Lagos state government inspects N1.5b Lekki alternative roads, others

The Lagos State Government has inspected the N1.5 billion alternative road being constructed in Lekki area for motorists that do not want to pay toll on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Three alternative roads are being constructed for the three toll gates to be mounted in the area to serve as alternative routes for motorists. The first toll plaza alternative road had been completed while the second one, which gulped N1.5 billion, is under construction.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Kadri Hamzat who inspected road facilities in Lekki area of Lagos, southwest Nigeria, on Wednesday said the Toll Plaza alternative road gulped N1.5 billion and is being constructed at Ikota area of Eti-Osa Local Government.

Hamzat disclosed that the 3km alternative road was 97 percent completed and would be completed around November, 2012, saying that he was satisfied with the progress of works so far on the road.

The commissioner stated that the state government was constructing lots of roads across the Lagos metropolis, disclosing that 160 new roads had been constructed this year, bringing the roads in the state to over 9,000 roads.

He added that the Public Works Corporation was also patching roads in the metropolis, saying that the government was determined to ensure that several inner routes were constructed in the state.

At the Unity Road in Lekki, the Commissioner noted that there was a need to harmonise the interest of residents in the axis with the plan of government agencies, assuring that he would facilitate a meeting to resolve all the grey areas between the Office of Drainage Services, Office of Infrastructure and the residents.

He said the pedestrian bridges along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway had been stalled by the conflicting information about the expansion of the Expressway, saying that government planned to construct nine pedestrian bridges on the federal road.

Describing the pedestrian bridges as a fallout of non-obedience of traffic laws, the commissioner stated that zebra crossings were used in other climes, adding that even when constructed, many did not use them even though they cost a lot to put up.

Assessing the infrastructural challenge of the nation 52 years after independent, Hamzat stated that the path to Nigeria’s greatness depended on its ability to develop the necessary critical infrastructure upon which the nation’s economy could be grounded.

He said Nigeria could not aspire to fulfil its potential if it was unable to develop its road network, rail system and harness both its potential in the aviation and maritime sectors.

According to him, “there is abundant evidence all over the world as to the need to build infrastructure. Brazil has just recently announced infrastructure development package of about $63billion and it is not alone in the race.”

He noted that Nigeria must have roads linking up all its regions on which citizens could drive easily given its qualities and facilities.

Hamzat was also of the view that the road construction efforts of the Fashola administration were a result of the realisation that the quantum of economic development of any nation is closely tied to the quantum and quality of its infrastructure.

 

 

 

 

 

Source: PM News