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Third Mainland Bridge: FG, stakeholders review diversion points to 4 weeks
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olukayode Popoola, says adjustments to be made on existing diversion points on the Third Mainland Bridge will now last between Jan. 15 and Feb. 13.
According to Popoola, the decision to extend the diversion shifts to four weeks from Jan. 15 to Feb. 13 was reached at a stakeholders meeting.
He said on Wednesday in Lagos that the bridge was not going to be closed and that the traffic switch over period was still the same.
He added that the existing traffic arrangements were still valid, but the contractor would move the current diversion point towards Oworonsoki and close the Adekunle slip road on the Lagos Island bound carriageway.
He said that the meeting which held between the contractor, Federal and Lagos State government officials, traffic regulatory and law enforcement agencies was to review the construction modalities.
The controller said this was to allow for additional time for removal and replacement of expansion joints along the Adekunle Ramp, which were longer and almost twice the size of other expansion joints.
“The period for the diversion shift will now be from Jan.15 which is Friday to Feb. 13. It will take four weeks, no more two weeks because of the volume of work.
“They have to remove the expansion joints. As we are talking now, they have removed two, the one that is before that Adekunle Ramp down has not been opened or removed.
“That will take time, not less than 10 days before they break and remove it, then we will now cast the concrete. So that is why we are taking four weeks,’’ he explained.
He further said that it was discovered that the initial two weeks set for shifting of the diversion was not enough, hence the review to ensure the concrete got set before reopening the slip road to traffic.
“They said that there were additional works to be done after the completion of the expansion joints,” adding that, “the work on the bridge will be completed on Feb. 22.”
He appealed for the understanding of road users saying that, the old existing diversions were still valid with the traffic management team on ground to ensure easy traffic flow.
“The way the Third Mainland Bridge is being used is the same way the motorists are still going to use the bridge. For instance, 12:00 midnight till 12:00 noon, people coming from Oworonsoki, will still be using their lane coming to the Island,’’ he said.
The controller said that the modification only affected the Adekunle slip road, hence road users would not be able to use the ramp to connect Yaba, and would not be able to use the ramp from Yaba to the bridge.
He added that the diversion points would be shifted backward about two kilometres away towards Oworonsoki, affecting only those who use the Adekunle slip road.
“We are appealing to Lagos residents to bear with us. We are doing our best to ensure we do not extend the work beyond Feb. 22.
“We are trying to make sure that driving on Third Mainland Bridge is as comfortable as possible,’’ he said
The Third Mainland Bridge, which was going through a series of repairs, was partially shut on July 24 for another round of rehabilitation works.
The repair, expected to last six months, was extended by one month due to the recent #EndSARS protests in the state, which extended the completion date from January to February.
The construction was initially divided into two phases of three months on each carriageway; starting with the Oworonsoki bound carriageway whose completion dragged to four months.
Traffic was partially diverted on a stretch of 3.5km where construction is ongoing between Adeniji Adele Ramp and Ebute Meta, while different time belts were allotted for traffic diversions on the bridge.
The 11.8km bridge is the longest of the three bridges linking Lagos Island and the Mainland.
The bridge starts from Oworonshoki, which is linked to the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and ends at the Adeniji Adele Interchange on Lagos Island.
Constructed in 1990, the bridge was the longest in Africa; until 1996 when the Oct. 6 Bridge in Cairo was completed.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has decried the negative impact of internet crimes popularly known as “yahoo yahoo’’ on the country.
Olukoyede disclosed that several international companies had to shut down their Nigerian operations following massive theft of their finances through local wire fraud.
He noted that in 2022, over $500m was lost as a result of the activities of Internet fraudsters.
A statement by the commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the EFCC chairman spoke at the Global Peace Movement International awards on Thursday, where he was named the Man of the Year.
He said, “In 2022, we lost over $500 million in our economy to yahoo boys. The statistics are there. In the same year, about 71 international companies left Nigeria because they hacked their accounts.
“We can’t get credit cards in Nigeria because of our poor credit rating because of the activities of these cyber criminals. So, the best we can get is debit cards.
“Do you know that there are some international merchants that you cannot use Nigerian cards on their platforms? Display your green passport outside the country and see if they will not take you aside and search you thoroughly.”
He stated that no shade of economic and financial crime would go unaddressed under his leadership of the EFCC.
Olukoyede added that people stealing money in high places started from local governments and school associations.
He said, “We will do the mini; we will do the mega. If you don’t do the mini, the mini will become the mega. Some of these people stealing money in high places started from the local governments, they started as leaders of associations in schools, where they stole money and they did nothing to them and it became part of their lives.”
Olukoyede promised not to disappoint Nigerians and not to spare the corrupt.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced the clearing of all pension backlogs in the state on Thursday.
In a statement on X.com on Thursday, Sanwo-Olu stated that with a payment of ₦4.46 billion to 2,000 retirees, the state has fulfilled its commitment to eliminate outstanding pension arrears.
