- As Concessionaire loses Lagos Trade Fair complex
A huge ‘Welcome to Nigeria’ era is set to open as the Lagos State Government on Monday flagged off the reconstruction of a 10-lane Oshodi-International Airport Road, pledging to deliver the project by January 2019.
Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr Adebowale Akinsanya, while speaking at the flag off ceremony, said the project was part of Governor Ambode’s vision and commitment of transforming the entire State.
He highlighted that the state government took it upon itself to undertake the reconstruction of the road, being one of the busiest roads in the state with vehicular volumes average of 50,000 vehicles daily, adding that the poor state of the road does not match the glowing status of the state as the fifth largest economy in Africa and the nation’s commercial hub.
Akinsanya said some of the fences along the corridor had been identified to be within the right of way, adding that government would minimise the impact of the project on property owners.
“To fast-track the project, three groups of workers will work on the project and they will work day and night, while upon completion, the project will be linked to the Oworonshoki Reclamation Project, which is also ongoing,” he said.
The commissioner said that a stakeholders’ meeting would hold on Thursday to sensitise people of the area about the project.
He urged the residents and motorists to cooperate with the state government while the construction would last, saying that the intention was to transform the area.
“There will be some minor inconveniences, but we are going to mitigate the impact. The work will be accelerated.
“The project is to make life easier for everybody. We just want to appeal to people to cooperate with us.
“We will be here to talk to the people in case of any issue, and we are also working with our partner, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),” Akinsanya said.
Also, Mr Biodun Otunola, the Managing Director of Planet Projects, the firm that designed the project, said that prior to the commencement of the construction, adequate feasibility studies were carried out.
Otunola said that the project, upon completion, would facilitate total transformation of Oshodi and International Airport corridor.
The managing director said that in as much as there would not be alternative roads created specifically for the project, adequate measures had been put in place to educate the public on the staging that would be developed.
He said that the project would be executed in phases, while motorists would make use of other sections of the road during construction work on a particular section.
The project designs include reconstruction and expansion of the existing carriage to a three-lane expressway on both directions, and construction of a two-lane service roads in both directions.
There would also be a construction of a Ramp Bridge to provide a U-turn from Ajao Estate to Airport, construction of a flyover at NAHCO/Toll Gate and drainage works.
Others would include the removal of existing Pedestrian Bridge at Ajao Estate and the construction of Pedestrian Bridges at Ajao Estate and NAHCO/Hajj Camp, construction of Slip Road to provide access to Ajao Estate, construction of Lay-bys, in addition to the installation of street lights.
In the meantime, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has approved the immediate revocation of the concession of the Lagos Trade Fair Complex and a fresh privatisation of the Yola Electricity Distribution Company.
It also approved the privatisation of Afam Power plants 1-5 to inject additional power into the national grid and improve electricity supply.
The Council, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also approved the pursuit of an out-of-court settlement of the dispute over the privatisation of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON).
Other decisions taken during the August 22 and 23 meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja include:
Approval of the amendments to the Work Plan for the conclusion of the transaction involving the concessioning of Terminal “B” Warri Old Port; the restructuring and recapitalisation of Bank of Agriculture.
“The restructuring of the BOA is in alignment with the Government’s desire to make financing options readily available to farmers for an aggressive diversification of the Nigerian economy,” the Council said in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity to the vice president, Mr. Laolu Akande
The Council also approved the immediate commencement of the reform and commercialisation of the River Basins Development Authorities to revitalise the irrigation and river basin potentials for agricultural purposes.
The move, according to the statement is aimed at resolving the lingering dispute between the Federal Government, BFIG and United Company RUSAL through the mediation of the Secretariat with the active collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.
The council advised that “the mediation efforts should take a holistic view of the entire sector and the overriding national interests to jumpstart industrial development through the steel sector in arriving at a resolution on the matter.”
The meeting also reviewed the proposals presented by its Secretariat, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) for the reform and restructuring of various sectors of the economy.
These approvals, the council noted, were aimed at giving traction to key infrastructure facilities in the country that are presently under concessions, but have been adjudged to be performing sub-optimally.
Additional report from Nation
