Close rank, fix Lagos infrastructure, stakeholders urge FG, Lagos govts

Stakeholders have appealed to the Federal and Lagos governments respectively to put politics aside and form a formidable partnership capable of putting Lagos infrastructure in good shape.

Speaking on the backdrop of allegations levelled against the  Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, that the former’s ministry has been frustrating his (Ambode) efforts at putting some infrastructure in Lagos in good shape, well meaning residents have called on both parties to close ranks and come together by ensuring that development in the state that commenced right from the tenure of Senator Bola Tinubu doesn’t lose its momentum.

Expressing his concern over the issue, presiding Pastor, El-Shaddai Bible Church, Archbishop Olanrewaju Obembe, while emphasising the need for Fashola and Ambode to work together, not necessarily as members of the same political party, but also of the same progressive family, said they should collaborate in ensuring that Lagos get to a greater height.

According to him, Fashola, following the step of his predecessor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has done well as the former governor of Lagos State by the execution of many projects that have became the envy of many states, while Governor Ambode is doing marvellously well with his progressive approach to governance and infrastructure provision.

“I want to appeal to these two illustrious Lagosians to come together, not only as partners, but as brothers which they are, without any third party coming in-between them.

“They are gentlemen and thoroughbred professionals in their own right. A senior advocate of Nigeria and a Chartered Accountant? No combination could be better,” the clergy said.

In his comment, Comrade Dele Aiyeyemi, a member of All Peoples Congress (APC), in Eti-Osa, Lekki, expressed disappointment by the way Governor Ambode made his views known publicly, bearing in mind that both Fashola and himself are of the same family, at least politically.

“Whatever may have been the problem between the duo, the party is there as well as the leaders of the party, to whom Governor Ambode could make his frustration known.

“To me, I think the governor is fighting a good course, but in a wrong way, if truly the minister is using federal might to frustrate him. This is not Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe and Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu’s tenure as Minister of Work and Governor of Lagos respectively, where one was a PDP member and one belonging to Alliance for Democracy (AD), a situation that cost Lagos a lot of setback in the areas of infrastructure provision.

“Besides, I think Governor Ambode has his hands already filled with many commitments. He has Orile-Badagry Expressway to complete; the proposed forth Mainland Bridge is there; Regeneration of Berger-Ojodu, Lekki-Ajah Roundabout is there, including his promise to rehabilitate the abandoned National Stadium, Surulere.

“So the governor should just concentrate in all these and ensure their completion, because it is practically impossible to solve all problems of Lagos even if he has the whole money in his coffer. Let Ambode do his best and live the rest,” the comrade counselled.

Ever since the relocation of federal capital from Lagos to Abuja, the city has suffered infrastructure development, especially, in the area of road construction and maintenance despite her economic importance to the nation.

Although, much have been written and said about the seeming neglect of Lagos by the successive administrations, including the military, but change in the political situation where the same political party is at the helms of affairs both at the federal and state level for the first time in the annals of Nigeria’s history raises hope of new development for Lagos.

“This development notwithstanding, there appears that necessary attention is yet to be given to Lagos by President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration,” Mr Titus Hunedyin, who also appealed to Fashola and Ambode to sink whatever might be their political differences, said.

Hundeyin, while making reference to the recent call by Senator Oluremi Tinubu asking for special status for Lagos, said if Fashola and Ambode are not on the same page as far as quest for Lagos development is concerned, it would be difficult to achieve the desired results.

“The call by Senator Oluremi Tinubu calling for special status for Lagos should not be seen as a means to get cheap popularity, but rather, it’s just a reminder to what many right thinking Nigerians have advocated for long.

“Looking at the rot, decay and dilapidated that define the state of road infrastructure in Apapa and Ikorodu-Ijebu-Ode expressway, with the  attendant loss of time and sometimes lives, it’s high time to find a lasting solution to the problem.”

Dr Wale Omole, whose office is located at Bombay Road Apapa, noted that government’s neglect of this important axis is unfortunate; stressing that Apapa that hosted Tin Can Island and other important institutions should receive more attention than before.

“Now that Nigeria is earning a large chunk of its revenue through the Custom as a result of the downturn in oil sector and in view of the location of Apapa port that is now the cash cow for the federal government, it is an aberration that this road should be in the present state,” said Omole.

His suggestion was that government should revive the rail line that linked Apapa to convey good which are at the mercy of tankers arid articulated vehicles.

“Besides, constructing a flyover from Apapa that links Marina would be another option, while the current road should be regularly maintained with drainage facility provided”, he counselled.

“But now that Fashola and Ambode are at the helms of affair, we expect things to work out in seamless manner, by which I meant that they should join hands for infrastructure provision in Lagos,” Omole admonished.