10th September, 2012
The Lagos State Government says the expansion and reconstruction of the Mile 12-Ikorodu Road will generate over 7,000 jobs for Lagosians and plans to construct 15 new pedestrian bridges on the road.
The reconstruction of the road will gulp N29 billion. The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, has been given the contract for the job.
Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola disclosed that the project would generate 2,000 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs, adding that the project would comprise a comprehensive plan to extend the bus rapid transit, BRT, to Ikorodu and its adjoining communities.
Moberola, who spoke at a stakeholder’s meeting in Okorodu on the road, said there would be better environment and less pollution as well as greenhouse gas along the corridor when the road is completed.
The LAMATA boss said the road had been designed with the six lanes comprising 15 new bridges, three terminals, bus depot, seven pedestrian bridges, 12 new U-turns, nine pedestrian crossing points, lane marking and signalised junctions.
He dispelled fears of massive building demolition as a result of the construction of the road, saying that only some fences, walls and frontages of some buildings would be affected.
He asked those whose houses would be affected to cooperate with the state government, pointing out that only 10 percent of them had submitted their property documents for compensation.
“Property owners should not fear at all. The state government will not make things difficult for the owners of the buildings and properties affected. In most cases, we will not pull down houses. But fences and walls will be affected.
“The state government and LAMATA want the understanding and cooperation of all the stakeholders along the corridor as well as the general public during the on-going redevelopment of the road and BRT project,” he said.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the people and residents of Ikorodu to cooperate with the state government in executing the project.
Dabiri-Erewa said the project would have been at the advanced stage by now if not for some issues that came up between the federal and state governments.
According to her, “this is one of the promises made and promises being fulfilled by the Fashola administration. Fashola promised a six-lane road project during his re-election campaign. The project would have commenced much earlier but there was an issue between the federal and state government because it falls within federal jurisdiction.”