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The Lagos State government has declared a state of emergency on various dilapidated highways and carriage roads within the State; as the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed that massive rehabilitation works on critical roads and highways across the State must commence on today the 14th October 2019.
Sanwo-Olu’s directive followed the conclusion of his series of meetings held yesterday with eight multinational engineering firms and a subsequently directed that work must commence on major highways identified as critical to reduce traffic congestions on highways in Lagos.
The Governor said that eight engineering companies have been instructed to immediately mobilise to the respective sites and commence major construction work on the identified roads.
He said: “We have just concluded the meeting with various reputable construction companies and all of them have been given the brief to immediately commence major construction work in various parts of the State. The exercise will begin tomorrow with palliative work on the selected roads, which are both on the Island and Mainland divisions of the State”.
“The contractors have been given the mandate to start mobilising to their respective sites without further delay. Their activities must first give our people an immediate relief on the affected roads so that there can be a free flow of traffic even during the rehabilitation work”, he emphasised.
To complement the major construction work on the highways, the Governor said Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) would be carrying out repairs of 116 inner roads across the State, in addition to over 200 roads already rehabilitated by the Corporation in the last three months.
He maintained that he was aware of the pain experienced by road users which were aggravated by persistent rainfalls while appealing to residents to bear with the Government he said efforts were being made to alleviate their pains on the roads and bring permanent relief.
“We expect the rains will begin to subside in this month of October and this is why we are mobilising our contractors to immediately start the major construction work on the identified highways and bring permanent relief to residents. I am giving all Lagosians the assurance that the contractors will start the construction in earnest and will deliver on the terms of an agreement reached with them”, the governor assured.
He said officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will also be working round the clock to control traffic in areas where the construction would take place.
Also speaking on the development, the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, listed some of the critical highways and roads to be constructed to include Ojota stretch of the Ikorodu Road, Motorways-Kudurat Abiola Way, Apogbon Highway, Babs Animashaun Road, Agric/Ishawo Road and Ijede Road in Ikorodu, as well as Lekki-Epe Expressway from Abraham Adesanya to Eleko Junction.
She confirmed that there would also be massive reconstruction works on a network of roads in Ikoyi, Ikeja GRA and Victoria Island.
The contractors deployed by the government include Julius Berger, Hi-tech, Arab Contractors, Metropolitan Construction, Slabaugh, CCECC, RAJAF Foundation Construction, and RCF Nigeria Limited.
