TREND IN LAGOS’ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
There is no disagreement among public policy experts about the importance of road construction in improving businesses’ ability to provide goods and services and people’s ability to access education, employment and services. Development of good and motorable roads enhance public safety and increase the road capacity to ease traffic congestion, vehicle maintenance and transportation cost leading to improved economy and higher standard of living.
In view of recent commitments of the state government to road infrastructure upgrade, it is safe to affirm that Lagos State is on the fast track towards bridging its road infrastructural deficit. The state government investment priority on roads is outstanding, especially when consequential damage that arose from deplorable condition of roads in the state is really taken into account.
Obviously, for Lagos State, 2018 is a year of continuous infrastructural development that will create a new Lagos that will be pride of Africa. No doubt, the state has done and still doing lots of right things that are generating excitement and expectations in different sectors of the state. Today, a first time visitor to Lagos may not appreciate the transformation that has taken place in the city and its satellite towns in the last three years as somebody who visited few years back. In fulfilling its promise to open up more inner roads across the state following the successful delivery of the 114 roads in September 2016, the state government has mobilised contractors with the sum of N5.563 billion being the 30 per cent payment to commence the construction of the 181 roads across the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs. Between May 2017 and April 2018 a total of 55 road projects cumulating in 128.936 kilometres were completed.
Lots of positive things have been happening across the state, and more still on the way. In particular, residents of Alimosho federal constituency, axis around where Ambode administration is building new economy are still in the euphoria of celebrating 21 networks of new roads and two bridges, totalling 27.4 km recently unveiled by the state government. The roads, which connect Lagos with Ogun State from Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, were fitted with walkways, drainage system, laybys, service ducts, lane marking and street lights, among others. The projects are capable of making the constituency with the highest block votes in Nigeria economically viable and also livable. Now, residents can comfortably go to Badagry from the axis without necessarily passing through Iyana-Ipaja and Oshodi.
First, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu administration started the vision of making Alimosho a place of pride with the construction of LASU-Iba Road while Governor Raji Fashola took it up to Ipaja. Currently, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has now taken it from Ipaja to Ayobo, Command Secondary School, Gate, Abesan, Aboru Bridge and roads connecting over 60 communities together. The roads are surely veritable alternative routes to decongest traffic from the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, and could be used to access Ipaja up to Badagry without using the expressway.
Cheerfully, Governor Ambode has promised to continue developing the Alimosho axis with dredging of Ilo River, rehabilitation of Adekoya Road, Makinde Road, Suberu Oje, Old Ota and Ishefun-Ijan Roads which he said will be connected to a jetty through which people can take a boat ride to connect Lagos Marina in 20 minutes. Among others, Governor Ambode said that a modern Bus Terminal and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor would soon be constructed along the axis.
Yet, these are just continuation of numerous roads constructed and commissioned under this administration. What will give any visitor coming into Lagos from the Ibadan end through the Ojodu-Berger end an inkling of the transformation that has taken place in Lagos is the new long pedestrian bridge which has changed the face of that area previously known for its filth, rowdiness and traffic gridlock. Berger Pedestrian Bridge which is well lit is an edifice befitting a megacity like Lagos. There are also the Ojota Pedestrian Bridge, the Ajah flyover, the Abule Egba flyover, the Aboru / Abesan Link Bridge which were all constructed and commissioned by the present administration in the state with the sole aim of upgrading infrastructure across the ‘Centre of Excellence’. From 114 road projects covering about 600 kilometres in all the 57 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas of the state on record early last year, many in the state have lost count as road construction has remained an ongoing passion for the state government.
Rasak Musbau, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos