The candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for senatorial by-election in Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru has commended the Lagos State Government for flagging off the reconstruction of Eti-Osa-Lekki-Epe Expressway project.
Abiru, a former Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank Limited, noted that the reconstruction of the expressway would, no doubt, have a greater multiplier effect on Lagos economy at large.
He made these remarks at the flag-off of the project on Sunday, dissecting great benefits its execution would have on the economy and people of the state.
The state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had flagged off the reconstruction of Eti Osa-Lekki-Epe Expressway 40 years after was originally constructed by the administration of the state’s first civilian governor, Lateef Jakande.
Sanwo-Olu had promised that the first phase of the road project, which will cover 18.75 kilometres from Eleko to T-Junction in Epe, would be completed in 20 months.
Speaking with journalists after the flag-off on Sunday, Abiru observed that the reconstruction of Lekki-Epe expressway “is a monumental achievement for Lagos State and particularly for Lagos East Senatorial District.”
Abiru, an economist and chartered accountant who spent 32 years in the private sector, noted that the road reconstruction would harness the opportunities that we see around here, especially within the Ibeju-Lekki Belt.
He said: “As we all know, this is where we have the Deep Sea Port. We also have Dangote Refinery and many other companies. For all these companies around this belt, a road of this magnitude will enable us harness the opportunities that we see.”
The APC candidate dissected the economic importance of the road project, which according to him, would create massive business activities and employment opportunities for the people living along the Epe-Ibeju-Lekki Belt.
Even during the construction stage of this project, Abiru said: “The linkages we are going to derive and the economy of what is going to come up are in terms of business activities and employment opportunities for most people around. This belt will be significant.”
After the project completion, Abiru added that the project would bring about “a greater multiplier effect of this project on Lagos economy at large.
“Its completion will open up this environment and other opportunities we see around the industrial arena here, even rising up to Epe (and to formally optimise the major road networks the last administration did in Epe).”
On Lagos East bye-election, Abiru noted that the postponement of the bye-election showed a lot of sensitivity towards the yearning of the youths and particularly the crisis that came out of the protests.
In particular, according to the APC candidate, the voices of the youths are very loud and clear. Their agitations are well-placed. I believe the government doesn’t have a choice, but to live up to the expectations.
Abiru described the youth agitation as a major reawakening, noting that most of the demands the youths made “are not for themselves alone.
Rather, he said the youths “have largely demonstrated to us how Nigeria can be a better society, particularly with our police force in terms of training and motivation for them. I think that it is a cause that is well-placed. I stand by the youths.”
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