Inauguration Ceremony: Over 33 completed projects commissioned by Sanwo-Olu in three days
….says “second term will be much better”
By Moses Adeniyi
The number of projects commissioned by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the end of the three days state-wide project commissioning train set aside by the Inauguration Committee as part of an 11-days activities to herald his second term inauguration stood at over 33 completed projects.
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.
Report gathered by NewsDirect revealed that in the three days set aside, a compendium of no less than 33 projects were commissioned for public use.
The projects range from road, water transportation projects to education and health facilities among others.
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.
The count as at Thursday, a day after the project commissioning train commenced on Wednesday, saw that no fewer than 27 projects across Senatorial Districts of Lagos have been commissioned in the space of two days.
On Friday, additional projects were commissioned, bringing the number to 33, with Sanwo-Olu promising his second term in office which has been christened “A Greater Lagos Rising” would be more promising and effective, while assuring commitment to the safety, security and prosperity of residents.
Among the projects commissioned by the Governor on Friday include; newly reconstructed and upgraded Adeniji Adele Street; Okepopo/Tapa Street, Iga Idunganran; Sura Primary Healthcare Centre in Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area (LCDA); and Oke-Odo Junior High School, Ebutte Metta.
Also was the commissioning of the upgraded Liverpool Jetty in Apapa Local Government Area.
Also on Friday, was the reopening of Iga Iduganran PHC redeveloped by Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund and Zenith Bank.
Sanwo-Olu assured that his administration would ensure good governance and would not disappoint the people as they supported him during the election, urging the citizens to take possession of the assets and put them to good use.
At the commissioning of the road at Adeniji Adele, he said: “We have a firm conviction that these projects will positively impact the lives of residents. It will enhance safety and security; lead to the creation of new jobs and livelihood opportunities in Lagos Island in general.
“Also, it is expected that the regeneration projects will improve connectivity and drastically reduce the travel time of commuters. What is more, the well laid out and connected drainage system will significantly mitigate the perennial flooding often experienced in this area, enhance property values as well as stimulate businesses and economic development on the Island.”
At the commissioning of the new block of classrooms in Oke-Odo Junior High School, a project supervised by the Lagos State Government, Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools (SCRIPS), he said it is, ‘’In commemoration of our second term inauguration, we have been commissioning many projects in all sectors. Where we are now is in the education sector. One of such is the Junior Oke –Odo High School where we are today (Friday). The school is among the several schools we have commissioned in the last three days and it is consistent with our THEMES agenda.
‘’The very first ‘E’ there (THEMES agenda) is for ‘Education and Technology’. This block of 16 classrooms with multi- purpose court makes of a total of 135 good classrooms we have done in eight public schools in the State.’’
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,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated that his administration would continue to work on infrastructure renewal programme to improve the quality of life of the citizens and enhance socio-economic development.
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 has 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.
Other projects commissioned in Lagos East Senatorial District on Thursday 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 on Monday (today), May 29, 2023.
Sanwo-Olu made the commitment on Friday at the occasion of the official commissioning of another newly upgraded Jetty, christened, Liverpool Jetty in Apapa LGA.
The commissioning of the Liverpool Jetty made it as at Friday, the seventh to be commissioned in three days – Wednesday to Friday.
The Liverpool Jetty is upgraded with construction of a terminal building with both male and female toilets; installation of floating pontoon; construction of reinforced concrete Jetty with floating pontoon and provision of generating set and installation of lighting system.
Speaking at the commissioning of the event on Friday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the delivery of the Jetty is to serve the teeming population of Apapa, Liverpool and it’s environs.
According to him, the series of Jetties which have been commissioned in three days are key component of intermodal transportation system championed by his administration for an enhanced transportation system to attract private sector investment and further boost economic viability of the State.
Sanwo-Olu assured the completion of all pending jetty projects as well as to further strengthen regulations governing the waterways.
The State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Arc. Kabir Ahmed, on his part said the Jetties commissioned are function of the posture of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration having 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.
“I want to assure you that the Jetty is constructed to international standards to guarantee safety of lives and properties,” he said.
On his part, the General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, disclosed that the projects are excitement on the development of waterways transportation in the State.
He disclosed that the commuting capacity of the Liverpool Jetty alone is about 40,000, mentioning the State eyes an enlargement potential to 100,000 ridership.
“This is an excitement for us. We would love to upgrade every existing Jetty that we have to increase the ridership to let Lagosians know that indeed they are getting the dividends of democracy and that’s what Mr. Governor has done by upgrading this Liverpool Jetty to accommodate and increase the ridership and also ensure the people of Apapa can also enjoy water transportation better,” Oluwadamilola said.
In her remarks on the compendium of projects commissioned by Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary (PS), Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructures Development, ESV (Mrs) Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi said Sanwo-Olu is known to “stand by his word”, stating he “works his talk”.
According to her, the commissioning of the Liverpool Jetty, which makes it the seventh in three days, is a reflection of the commitment of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration to make transportation system in the State of better experience for economic development.
“It’s a very good development for the State and the residents because it’s going to serve the people of this community here. It will make the transportation of people and goods easy.
“Apapa is always known for traffic jam on a good day, but with the development, it would be easier to transport people and goods.
“The Jetties commissioned are in line with the promises made by Mr. Governor that all ongoing projects be completed. In the last three days, we have commissioned in different locations – four Jetties on Wednesday, two yesterday (Thursday) and this one today.
“What Mr. Governor is encouraging them to do is to take ownership of the Jetties so they can use it effectively for themselves. It would improve their lives and the economy at large,” she said.
Aside the Liverpool Jetty delivered on Friday other Jetties commissioned on Wednesday include the Ijegun-Egba, Jetty Ilashe Jetty in Amuwo-Odofin, Isalu-Ajido Jetty, Marina Badagry Jetty, while those of Offin Jetty in Igbogbo Bayeku and Ito Omu in Epe, were commissioned on Thursday.
In all, Sanwo-Olu enjoined Lagosians to take common ownership of the various projects and work closely for their maintenance.
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 promised.
