Leap for Ikorodu as Ambode pursues economic devt
From the early months of the Akinwunmi Ambode-led government when the now reconstructed Lagos-Ikorodu road was officially commissioned to the clamorous flag off of the new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operation into Ikorodu by one of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority’s (LAMATA) franchisees; Premeiro, it’s been a steady leap for the indigenes and residents of Ikorodu.
Interestingly, the expanded Lagos-Ikorodu road delivered by the Lagos State government at the cost of N30 billion with the support of the World Bank is one of the kind, as it incorporates a BRT corridor that facilitates the smooth operations of high capacity buses in and out of Ikorodu, a development that has changed the hitherto ugly face of public transportation system on the Ikorodu axis.
The Ikpakodo ferry jetty, one of the biggest being built by the state government also sited in Ikorodu, upon completion looks good to further make Ikorodu a sought-after community to live in and do business. Already, with the ferry services being offered by some private operators between Ikorodu and Lagos Island, the residents, especially those who work on the island are counting their blessings in terms of reduced travel time to connect their offices.
Indeed, Lagosians who hitherto disdained Ikorodu are relocating to this once calm but sprawling community. The value of property and rent is on the rise and landlords and proper developers are happy for it.
As Ikorodu continues to rejoice over its gradual transformation from an ancient town to a bustling modern city, the state government seems not done yet. More, according to the government, are in the offing for this division.
At the 2016 first quarter town hall meeting of Ambode with the constituents of Lagos East Senatorial District, which attracted audience in thousands, and held at the Ikorodu Town Hall, Thursday, April 14, Governor Ambode announced that the plan was to make Ikorodu the economic hub of Lagos.
Currently undergoing development in Agbowa-Ikosi, Ikorodu is what will pass as world-class sawmill. The project which is being handled by DCP Construction, christened “First World Communities” will serve the need of the Oko-Baba saw-millers, as government plans to relocate them from the untidy slum in Ebute Metta overlooking the Third Mainland Bridge, to the sprawling community.
It is not just going to be a community for doing business, but also for living. Being provided to enhance convenience and allow smooth operation at the Agbowa-Ikosi sawmill is a 500KVA transformer and restaurant.
Others include a 250 unit band saw shades, 250 unit of sales offices, meeting hall, toilets, car and trailer parks, network of roads and cart tracks, green buffer zone and open spaces, shoreline protection and log preparation area.
“This project needs to be completed fast because it is a model urban regeneration project that is very important to us,” Ambode told the contactor as he toured the site last week.
On completion, the sawmill would be another major attraction in Ikorodu. Hundreds of persons engaged in the timber business would not only gravitate to the area, but also draw several others including food vendors, truck operators and petroleum dealers to the community.
“We intend to relocate the Oko-Baba Market in Ebutte Metta to Agbowa and so this axis will be a big axis for commerce, for employment and then for prosperity and that is what we want for the rest of Lagos. The saw-millers are excited about this place. I am assured that before the end of September, we would have commenced operation here,” the governor said.
Also to be upgraded and made more viable is the Imota Rice Mill also in Ikorodu. According to Ambode, the 2.5 metric tonnes rice mill which was commissioned in 2012 by the immediate past administration, but went out of operation a few years after, will be upgraded to do 20 metric tonnes per hour in partnership with private investors.
Ambode, who recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kebbi State for increased food production, with rice as a major component, said to ensure that Lagos delivers on the MoU, the rice mill must be overhauled and made to do more.
“That is the only way we can be clearly said to have intervened seriously. That is also the only platform we can use to allow the inflow of rice paddy from Kebbi State. You will all recall that we recently signed a MoU with Kebbi State and the intention is that we want a consistent flow of raw materials, so that the era of importing rice from abroad would become a thing of the past.”
Not done, the state government has secured a site for the relocation of the Mile 12 Market, also in Imota. At the inspection of the site, Ambode said, “We are all aware that we had a little crisis at Mile 12 Market in Ketu not long ago and here is the new site that we are relocating the Mile 12 Market.
“This new commodity market would take off from here and so I’d like to give the ministry of physical planning the directive to commence activities here within the next one week. We believe that if we start within the next seven days, within the next six months, Mile 12 Market in Ketu will be a thing of the past.
“We are committed to doing this. We know it is in the interest of all Lagosians. The marketers themselves have agreed; the onus is now on us to ensure that we deliver this new market within the next six months.
“I want to appeal to the people of Imota that you will be having new sets of investors; new sets of traders and then new sets of tenants. You should be very accommodating because we are bringing a whole lot here,” he said.
For Nurudeen Saka-Solaja, the lawmaker representing Ikorodu Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, the people of Ikorodu had never had it so good. He specifically commended the government for considering Imota for the relocation of the Mile 12 Market and called for work to commence in earnest.
Adeniyi Agoro, the Oba of Imota, speaking on behalf of the people, said he foresaw the area becoming the melting pot of the Lagos economy. He lauded Ambode for bringing what he described as laudable projects to Ikorodu, and assured that the residents would cooperate with the government to ensure the success of all the projects.
JOSHUA BASSEY