Infrastructure Investment is Critical Development Driver of Lagos Economy, Says Adeyoye
The Lagos State Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye has stated that the state government through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has continued to deliberately invest in infrastructure as a critical development driver of the state’s economy and the Greater Lagos Vision.
Adeyoye stated this during her presentation of the twoyear scorecard of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the state’s works and infrastructure sector, recently.
According to the special adviser, ensuring provision of jobs for hundreds of people, as well as bringing immediate impactful succour to commuters in the state is giving a positive feedback from the digital cabinet.
She stated that the Ministry developed a work culture which involves being S.M.A.R.T, that is; Strategic in Orientation; Maintenance Culture; Accountable
& Open in all Activities; Responsive to the Environment, and Technologically Driven.
“This ministry is made up of four main agencies; Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC); Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA); Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory (LSMTL), and Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance And Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA),” she said.
“The Ministry has been able to achieve the delivery of these infrastructure through its Capex of N104, 978,596,251.00 in Y2020 with an increase of the Capex to N125,963,903,754.00 in Y2021,” she said.
The roads selected for design, award, construction, and execution are on the basis of improved connectivity, in sync with intermodal transport system and urban regeneration plans of the administration, and the infrastructure roadmap for Lagos would be presented to the public before the end of this year, according to her.
“In achieving all of the success recorded by the ministry, we must not fail to emphasize the difficulties sometimes encountered in not getting the buy-in of some of the critical stakeholders. A typical project that comes to mind is that of Ije Ododo road project. This is in addition to the issues posed by the acquisition of the right of way as well as drainage outfalls,” she said.
This is aside the continual intervention on road repairs and maintenance of over 632 inner roads covering approximately 192km across the State by our Agency, the Public Works Corporation.
“The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has also completed the construction of 51 road projects since the advent of this administration and with 43 more ongoing across the three Senatorial Districts. This is in addition to over 23 Public building infrastructure that the office of works is providing for the good people of Lagos State,” she said.
She stated that the Ministry currently has a total of 140 active projects, of which 117, are road projects, while 23 are building projects.
“The Lagos State Public Works Corporation since inception of this Administration from June 2019 till date, has intervened on a total of 632 Roads, covering approximately 192km, assuming an average carriageway width of 7.3m and total asphalt premix of 178,300 tons. The intervention varies from, rehabilitation of strategic roads, that is, the overlay; routine maintenance of potholes patching / sectional overlay, as well as palliatives works,” she said.
“The essence of embarking on some of these projects is to reduce travel time and man-hour loss in traffic gridlock, improve individual economy through increase in value of properties, improve socio-economic activities and commercial activities,” she stated.
“Our core values remain, professionalism, teamwork, transparency & accountability, fairness, responsiveness, and excellence,” she said.
“With careful thinking, planning, and dedicated team of MOWI, and its agencies, we have a firm foothold on our way to achieving the goal. Our policies have shown what is possible with critical sectors recording growth, what remains is time that it takes for the full harvest of the fruits in plenitude and prosperity of the citizenry of Lagos state. We cannot go back to the bottom of the mountain when the plateau is now within reach,” she said.