Against its earlier promise to complete the Oshodi Transport Interchange by December 2018, the Lagos State government has shifted the completion date of the project to 2019. The project was started in 2016.
The state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode while inspecting progress of work on the project alongside the expansion of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, in April this year, had promised that the project would be deliver to Lagosians as “Christmas Gift” this December.
But Adebowale Akinsanya, the state commissioner for works and infrastructure in a statement issued on Monday said that the project is now to be delivered in the first quarter of 2019. Akinsanya did not give any reason for the change of date.
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BusinessDay, however, gathered exclusively from a source close to the contractor handling the Oshodi Transport Interchange- Planet Projects Limited, that the shift of date is connected with the delay being experienced in the evacuation of some of the equipment imported for the completion of project from the Apapa Ports. “There has been undue delay in the clearing of equipment for the project from the ports,” a source told BusinessDay on Monday. Apapa and the ports remain a major challenge to the national economy as the area is perpetually lockdown due to the influx of trucks and failed infrastructure including roads.
But Akinsanya said “ with the ongoing pace of work, the project would be completed within the first quarter of 2019, and operations commencing soon after”.
According to him” “At the moment, 83 per cent total work progress has been achieved, including completion of piling works on the three terminals and completion of the piling works for the Skywalks.
“Among others, we have also completed works on the pile caps for the three terminals, concrete works of the buildings, ground floor works on all the loading bays for the three terminals, erection of steelworks for the Skywalks and terminals and Taxi Park and car park area, while road works around the terminal are at an advanced stage as well as bus holding bays around the terminals also at an advanced stage”.
The Oshodi Transport Interchange project which is part of the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) of the state government, is being designed to transform the axis forever and enhance connectivity. The project seeks to transform Oshodi into a world-class Central Business District (CBD) with business, travel and leisure activities conducted in a serene, secure, clean, orderly and hygienic environment, comparable with other transport terminals around the world.
The project, on completion, would consolidate all the 13 city and interstate bus parks into three multi-storey terminals, providing standard facilities including waiting area, loading bays, ticketing stands, drivers lounge, parking areas, rest rooms, accessible walkways and pedestrian sky-walks linking all the terminals.
Ambode while inspecting the transport interchange and the airport road projects in April had promised to by December this year, citing their strategic significance to traffic management in the state.
He explained that the need for quick completion of the road has become imperative in view of their strategic location as an entry point into Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general. We just saw the progress of work being done on the Airport Road.
“I will like to appeal to all Lagos residents that they should bear with us. As much as possible, we will try to reduce the stress the reconstruction might generate by completing it and the Oshodi interchange by December 2018. This we hope to present to Lagos residents as Christmas gifts, Ambode said.
JOSHUA BASSEY
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