Lagos State government will be spending N138.249 billion on road infrastructure this fiscal year.
This followed the passage of the state’s 2017 budget of N812.998 billion by the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday. A state official told BusinessDay on Wednesday that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would be signing the appropriation bill “within the next few days” to set the stage for commencement of implementation.
Organised labour said on Monday it would be collaborating with civil society organisations to monitor the implementation this year’s federal and states’ budgets to ensure that they impact positively on the lives of the citizens.
Akinyemi Asahde, who doubles as Lagos State commissioner for finance and economic planning and budget, lists some road infrastructure the state would invest the N138.249 billion to include the completion of Abule-Egba and Ajah overhead bridges, where construction were currently ongoing.
Others, according to Ashade, are the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, starting from Oshodi; Agric-Isawo-Owutu-Arepo Road in Ikorodu; Igbe-Igbogbo Phase II – Bola Tinubu Way, also in Ikorodu; Ijegun Imore Phase II Amuwo, in Ojo axis; Oke-Oso-Araga-Poka and Epe-Poka-Majoda, both in Epe, as well as the Pen Cinema flyovers.
The commissioner said the projects were carefully chosen to open up the hinterlands, improve connectivity within the metropolis and reduce travel time.
“We shall also continue the expansion of BRT corridors, signage, lane-marking and community traffic initiatives, reclamation of Lekki Foreshore, advancement of “Light-up” Lagos project through provision, rehabilitation and maintenance of streetlight facilities including solar power and inner roads,” Ashade said.
The state Assembly passed the 2017 appropriation bill of N812.998 billion on Tuesday following the adoption of the report and recommendations of its committee on budget and economic planning, headed by Rotimi Olowo.
The House approved the sum of N305.182 billion as total recurrent expenditure and N507.816 billion as capital expenditure for the year ending December 31, 2017.
Olowo, while presenting the committee’s report, said the state was able to achieve 71 percent budget performance in 2016, in spite of the economic recession. He said in 2017, the legislature would back the executive on its revenue drive, adding that more people would be brought into the tax net and make the rich pay more.
