe Local Government Area is a strategic settlement with a fast-growing population with a huge need for infrastructural renewal. This prompted our administration to embark upon the construction of a Reinforced Concrete deck on a pile culvert to address the challenge of flooding.
“The effort has resulted in significant progress, as we are gathered here today to hand over the Ogudu–Alapere Link Road and Bridge, and Prince Adesoji Ajose street in Ogudu. Providing easy connectivity to Ikorodu Road, Third Mainland Bridge and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is one of the benefits recorded by this intervention. This extraordinary journey of commitment, trust, and partnership for economic growth and development has once again yielded a milestone achievement, as we have not only improved traffic efficiency on this axis, we have also lowered the environmental impact of flooding in Ogudu,” he said.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, said prior to the intervention, the existing roads were without drainage facilities and disconnected by an existing wetland, thereby subjecting the communities to perennial flooding with consequent negative impact on transportation.
“The delivery of both the 545m long Ogudu-Alapere Link Road with an average with of 14.6meter and a 22-meter Bridge, as well as the 60m-long Prince Ajose Street, would serve as good alternative roads for motorists, especially the residents of Ogudu GRA Estate Phases I & Il, Ogudu-Ojota and the third axial underpass. This will in turn help in reducing travel time and man-hour loss in traffic gridlock around Ogudu Roundabout,” she said.
Kosofe LGA Chairman, Hon. Moyosore Ogunlewe, described the intervention as historic, noting that Sanwo-Olu became the first Governor of the State to open the link route to other communities.
While opening Ikosi International Market and International Fruit Market in Ikosi Ketu built by Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Chairman, the Governor said commercial activities in markets had a great impact on the State economy. Building a befitting environment for traders, Sanwo-Olu said, remained a noble initiative to drive grassroots democracy and socio-economic growth.
“I commend the vision and leadership which facilitated the delivery of these two ultra-modern markets befitting the status of our State and resonate with the vision of a Greater Lagos. The impact the markets have had on the economy of Lagos is invaluable, as they serve as focal points of economic activities in the State. These are the real examples of initiatives of grassroots democracy and socio-economic growth. The interventions are part of several examples of people-oriented and development projects that have been initiated and actualised by local councils across the State,” he said.
Chairman, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Hon. Samiat Bada, said the markets were built in the quest to improve the standard of trading and to serve as alternative to existing market.
She said the delivery of the markets also solved major security problems in the area, as the land on which the structures were constructed used to be the hideout for miscreants terrorising the citizens and passersby.
Other projects commissioned in Lagos East Senatorial District include Ndubuisi Kanu Housing Estate in Gbagada, Lagos Homs in Odo-Onosa Ayandelu, Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA, a resettlement scheme in Agbowa, Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA, and a jetty with waiting shelter and shoreline protection at Offin, Ikorodu, a jetty at Ito-Omu in Epe.
Sanwo-Olu also opened Shams-el- Deen Junior Grammar School (Education District II) in Ikorodu, Elepe Community Junior High School (Education District II) in Ikorodu and Kosofe Senior College (Education District II), Kosofe.
In Lagos West, the Governor commissioned Water Treatment Plant at Gbaji-Yeke in Badagry.
On Wednesday, Sanwo-Olu commissioned no less than 13 projects in eight LGAs of the State.
The commissioning of the projects took place in Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Agege, Ojo, Alimoso, Ifako Ijaiye, Ikeja and Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Areas.
The projects commissioned by Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday include the School of Basic Medical Science Block, 120 Bed MCC (SDG Building), Ambulance Bay, Special Services Centre House Officers’ Quarters at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH); newly rehabilitated Mba-Cardoso Street, Ajegunle; Akesan Obadore Road, Alimosho; Ikeja Town Square and unveiling of the newly installed Heidelberg Speedmaster CX 104-5+LX Machine at Lagos State Printing Corporation, Ikeja.
Other projects commissioned were constructed jetties with waiting shelters and shoreline protection at Marina and Isaju-Ajido in Badagry, as well as at Ilashe and Ijegun-Egba in Amuwo-Odofin; Government Girls Senior College in Agege; Alimosho Junior Grammar School and Ijaiye Housing Estate Junior Secondary School, Alimosho; newly constructed Primary Healthcare Centre, Ijedodo in Iba LCDA, Ojo and Ijaiye Ojokoro Senior High School, Ifako Ijaiye.
