Federal Government’s roads infrastructure rehabilitation train arrived Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, on Monday for the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Sagamu Road.
It is expected that the rehabilitation of the roads will open up that part of town and, according to Babatunde Fashola, minister of power, works and housing, agriculture and the economy of Lagos will be major beneficiaries of that singular act of government.
The road is strategic to industrialisation and agricultural development, which government considers growth sectors in its economic diversification drive. The road is also strategic and expected to promote the growth of agricultural activities, boost business for industries in the axis and create employment opportunities for the locals.
Odogunyan Industrial Estate, the NNPC Mosimi Depot and other firms are some of the beneficiaries of the 30.1-kilometre road project, which links Ikorodu roundabout in Lagos to Sagamu in Ogun State. It will help them to take their products to other parts of the country effortlessly and at reduced cost and shorter travel time.
The minister noted that the project had a national outlook and urged politicians to shun sentiments and focus on the developmental goals when constructing projects, assuring that the Lagos-Ota Road would also be rehabilitated up to Abeokuta while work would continue on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
This is a good development for the people and economy of this part of the country, but close watchers of government activities are advising that government should walk their talk and go beyond politics.
The minister assured that if his ministry got approval in the 2018 budget, they would be able to start work on the last part of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. This is another very strategic road in Nigeria.
The road links the country to the country in the West Coast and the expectation is that the completion of that road would boost and promote regional trade in the West African sub-region. Besides trade, the trade will help grow the economy of Lagos through commerce and real estate development.
Already, the Agbara-Badagry axis of the state has become a destination for real estate investment firms and individuals many of whom have taken position by acquiring large parcels of land for development. Work and movement to this axis have slowed because of the uncertainty that trails the road reconstruction, which is taking almost forever to complete by the state government.
He assured further that work would start immediately on Ikorodu-Shagamu Road, but the contractors’ first priority was to stabilise the road before the rains started. He urged residents to be patient and cooperate with the contractors, as the construction was likely to cause them some inconveniences.
Wael Salem, general manager, Arab Contractors Nigeria Limited, also assured they would do their best to make the road motor-able. The community also assured the contractor of their co-operation.
Gbenga Ashafa, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, President Buhari’s senior special assistant on foreign affairs and Diaspora, Jimmy Benson, Federal House of Representatives member, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency and others, commended the government for the road project.
