LASG parleys Victoria Island residents on road improvement
![](https://cvnewsng.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/jide-sanwo-olu2-1.jpg)
Adewusi Adeyinka
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday engaged some stakeholders that would be affected by the state government’s plan to upgrade the Iru-Victoria Island and Lekki axis of the State.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako during a dialogue session with the affected persons by the planned development said the successful take-off of the landmark project, would upgrade Oniru network of roads, covering Muri Okunola Extention, Ligali Ayorinde, Akinbolagbe and seven other major junctions.
He explained that the intention of the State Government was to ease traffic gridlock experienced by road-users plying the axis, stressing that it was imperative for government to undertake the said development considering the fact that the axis represents the hub of investment activities in the State.
Salako who was represented by the Director Development Matters, Tpl Oladimeji Animashaun said that in view of commercial activities and investment in the area, the need for the axis to experience continuous infrastructural renewal as a way of improving the ease of doing business in Lagos State was not negotiable.
“It is our fervent belief that by taking development to every nook and cranny of the state, we will not only improve our rating on the ease of doing business in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria as a whole, but we would have gone a long way in making life easier and more meaningful to the teeming population of Lagosians through effective inter connectivity within our state while also helping investment to thrive for our people,” the Commissioner stated.
He said that the collaboration of Access Bank PLC with the Lagos State Government for road upgrade project in the area underscored the importance of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in delivering public infrastructure for socio-economic development of the State.
According to the Commissioner, the major import of the stakeholders’ interactive forum was to secure mutual understanding of stakeholders for the smooth and successful take off of the project.
“This is in line with the inclusive governance initiative of the administration of Mr. Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, which is an all-inclusive approach to development,” he said.
He enjoined the people to give their unalloyed support to the project by cooperating with the staff of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and other agencies of government during the execution of the project.
“The project will as a matter of fact make demands on our ability to persevere and make necessary sacrifices for development to berth in our domain so that together we can achieve the agenda of making Lagos a 21st century economy of our administration ” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Olujinmi Hotonu, while giving a brief about the project through his representative, Engr. Ibironke Olukoko, disclosed that the scope of the work included right of way acquisition and delivery, site clearance, relocation of public utilities, construction of dual carriageway and provision and installation of street lights as well as traffic signals among others.
Earlier, Engr. Emmanuel Oyenuga of Planet Project Limited, representing the contractors, said that the project was conceived to provide solution to the traffic gridlock along Iru-Victoria Island axis, adding that the duration of the project was six months.
In view of the expected benefits, the stakeholders embraced the project and urged for its timely completion.
The stakeholders include Mobil Producing Nigeria, Megamond, Four Points, Munchies and residents of Iru-Victoria Island.