Governor Sanwo-Olu was represented during the commissioning held simultaneously in 13 places by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Secretary to the Lagos State Government; Mrs. Folashade Jaji; Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Gboyega Sayanwo; Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries, among others.
Speaking during the commissioning of medical infrastructure projects, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the provision of the different projects is to ensure the delivery of modern medical facilities that will strengthen the capacity of the State’s healthcare system ostensibly to meet the needs of the people.
Governor Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Dr. Hamzat noted that the facilities have been provided in fulfillment of his administration’s promises and commitment to the good people of Lagos State under the Health and Environment Pillar of his administration’s THEMES development agenda.
He said the building equipped with modern medical care facilities, comprising four Medical schools in the areas of Anesthesia Technology, Echo Cardiograph, Orthopedic Cast Technology and Post Graduate Nursing, will significantly raise the status of LASUTH as a leading/award-winning Medical School and Centre of Excellence in Healthcare Service Delivery.
Speaking at the commissioning of Mba-Cardoso Street in Ajeromi-Ifeloju Local Government Area, Governor Sanwo-Olu represented by his deputy, said his administration will continue to expand the transportation sector, which includes the provision of modern and sustainable road infrastructure as part of activities to herald a new administration.
’We will serve you to best of our ability’, Sanwo-Olu tells Lagosians,
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu amidst the projects delivery has said his administration would serve Lagosians “to the best of our ability” to deliver more dividends of democracy in his second term in office that will commence barely five days on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Sanwo-Olu made the commitment on Wednesday on the occasion of the official commissioning of four newly constructed jetties.
The jetties include the Ijegun-Egba, Jetty Ilashe Jetty in Amuwo-Odofin, Isalu-Ajido Jetty, Marina Badagry Jetty.
Speaking at the site of the commissioning of the Ilashe Jetty in Amuwo-Odofin, Sanwo-Olu expressed “heartfelt appreciation to the good people” of Lagos for their “support and believe in the ability of our great party, the All Progressives Congress to serve you and meet your aspirations.”
Sanwo-Olu who promised not to take the loyalty and support towards his administration for granted, promised “we will serve you to the best of our ability and deliver more dividends of democracy in our second term that will commence on Monday next week.”
“I thank you for your support in the last four years and look forward to even greater support as we embark on another journey of a bumper harvest of dividends of democracy,” Sanwo-Olu who was represented by the State Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola said.
The Jetty which was constructed with a waiting shelter and shoreline protection is aimed to serve the teeming populace of Ilashe and its environs.
“The Jetty being commissioned today is in furtherance of our commitment to promote water transportation as a key component of our inter modal and integrated transportation system.
”It is one of the key infrastructure needed to make water transportation a viable sector to attract private sector investment in the provision of more ferries to ply additional routes that are being created across the state,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He assured Lagosians of commitment to complete all the on-going construction of new jetties, promising “we will also not relent in providing necessary equipment and sustaining enforcement of regulation to ensure safety on our waterways.”
He enjoined them to take ownership of the Jetty and work closely with security agencies to prevent the facility from being taken over by miscreants.
Speaking at the Ijegun-Egba Jetty commissioning, the State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Arc. Kabiru Ahmed, said the Jetty commissioned is one of the seven previously awarded in 2020 for the teeming populace of Ijegun-Egba and it’s environs.
He said the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration has taken note that improvement in Water Transportation is amongst the key indices identified to further improve the transportation system worthy of the Smart City status of the State.
According to him, the scope of the work for the Jetties constructed with shoreline protection for safety of commuters, include construction of new reinforced concrete T-shape jetty platform sitting on 24Nos 300mm diameter piles; construction and installation of precast concrete anchored sheet piles with 600mmx 300my x 6m dimensions for shoreline protection; provision of installation of 25mm Tie back rods for anchorage enclosed with 50mm PVC pipe filled with cement epoxy slurry.
Also, were provisions of hydraulic sand fill for the paved areas and lying of 60mm interlocking paving stones; rehabilitation of concrete steal pontoon construction of one storey terminal building with toilet facility and waiting areas, and also sinking of borehole with installation of 1.5HP submersible pumping machine and provision of generator set to ensure uninterrupted services.
“I want to assure you that the Jetty is constructed to international standards to guarantee safety of lives and properties,” he said.
He called on commuters on the waterways to do their parts to ensure safety by putting on life jackets always while travelling on water, urging them to return the good gesture of the State Government by taking ownership, guide and protect of the jetty.
