Lagos to spend N18.5bn on reconstruction of 181 inner roads
Lagos State government is to spend N18,545,657,940.00 on the reconstruction of 181 identified inner city roads this year.
Of this sum, the state has released N5.563 billion to contractors to flag off the project across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas of the state.
Ade Akinsanya, the state commissioner for works and infrastructure, who disclosed this, Thursday, said the decision to reconstruct the 181 roads was to further open up the inner city. It would be recalled that the state government in 2016, also awarded contracts for the reconstruction of 114 inner roads, taking two from each of the 57 councils.
Kehinde Bamigbetan, the state commissioner for information and strategy, who also confirmed the release of the fund to the contractors, told BusinessDay that it had been appropriated for in the 2017 budget, which implementation spilled into early 2018.
According to Akinsanya, the reconstruction of the 181 roads would be undertaken in phases. The phase one will take one road each in the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas, as the contractors were already being mobilised to sites.
The commissioner said the sum of N5,563,697,382.00 released was 30 percent payment for the construction of the 57 roads, while the total cost of the roads stood at N18,545,657,940.00.
“The roads will be done in phases. Already phase one has been released. This phase involves 57 roads cutting across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.
“To facilitate immediate mobilisation to sites, 30 percent has been given to all the contractors upfront. This is in line with the magnanimity of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration to ensure service delivery all-year round,” Akinsanya said.
He said due process was observed in the award of the contracts, following the opening of bids in November 1, 2017 after which they were evaluated and considered. He added that there are 57 contractors involved in the first phase of the construction with a mandate to deliver in six months.
“Governor Ambode is committed to ensuring that Lagosians continue to enjoy good governance. There are many projects going on simultaneously across the state and the roads to be constructed will further open up the councils for economic prosperity,” Akinsanya said.
He, however, urged residents to support the state by paying their taxes to enable the government to meet up with its target to complete all ongoing projects this year.