Outgoing governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, is taking steps alongside contractors handling some ongoing key infrastructure projects in the state to wrap up work and prepare them for commissioning before his exit date of May 29, BusinessDay can reveal.
Top on the list of the major projects are the Lagos airport road, Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) and Ayinke House (Maternity Hospital), Ikeja, which costs run into several billions of naira.
An aide to the governor told BusinessDay that the three projects, which he described as “very dear to Ambode’s heart”, are listed top among the governor’s exit gifts to Lagosians in keeping with to his promise to complete and hand them over for public use.
“Construction works on these projects are at advanced stages of completion. I think it’s certain they would be handed over before this government hands over,” said the aide who does not want his name in print.
“The governor went on inspection of them recently and was given the assurance by the contractors that they would be ready possibly this April,” the aide said.
While Ambode inherited the Ayinke House, fondly called ‘Lagos babies’ factory’, from his predecessors in office, the ongoing expansion of the Lagos airport road and Oshodi Transport Interchange are his administration’s initiatives aimed at changing the ‘ugly face’ of public transportation in Nigeria’s economic capital.
BusinessDay learnt that the Ayinke House situated within the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) has been retooled and fitted with modern medical equipment to support expectant mothers and aid safe delivery. During a visit to the maternity hospital some months back, Ambode had directed the contractor handling the project to redouble efforts so as to deliver faster.
The health facility had been out of use for more than eight years and it would excite expectant mothers around Ikeja and environs to have it swing back to life.
The transport terminal, which construction is being completed, is aimed at transforming chaotic Oshodi environs into a world-class central business district with provision for leisure and travel activities in a secure and hygienic environment that is comparable with similar facilities in advanced economies.
The OTI has been designed to consolidate hitherto 13 loading parks at Oshodi into three multi-storey modern transport terminals with ticketing stand, skywalks linking the three terminals, waiting area, restrooms, driver lounge, and parking area for high capacity buses being introduced as part of the state’s Bus Reform Initiative (BRI), according to Ade Akinsanya, Lagos State commissioner for works and infrastructure.
The Lagos airport road, hitherto a two-lane road in a state of neglect, is being designed as a six-lane dual carriage expressway (three-lane on both directions), two-lane service roads on both directions. The road is constructed with a ramp bridge to provide a U-turn from Ajao Estate to the airport, construction of a flyover at NAHCO/tollgate and drainage works.
It is coming with two new pedestrian bridges at Ajao Estate and NAHCO/Hajj Camp, as well as slip road to provide access to Ajao Estate, lay-bys and installation of streetlights to meet required international standard. On completion and handover, it is expected to boost Nigeria’s image given that it links to the country’s most utilised international airport.
JOSHUA BASSEY
