All over Lagos, construction activities are ongoing. From Yaba to Ketu, Epe to Agege Pen Cinema, it’s one project or the other.
However, the most outstanding one is the Oshodi Transport Interchange project that has been the cynosure of all eyes. It’s one project that urban planners described as “wonder of 21st Century”.
Town Planner Segun Owoduni, while speaking on the hoisting of Skywalk Bridge linking terminals one and two of the Oshodi Transport Interchange that has just been completed, said apart from the structure that stands out in the once of chaotic Oshodi, the conception of the project is outstanding.
“We have been witnessing transformation in Lagos these past three years, this Oshodi Transport Interchange is excellent”, he said,describing Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s transformation agenda as “second to none in this political dispensation”.
In his view, Mr. John Adebiyi, also an expert in urban renewal was of the view that with the rapidity at which Lagos is being transformed, issue of insecurity will be minimal, if not completely eradicated.
“Slums, garages and other similar enclaves are preferred abode for the criminals. But the rate at which the city is being transformed is akin to a fish outside water to the criminals. I gave kudos to Governor Ambode for what he’s doing in Lagos”, said Adebiyi.
Skywalk Bridge linking terminals one and two of the Interchange, while another one that is linking terminals two and three is about 155metres long. The plan is that people can move from one end of the terminal to another, be it from terminal one, two and three and then the nature of the terminal is such that we have six lifts and one escalator, and so in all we have 18 lifts and three escalators.
Speaking, Managing Director of Planet Projects, Mr. Biodun Otunola, sees the various projects being executed by the state government across the state as a silence revolution.
“When we came to Oshodi, there were 17 parks, high level of criminality, dirts and environmental challenges. This place has been neglected and this is the narrative Ambode is trying to correct. I feel sad when I see people queuing for buses here for hours and stealing everywhere.
“Only 21,000 Nigerians use the airport and more than 80 million use public transport daily and no facility for them. If Lagos wants to be the third largest economy in Africa, something must be done.
“There is no part of Nigeria that is not served from a particular spot at Oshodi, when some people say it is a mere bus stop, I laugh, they are not being realistic and not saying the truth. In western world, they call it terminals, either buses or train terminals with many facilities in place and I know Lagos is getting there very soon. So, it is going to be Lagos gift to Nigeria and the West Coast when it is fully done in terms of facilities, like Wifi, waiting area, ticketing booth, ATM points, loading bay, offices and conveniences,” he said.
Otunola said Ambode had provided a level playing ground and that by October, the project would be delivered. He disclosed that one million passengers would transmit from the Interchange to different parts of Lagos and outside the state on daily basis.
He said the interchange, on completion, would have 18 lifts, six each for the three terminals that are equipped with CCTV, saying that one could predict when a bus would arrive at the terminal.
“For anyone to access each of the sky bridge, you have to use the lift and we also have staircase for emergency exit. The skywalk is part of the features of the Oshodi Transport Interchange designed to make travel pleasurable, enjoyable, safe and more comfortable for commuting Lagosians,” Otunola said.
However, on completion, the Oshodi Transport Interchange will have three terminals. The first terminal will cater for inter-city transportation, where all buses going out of the state will take off and drop passengers on return. The second terminal will be solely for the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT scheme, that will cater for passengers commuting from Oshodi to Abule Egba, Okokomaiko, LASU and so on. The third terminal will cater for passengers navigating Oshodi to Ikoyi, Lagos Island, Surulere, Victoria Island, Ikorodu, among others. The Oshodi project will also make provision for a mega shopping mall to be built through a Public-Private Partnership, PPP, agreements at the third terminal. The three terminals will serve 1,000 modern buses. The terminals will also have 1,000 light effects to project the aesthetic of the ambience.
“On completion of the project, Oshodi will be a beautiful zone. It will have the toga of ‘if you don’t spend a night in Oshodi, you have not visited Lagos State.’ It will be an iconic area where people will want to take pictures. This place will be tourism-driven.
“We are using Nigerian labour to show we can do it. Planet Projects is giving us a totally new experience. This is the first in the series of projects to be featured. Oshodi had been a no go area. Over 30 parks are here and these will be put into 13 parks. The entry and exit points will be modernized and this will bring sanity and orderliness to Oshodi,” siad the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan.
and then