In order to build a five-community network of roads in the Alimosho Local Government Area, the Lagos State Government has made a plea for cooperation in reclaiming the Right of Way (RoW).
At a stakeholders meeting on Friday in Ikeja, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, made the request.
He said that the discussion was about the building of a network of roads in Ile-Eja/Olaiya, Ajibola Hassan, Alhaji Mustapha, Olu Adeyanju, and Rabiatu Ogedengbe, which would improve connection.
Bamgbose-Martins said that the five major roads and bridges would make it easier to get around in the Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area of the state. He was represented by Mr. Oluwole Sotire, the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
“The magnitude of this project and others being executed by the administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Alimosho Local Government Area underscores the strategic importance of the area as a population hub with high demand for social amenities.
“To enhance connectivity between communities in the axis, the government has undertaken several road construction projects among which are: Abaranje road, Akesan-Obadore road, Isuti road and Babafemi Dada-Shalom Academy road network.
“Thus, the commencement, as indicated by this stakeholders meeting, of another network of roads to the benefit of the people of this Local Government Area in particular and Lagosians in general, attests to the giant stride that this administration is making in achieving the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda, particularly the Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy,” he said.
In order for the project to get off to a good start, Bamgbose-Martins said obstructions on the RoW needed to be removed. He also promised prompt payment of compensation.
He said that people from the Ministry and Lands Bureau would go to communities to do the right kind of assessments, send out the right kinds of notices, and figure out how much compensation would be needed.
To avoid unfavourable outcomes like flooding and building collapse, Bamgbose-Martins urged building in accordance with physical planning laws.
He asked locals to take charge of the project and provided contact information for the ministry’s complaints and observations line as well as a link to an online app that can be downloaded from the Google Play store.
Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, said that the LCDA’s travel times would be cut down. She was represented by Mr. Tokunbo Oyenuga.
The construction would start with the drains, but Adeyoye urged locals to always hire surveyors for any building to precisely determine the road setbacks.
While providing a brief overview of the project, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Infrastructure, Mr. Daramola Olufemi, represented by Mr. Gbadamosi Kamal, described the various lengths and widths of the project and the facilities included.
According to him, the project would replace a temporary wooden bridge, connect Akesan and Abaranje, and make a number of nearby settlements more easily accessible.
The chairman of Igando Ikotun LCDA, Mr. Lasisi Akinsanya, and the member for Alimosho 2, Mr. Kehinde Joseph, congratulated the government for the project, which they observed will have a beneficial influence on the communities.
In order to complete the project on schedule, Joseph urged government agencies to work together.
According to Dr. Babatunde Olajide, Special Adviser to the Governor on E-GIS, the Sanwo-Olu administration provided 26 RoWs, translating to the construction of 26 roads.
He applauded the Sanwo-Olu administration’s efforts to build infrastructure and roads.
He claimed that in order to safeguard state infrastructure from damage and simultaneously improve the security of people and property, the government was utilising technology to monitor the entire state.
Stakeholders spoke up in turn about various issues, and the commissioner responded.
