Artist impression of the Murtala Mohammed airport road when completed
Lagos – The State government on Monday approved the extension of the ongoing reconstruction of the International Airport Road to Ladipo International Market axis along Oshodi Apapa Expressway.
The government also announced plans to construct a pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop in response to the yearnings of traders and residents of the area, with the contractor expected to begin work on the bridge next week.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode disclosed this during an extensive inspection of ongoing projects across the state, saying that the extension was to complement the Airport Road reconstruction in line with the regeneration of the entire Oshodi axis.
“There is no point doing the Airport Road if we don’t extend that contract to where I am standing here and so I want to do it from Oshodi to Guardian Newspapers axis; I want to rehabilitate the road and turn it to a modern road. The only way I can do it also is if you don’t do any trading on the road.
“I promise you I will also do a pedestrian bridge at Toyota Bus Stop. So, the contractor that is doing the Airport Road will commence work on the pedestrian bridge and this road next week if you allow me. That is why I have come here personally; I was here yesterday. I don’t want to inconvenience you but I have come to appeal to you; just be patient with us; we will bring growth and development to this place,” Governor Ambode said.
The governor, who also inspected ongoing construction of roads around Ladipo International Auto Spare Parts Market, called on traders to leave the road to enable the contractor complete the projects.
Accompanied by key members of his cabinet, the governor expressed concern that the presence of traders displaying their wares on the road was hampering the construction work and delaying the completion of schedule.
Governor Ambode, while addressing thousands of traders who came out to hear from him, said he had come out personally to appeal to them to leave the road to enable work continue and that if they complied, the project would be delivered by May 2018.
“When I came here last year and I went through the Ladipo Market, I promised you I will do all the roads within the market and you will all cooperate with me. So, last year August, I fulfilled my promise; I awarded the contract of Akinwunmi Street, the Ladipo Street and then the other streets on the adjacent side.
“The contractors have gone to work; I have just inspected the project at Akinwunmi Street and the drainage has been completed. You were the ones that told me I should come and do the roads; I have asked the contractors and they are promising me that Akinwunmi Street will be delivered by May but I have an issue and that is why I have called the Vice President of your association to stand by my side here.
“Now, the only reason why that contract will not be completed on schedule is that some of you are trading on the roads that we want to repair and you were the ones that said we should come and repair the roads and so you need to talk to yourselves; I don’t want any trading on that road until we finish it. This is February, in another three months, we will finish it. So, the leaders in this market, please talk to your people, they should vacate the roads; let us bring development to your market.
“I have come to appeal to you. If you don’t do it by way of appeal, you know I also have the power to close the market but I don’t want to do it and so let there be peace and when there is peace, there is progress and there is development,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the traders, Vice President of the market, Mr Jude Nwankwo, commended Governor Ambode for delivering on his promise to transform the axis, assuring that they would cooperate with the government and vacate the roads to enable the contractor complete the project on schedule.
“We would cooperate with you, we do not have any reason not to cooperate with you because all that you have promised to do, you have done it. Moreso, we are all beneficiaries of all the good work you are doing in Lagos,” Nwankwo said.
Governor Ambode also inspected the ongoing construction of the Oshodi Transport Interchange where he was briefed on the level of work done so far by the contractor and Managing Director, Planet Projects, Mr Biodun Otunola.
He also inspected the ongoing construction of roads, walkways, laybys and solar-powered street lights in Agboyi Ketu Local Government Area expected to be completed within two weeks.
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While responding to an appeal by some of the residents for the construction of a market in the area, the governor promised to collaborate with the local government to see the possibility of acceding to the request.
Besides, the governor and his team also inspected the ongoing construction of the Eko Theatre in Oregun, Ikeja, one of the five theatres currently under construction across the state, assuring that the adjoining land space would be converted to a recreation centre for children and a car park.
