Lagos reassures on projects completion, declares zero-tolerance on abandonment

Lagos State government has reiterated its commitment to delivering to its citizenry high quality road network that supports their socio-economic well-being. It has also declared a zero tolerance for “abandonment of projects.”

The state, through its Ministry of Work and Infrastructure, has noted that while the desire for top quality road network that will have immediate and visible impact on socio-economic lives of the citizens cannot be over-emphasised, there is a need for people to appreciate that construction methods in the state is fast changing with its emphasis on minimal disruption to user’s activities.

The ministry notes that the period of rains involves low activity in construction and cognisance of this must be taken as it tries to deliver more roads.

According to a statement made available to BusinessDay, the ministry expresses satisfaction with the Meiran Road linking the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway with the Ajasa Command communities, saying the project has not been abandoned.

“The contractor has attained 100 percent of site clearance, 90 percent of relocation of services and 98 percent of drainage works, while the earthworks are currently ongoing with over 70 percent completion,” the ministry said.

“Again, the only outstanding works include the laying of crushed stone base, asphalt and provision of streetlight, since the service ducts have been 85 percent completed,” it added.

In a related development, the state has also commenced the rehabilitation of parts of Ago Palace Way, as part of palliative measures on the road aimed at giving relief to residents of the area.

Obafemi Hamzat, the state commissioner for works and infrastructure, said the palliative measure, which will last for eight weeks, would only be a temporary approach, as the contract to reconstruct the entire road beginning from Century Hotel to the end, had been awarded.

To Samuel Awucha, a resident in the area, the bad state of the road has brought about untold hardship to the residents as commuters no longer ply the road, opting for alternative routes that are not better off. He appealed to the government to hasten up the rehabilitation process to help residents and businesses in the area.

Restating government’s commitment to delivering a first-class road on the axis, the commissioner noted that challenges were to be expected, assuring however that the ministry was positioned to address such.