13th April, 2012
The Lagos State Government says projects, including roads, are equitably distributed across the state contrary to claims in some quarters that they are only in “preferred areas.”
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said on Thursday in Lagos that siting of projects was based on population and traffic situation and not on the whims and caprices of individuals.
He spoke against the backdrop of complaints in some quarters that key projects were being concentrated in the Lekki-Ajah axis of the state.
“The allegation that road projects and the development agenda of Gov. Babatunde Fashola’s administration is skewed in favour of some areas is false and unfounded,” Hamzat said in a statement dispatched to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The statement was signed by an Assistant Director, Public Relations, in the ministry, Mr. Biola Fagunwa.
Hamzat said: “The so-called ‘ignored’ communities have more projects than the ‘favoured’ ones as could be seen from available statistics.
On plans to construct seven pedestrian bridges across the metropolis, he said the initiative was aimed at preventing pedestrians from being knocked down by fast-moving vehicles on the highways.
“The bridges will be constructed at Cement, Ijaiye, Iddo, Loco, Igbobi, Ile-Epo and Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa,” he said.
Hamzat, however, said the pedestrian bridge earmarked for Berger Bus Stop at the Ogun-Lagos State boundary would be delayed because of the ongoing reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
He stated that the rehabilitation of Carter, Eko, Oke-Afa/Agbe, Dopemu, Iyana-Ipaja, Alhaji Masha Road and Itolowo bridges had been awarded, adding that work would soon commence on the projects.