Contractor says 50% foundation work on Oshodi Transport Interchange completed

Planet Projects Limited, contractor handling the construction work of proposed Oshodi Transport Interchange, says 400 piles representing 50 percent of the foundation work on the project have been completed.

Bola Adepoju, representative of the contractor, disclosed this, as Lagos State government is set to commence payment of compensation to some 428 traders of Mosafejo Market, at Oshodi, who had to give way for the project.

The total land area for the development of the Oshodi Central Business District (CBD) master plan, of which the transport interchange estimated to cost about $70 million, is a part of 70,000 square metres. It would accommodate shopping malls and three multi-floor bus terminals.

According to Adepoju, with the foundation so far 50 percent completed, the contractor will “begin work on the sky-walk by the end of January 2017,” noting that the project “is on schedule despite the high volume of vehicular and human traffic in Oshodi.” The project commenced in June 2016, and it is projected to be completed within 13 to 16 months.

Wasiu Anifowohse, Lagos State commissioner for physical planning and urban development, whose ministry supervises the project, did not give details of how much the state government is paying as compensation, but said the current administration was committed to the project, which is to be delivered through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

According to Anifowoshe, “the Oshodi transport interchange project has commenced and upon completion, the project would be of immense benefit to all Lagosians, especially major stakeholders including traders, commuters, transport unions, transport operators as well as shop owners.”

He reaffirmed that the redevelopment would drive commerce and investment into Oshodi, urging the traders to embrace the plan “just as the case with most urban regeneration in other parts of the world. The extent of what government is doing for the traders may not be immediately appreciated, but upon completion you will realise that the value of your business and your quality of life would have improved tremendously” he said.

The state government conceived the idea of the project to regenerate Oshodi into world-class business district while providing transport, recreational facilities that would see the consolidation of all 13 city and interstate parks in the area into three multi-storey bus terminals that would cater for parking and passenger demand.