Lagos mobilises contractors for 377 road, power projects

Lagos State government says it is mobilising contractors to commence work on 377 road and rural electrification projects cutting all wards in the state. A breakdown of the projects shows that 250 would involve road, drainage and public buildings, while 23 are power related. With the mobilisation, the contractors are expected to commence work on the projects immediately.

The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the flag-off of the projects on Friday, said the projects were in response to the series of requests from communities in the state seeking intervention in specific challenges confronting their localities.

According to him, the process of identifying the needs and the design of the projects was in line with the concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and participatory governance in which the people were considered as key stakeholders. Sanwo-Olu said the execution of the projects would change the narrative about what grassroots development and government’s responsibilities are all about.

“The implementation of the projects will commence immediately after this official flag-off, as contractors have been fully mobilised to move to site. I urge residents who are the ultimate beneficiaries of these projects to take ownership by monitoring the implementation process and ensure that the job conforms to quality and standard specified in the project design,” said Sanwo-Olu

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The governor described grassroots as ‘the bedrock of development,’ stressing that the projects were strategic in promoting the wellbeing of the people across communities.

“This administration’s development agenda is driven by the spirit to build a Greater Lagos that is livable, and conducive for the growth and development of enterprise. The dream of a greater Lagos is not exclusive; it is predicated on the principle of inclusiveness by which development is not considered as satisfactory until it has addressed the yearnings of the greatest number of the people who contributes to the commonwealth,” he noted.

Chairman of the projects’ implementation committee and the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat said all contractors would mobilise to sites from Monday, September 28, noting that the intervention was in demonstration of Sanwo-Olu’s campaign promise to run an inclusive government.

He said the projects’ selection followed a meeting between the governor and all 377 councillors across the state, during which Sanwo-Olu asked them to nominate specific projects to be executed in their wards.

“The projects will be implemented by contractors in collaboration with government’s ministries, departments and agencies, including the ministry of works and infrastructure, ministry of local government and community affairs, directorate of technical service, Lagos state electricity board and public works corporation,” Hamzat said.