Sanwo-Olu wakes up, declares emergency on Lagos roads

*Rallies Julius Berger, Hithech, others over damaged areas

*Appeals to Lagosians, says works now begin October 14

*Governor’s sudden decision influenced by widespread criticisms

“My advice to Sanwo-Olu is to close his eyes and use the Lagos money to serve Lagos and Lagos people. This is because, when the godfathers are done with you like a spelt bullet, it is the people that you will find in your support. That is what Fashola enjoys today,” he concluded.

Lagos State Government has declared a state of emergency on various dilapidated highways and carriages within the State.

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Gbenga Akosile, disclosed this in a statement he issued in Lagos on Sunday, copy of which was sighted by The DEFENDER.

According to the statement, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday at the Lagos House Marina, ordered massive construction work on critical roads and highways across the State, beginning from Monday (tomorrow) that is October 14, 2019.

The Governor’s directive, Akosile said, followed the conclusion of his series of meetings with eight multi-national engineering firms, which began a few weeks back.

After his final meeting with the contractors on Sunday, which lasted for about three hours, Sanwo-Olu was said to have declared the commencement of major construction work on the identified highways considered critical to the reduction of traffic congestion in the State.

The Governor said all the eight engineering firms had been given the mandate to immediately mobilise their equipment on the sites and commence major construction works on the identified roads.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “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.

“The contractors have been given the mandate to start mobilising their equipment 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.”

To complement the major construction work on the highway, he said Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) would be carrying out repairs of 116 inner roads across the State. This, he said, would be in addition to over 200 roads already rehabilitated by the corporation in the last three months.

The governor said he was not unaware of the pain experienced by road users in the past few days, which was compound by persistent downpour and therefore appealed to residents to bear with the government while efforts were being made to assuage their pains and bring permanent relief their way.

He said: “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 said officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will be working round the clock to control traffic on the areas where the construction would take place.

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-Kudirat Abiola Way, Apogbon Highway, Babs Animashaun Road, Agric/Ishawo Road and Ijede Road in Ikorodu, and Lekki-Epe Expressway from Abraham Adesanya to Eleko Junction.

She added that there would be massive re-construction work on a network of roads in Ikoyi, Ikeja GRA and Victoria Island.

The contractor deployed by the government included Julius Berger, Hitech, Arab Contractors, Metropolitan Construction, Slavabogu Construction, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), Rajaf Foundation Construction, and RCF Nigeria Limited.

Criticisms

Media reports had it recently that Sanwo-Olu had promised resumption of works on Lagos roads by November before the latest decision, which may have been influenced by deafening criticisms of the new administration in a state muchmouthed to be Africa’s largest economy but with worst conditions in terms of living standard and road infrastructure.

It is believed in some quarters as a source said, “Whereas Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) came to work in service to the people of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode came on unclear mission as to whether he set out to serve a particular godfather and partly the people or to serve self interest and Sanwo-Olu came to serve the interest of some party leaders.”

He however enthused that with the latest declaration of State of emergency on roads, “it appears the governor will soon run foul of the vested interests because there is no governor of Lagos who chooses to perform like Fashola laid foundation for, who will not run foul of the leaders.

“My advice to Sanwo-Olu is to close his eyes and use the Lagos money to serve Lagos and Lagos people. This is because, when the godfathers are done with you like a spelt bullet, it is the people that you will find in your support. That is what Fashola enjoys today,” he concluded..