Ogun begins “Go Green” project

THE Ogun State Government has commenced ‘Green Ogun’ Project, which is aimed at beautifying the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

The step according to the chairman, ‘GO’ team project, Chief Kolawole Lawal, would equally reduce traffic gridlock on the highway. Lawal who is also the State Commissioner for Forestry, said the state government is embarking on the project because of its passion for a decent environment.

The commissioner noted that the policy of creating a set-back along the highway had long been in existence, which would be about 70 metres from the median. According to him, the Federal Government is expected to work on 45 metres.

“From time immemorial, there had been a policy to create a set-back of about 70 metres from the median along the highway by the state government, while the Federal Government is also expected to carry out its own plan of 45 metres.

“The 45 metres from the median would be earmarked for the Federal Government’s set-back project, while 121/2 metres would be for the barrier, which would prevent motorists from indiscriminate parking. This will be followed by a service road of seven metres wide, while the remaining five metres would be the set back between the service road and individual property, along the road,” the commissioner added.

Chief Lawal stated further that while developing the setback, the team would look into construction of a by-pass road to keep motorists that needed not to ply the highway, just as a lay-by for travellers to rest in between journeys and motor parks would be constructed to curb illegal parking.

He added that presently the project would start from Isheri-Berger through Arepo and would later be extended to Sapade to Abeokuta via inter-change to Sagamu as well as Siun to Ogere.

While noting that the government might collaborate with companies located along the road to carry out the landscaping of the front view of their companies, he added that the government was aware that people had encroached on the set-back areas, with advice to those culpable to vacate the premises immediately or risk demolition of such illegal structures.