Please, complete your projects, Lagos residents beg Ambode

The onfolding political developments in Lagos these past few weeks seemed to have been creating apprehension among the residents, especially, over what may befallen the ongoing projects, embarked upon by the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Amongst the projects in question include the Pen Cinema Flyover in Agege area of Lagos, which is officially reported that is now at 60 per cent completion stage.

Another landmark project that appears endearing to the residents is  the 10-Lane Oshodi-International Airport Road, which is currently at over 50 per cent completion stage, targetet for completion by the end of year 2018!

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The design of the Airport Road includes reconstruction and expansion of the existing carriage to 3-lane Expressway on both directions; construction of 2-lane Service Road in both directions; construction of Ramp Bridge to provide a U-turn from Ajao Estate to Airport and construction of a flyover at NAHCO/Toll Gate and drainage works.

Others include the removal of the present pedestrian bridge at Ajao Estate and construction of alternative ones at NAHCO/Hajj Camp. Accompanied the above are the construction of Slip Road to provide access to Ajao Estate, construction of Lay-bys and installation of Street Lights, among others.

Just last week Sunday, during the Nigerian 58th anniversary independence, held at the Deeper Christian Life Bible Church headquerters, Gbagada, Lagos, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, while expressing his appreciation to what the church has done in the area of infrastructure provision, promised that his administration will repair/reconstruc six roads within the neighborhood of Gbagada.

But for the unfolding political situation, residents are at loss of what will be outcome of these lofty projects.

Chief Semiu Aderemi, a member of CDC in Agege, said it will be a colossal loss if the on going pencinema overheard bridge could not complete by the current administration.

“Its a common knowledge that project continuity is alien to Nigerian public office holders. Our fear is what will happen to this project, if Ambode cannot finish it before he leave office next year?” He said.

Similar fears were being expressed across the state where the major projects are ongoing.

“In Epe, the dualization if Itoikin-Epe road that has already marked down for completion next year; the Oshodi-Airport interchange and others, may suffer uncomplimentary fate, if by implication, Governor Ambode fails to complete them before the expiration of his tenure”, said Alhaji Moruf Adekunle, another community leader in Shogunle, Oshodi area of Lagos.

Speaking during an inspection tour of ongoing projects across the State recently, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Adebowale Akinsanya, assured the residents that the administration will complete the projects.

At Pen Cinema project site, the Commissioner, who embarked on the inspection alongside other top government functionaries, said : “This is part of the review of ongoing projects in the State and we are at the site of the critical one which is the Pen Cinema Flyover along with Airport Road in addition to all other ongoing projects.

“Most of the difficult parts of the work are already ongoing. Overall, we are at about 60 per cent completion stage and right now, we have over 70 major projects ongoing but as can be seen, work is ongoing,” he said.

On the delay, Akinsanya said: “Unfortunately, it is difficult to fight nature and rain has not helped and what we are seeing is the result of the heavy downpour for the last few weeks but the work is ongoing and with the cooperation from the contractors, whatever time we have lost, things will be accelerated.

We have a good working relationship with Hi-Tech; they are committed to the project and I can assure the people that by first quarter of next year, this project will be commissioned by God’s grace,” the Commissioner said.

Giving details, he said 10 out of the 14 pier walls have already been completed and seven ramps, while the casting of the super structure which is the high beam was progressing well.

He said government was aware of difficulties being experienced with regards to potholes, saying the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode had already directed immediate repairs statewide.

“I like to thank his Excellency, Governor Ambode for giving us the necessary support. The Governor is committed to the projects and along with this also is the challenge of potholes being experienced in the State.

“We have been directed by the Governor that once we have a brief window of no rain, the Public Works Corporation has already been mobilized to go all out every where across the State to get everything done within the next three to four weeks and so you will see our men working all over the road,” Akinsanya said.

At Airport Road, the Commissioner said the project was a bit delayed to ensure that the quality of the work was not comprised and to minimize impact on residents, but assured that it would be completed by the end of the year.

He particularly thanked residents and motorists for their understanding and support, just as he assured that the government remains committed to completing all ongoing projects.

“To me, the critical thing is the traffic management because one of the key things we need to do is to minimize the impact on the citizenry. So, we have been doing a lot and work slows down because of traffic management because we want to accommodate the people living around this area and we don’t want to make things too bad for them but as we make more progress, traffic will get better.

“For the people living in this area and the general public, I want to thank you for your understanding and support but please bear with us. This is a temporary thing and come January next year, you will see a brand new road. At the same time, there might be other things going on but the road will be opened. The work is taking some time because quality is very important. We don’t want anything to affect the quality of the work,” Akinsanya said.