“LAGOS ISLAND REGENERATION, BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS WILL ADD VALUE TO CITY” - LASG
… Expresses Determination To Ramp Up Under-Bridge Beautification
The Lagos State Government on Sunday reiterated that the Lagos Island regeneration and beautification project will add immense value to the area and the whole state.
Addressing the media after an inspection visit to the Adeniji-Adele underbridge by Oja Oba in Lagos Island to Aroloya and Under-Bridge behind Ebute Ero Police Station, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab said the projects are aimed at enhancing drainage capacity, reducing flood risks and improving the overall quality of life for residents.
He said the regeneration when completed would address perennial flooding issues across Lagos Island and environs, adding that the state of the environment has been improved since the commencement of the regeneration project because residents can now walk without using rain boots.
According to him, “Today's outing is just to formalise the beautification of Oja Oba Under bridge. We have had a proposal, more like a PPP CSR arrangement. We have two or three parties interested in taking up the Under-Bridge. So, they came up with their designs and we are here to ensure that the designs conform to state designs.
The Commissioner said the project in respect of the urban regeneration of the axis is expected to bring relief to residents in Lagos Island and environs, stressing that the State officials visit the sites regularly to discuss with each of the parties, set the boundaries, look at the designs and tweak their designs when the need arises.
He said one of the proponents has also chosen to beautify the Idumota underbridge that was cleared of traders last year in order to protect the infrastructure for a community facility.
He added that the beautification would include the provision of a table tennis court and some other sporting facilities under the bridge.
He added that the beautification would also include the provision of public toilets, green areas and urged the party involved to come up with the final drawing for approval as well as interface with the Local Government Chairman from time to time.
In his words, “Obalende Under-Bridge has been cleared and taken over; At Ijora Under-Bridge they are putting up a football pitch; Now, the Oja Oba Under-Bridge is going to be transformed as well as Idumota. We've indeed made progress”.
He said virtually everything is going according to plan as regards the Lagos Island regeneration, stating that it was realised that there is a slight hiccup around the Ojo Giwa Street as the contractor had to dam some areas to allow them to fix the neighbouring areas and they have given the government a guide that they will start work immediately
“The contractors are filling up the area by using precast and also want to tweak the design a bit because the road is very narrow and to ensure it meets the standard of the regeneration”.
Wahab said the completion of the projects would be in phases as some would be ready in the next six months, some in 12 months and some maybe in 14 months, stressing that the bottom line is that residents have started seeing the results.
"I would like to appeal to residents to be patient. You can never make an omelette without breaking the egg. There will be a bit of inconvenience. Like a woman in labour," he said
"That's why I have to apologise again. We never intended that this would be like this. But somebody has to be ready to pay that price for that temporary inconvenience", he added.
On the issue of the declaration of Monthly Environmental Sanitation and Waste Management, the Commissioner said the declaration will be made in a few weeks, adding that residents should not wait for the declaration of Monthly sanitation but cultivate the culture of regular cleaning of their environment.
He opined that Lagos does not have a waste problem but a citizens’ discipline problem where people just choose to do whatever they like, adding that the government is taking decisive action to tackle these human behaviours.
He mentioned that Markets situated on the expressways are culpable for illegal waste disposal as investigations revealed that the bins provided in the market are not being used, stressing that traders have been caught disposing waste on road medians.
He particularly mentioned the Badagry Expressway where LAWMA officials have been working tirelessly to clear out the waste traders dumped to block the rail tracks, adding that the government will henceforth wield the big stick on environmental offenders.
The places visited include Oja Oba Underbridge, Idumota Underbridge, Aroloya Street, Lagos Island and environs, Alfred Rewane collector/Bourdilon collector/MacPherson Collector/Five Cowries creek, Ikoyi.
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