The statement read, “Today, we effectively cleared all pension backlog in Lagos State with the payment of ₦4,461,659,536.82 to 2,000 retirees.
“In February, we paid ₦3.1 billion to 1,013 retirees with a promise to settle all arrears and current pension liabilities, and that promise has been fulfilled today.”
He further stated that since assuming office, his administration has paid a total of over ₦68 billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts of retirees across various government departments.
He added that the “Pay As You Go” pension model utilised by the state will ensure that future retirees receive their full benefits and gratuity immediately upon retirement.
Sanwo-Olu added, “Since the inception of this administration, we have paid a sum of ₦68,164,627,407.21 into the Retirement Savings Accounts of retirees in the Mainstream, Local Government, State Universal Basic Board (SUBEB), Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and other Parastatals of the State Government. We are very happy with this achievement.
“Employees of the Lagos State Government who retire from the civil service will now get their full pension benefits and gratuity immediately after retirement as Lagos State continues to lead in pension benefits administration with a Pay As You Go template.”
In his statement, Sanwo-Olu stated that to further enhance their well-being, the state launched a new Health Insurance Scheme specifically designed for retirees.
“We also launched a Health Insurance Scheme tailored specifically for our retirees. This scheme will provide access to a wide range of medical services, from routine check-ups to specialised treatments,” he added.
In February that Sanwo-Olu paid N3.149 billion to 1,013 retirees in its 103rd retirement bond certificate presentation.
The governor had also promised that another N4 billion outstanding will be paid in March while the government will try to clear all backlogs by April.
Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun, on Thursday, inaugurated the 5.3-kilometer Okpanam/Ibusa Bypass in Delta.
In a speech at the event, Adeleke lauded Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori for his developmental strides, describing him as a performing governor.
He said that Oborevwori had turned Delta “into a construction site”, by linking communities through his road projects.
According to the Osun governor, his coming to Delta “is a promise made to a dear and performing friend”, whose antecedents, he said, he had monitored over a year.
He said that he chooses his friends and that Oborevwori met the standard as he had impacted the lives of hia people through various projects, policies and programmes.
He also said that given the testimonies of the people and the royal fathers among other speakers, the Okpanam/Ibusa bypass would promote the state economy and save the cost of transportation between the two neighbouring communities.
“In Osun, I will be two years in office in November but if you come to the state, I have turned it to a construction site and we are building flyovers that they have never experienced before.
“Here in Delta, Oborevwori is doing the same thing and I thank him for working for his people, who freely gave him their mandate to govern them.
“I am here because God has put him in office for the people of Delta to enjoy the dividend of democracy and that is why I am here to celebrate with him and inaugurate the road.”
Adeleke, however, urged Oborevwori to do more for the state, while urging the people to continue to support his administration to deliver the dividend of democracy to them.
On his part, Oborevwori said that Adeleke’s visit was a proof of the bond and love they shared as friends.
He said that the ceremony was not about the length of the road but its importance to the state, particularly the people of Oshimili North Local Government Area (LGA).
He described the road as key to all the people of the state, adding that it was a major link between Okpanam and Ibusa Communities in the LGA.
He further said that the road would save the huge cost borne by those commuting from either of the communities, who would first travel to Asaba before negotiating their way to either Okpanam or Ibusa.
“I want to appreciate my predecessor, former Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for initiating the project and I completed it because I pledged not to abandon any project started by the previous administration.
“This road is key as it connects Okpanam to Ibusa and it will reduce traffic conjestion at the interchange at the Ibusa Junction on the Asaba-Benin Expressway.
“Delta, particularly Asaba, is developing very fast and I want to advise that investors take advantage to invest in the state,” Oborevwori said.
He gave assurance that the request made by the traditional rulers from Ibusa and Okpanam, urging him to complete the construction of the link road from Okpanam to Akwukwu-Igbo, Headquarters of Oshimili North LGA, would be looked into.
He, however, implored the people of the state to ensure peace and remain law-abiding during the upcoming LG polls in the state.
He promised that the election would be free, fair and credible, while urging all the political party candidates to go about their campaigns orderly and peacefully.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works: Highways and Urban Roads, Mr Ruben Izeze, said the road had 10.6km of drains, among other features.
Izeze thanked the state governor “for approving the release of funds” and commended the contractors and staff members of the ministry for their dedication that saw the work through.
On their part, the Traditional Rulers of the two communities, including
the Obuzor of Ibusa, Louis Nwaoboshi, and the Ugoani of Okpanam, Obi Michael Mbanefo, thanked the governor for completing what they described as “the historical link way between the two-sister communities”.
They, however, appealed to the governor to complement the project by awarding the construction of the Okpanam/Akwukwu-Igbo Road project for ease of movement to the LGA headquarters.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two communities of Ibusa and Okpanam rolled out drums to underscore their joy over the completion and inauguration of the road.
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