Buhari to unveil security helicopters in Lagos

as state fixes 280 roads, targets 189 more before year-end

All is now set for the unveiling of the three helicopters purchased by Lagos State for aerial surveillance, aimed at reducing crime and making the state safer for lives and business operations.

President Muhammadu Buhari this Friday at an event expected to take place at the Lagos House, Ikeja, will officially hand over the helicopters to security operatives in the state.

This is coming as the state government said on Tuesday that a total of 282 roads had been rehabilitated in the last six months, aimed at ensuring free flow of traffic and stemming incidences of robbery in gridlock.

Ayotunde Sodeinde, general manager, Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), joined by Steve Ayorinde, commissioner for information and strategy, at a news conference in Ikeja, said in addition to the ones rehabilitated, 189 roads had also been earmarked for completion before the end of this year.

According to him, this is a continuous exercise in line with the directive of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

“You know when the roads are good, it means economic growth, people will be able to move from one part of the state to another, transport their goods without stress, you will notice that even the hoodlums and pickpockets, they operate when there is gridlock. As far as gridlock that is being caused by potholes is concerned, we are on our feet to ensure that we put the road in order to reduce the traffic.

“We have done 280 roads since June 2015 till date. We have listed another 189 roads and anytime from now we would start. We would work day and night to ensure we make life more comfortable for residents in the state,” said Sodeinde.

He listed some of the rehabilitated roads to include Metal Box Road, Acme Road inward Akilo, Ejigbo-Ikotun Road, among others, while extensive fixing of potholes were also carried out on other roads. He said others like Alfa Nla/Capitol Road in Agege, Brown Street in Oshodi, Okota Road in Isolo are currently under construction.

“Metal Box Road and Acme Road are special projects; they are not routine projects that we do. The routine projects are like 280. We are doing the second asphalting on Ejigbo, the place is quite motorable now. We had finished that Ikotun Ijegun. Why I said it is 85 percent completed is because of the drainage system,” he said.

Ayorinde, on his part, said in continuation of the government’s effort to fix the roads, the governor approved the award of 114 roads, two from each of the 57 local governments across the state.

He also assured Lagosians that the process of road rehabilitation and reconstruction was continuous and more roads would be rehabilitated in the next quarter.

“All these roads which would be done by the local government will come with standard drainage system, walk ways and street lights. The state government had nothing to do with choosing the contractors, the local governments have been mandated to do that and this will create jobs within each local government,” Ayorinde said.