The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abule Egba

  • I am resolute in my commitment to serve Lagosians – Ambode

    I am resolute in my commitment to serve Lagosians – Ambode

    • Says Crime Rate Reduced by 65 Percent
    • Commences Construction of Ajah, Abule Egba, Berger Flyovers

    The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday reaffirmed his commitment to remain resolute to serve and justify the trust reposed in him.

    The Governor also assured that he would continue to work tirelessly to deliver good governance for the collective good of all Lagosians.

    The Governor, who spoke while rendering his account of stewardship at the Second Quarterly Town Hall Meeting held at the City Hall, Lagos, said his administration will continue to stay true to its overall policy built on a tripod of security, infrastructural development and job creation.

    Addressing a large gathering of party chieftains, market men and women, captains of industry, members of the diplomatic corps as well as top government functionaries, Governor Ambode said his administration is fully aware that a safer Lagos will attract more investments from local and foreign investors, hence he kept to his promise in the first quarter to improve on the security in the state with investment in security equipment worth over N4.7billion.

    The Governor reported that the investment in the security equipment has led to the reduction of crime rate in the state by 65 percent in the last quarter of 2015.

    “I am happy to report that our State is a lot safer today as statistics show that crime rate reduced by 65% during the last quarter compared to Year 2014,” he said.

    Governor Ambode said his administration, in another spirited effort to tackle crime, invested towards the “Light Up Lagos” project, which has since restored light on major highways and inner roads in the state at night.

    He said an Advisory Committee on Power, chaired by the Deputy Governor was also set up to keep faith with the promise to ensure that every nook and cranny of the state is lit-up, just as he urged residents to key into the project in return for a reward.

    “In the past few months, we have fixed street lights from Berger in Ojodu to Lekki, Ikorodu to Lagos Island, the entire Ikeja axis, Victoria Island and Ikoyi. We are taking this project to every part of the State. If we are not yet in your neighbourhood, give us a little time; we will soon be there. As we light up the State, we expect crime to reduce as criminals will have nowhere to hide and operate.

    “I call on individuals and corporate bodies to join our “Light Up Lagos” project by adopting a street and lighting it up either by connecting it to your meter or your generator. In return, these individuals and institutions will receive special concessions on Land Use Charge and commendation from the State and Local Governments”.

    The Governor also said in the last quarter, 49 transformers were donated to communities that were hitherto in darkness for five years, while electricity has now been restored to 63 Communities starting from Eleko to Ode-Omi in Ibeju Lekki Local Government.

    “We also commissioned the 33kva Electrical Sub-Station in Gberigbe Community, Ikorodu. This is expected to improve the electricity situation in that axis,” he said.

    On infrastructural development, Governor Ambode said that over 300 roads were rehabilitated during the period under review, adding that 66 major road projects are at various stages of completion while 80 road grading and surface dressing projects will soon be completed in all the LGs & LCDAs of the State.

    He listed some of the completed roads to include Afa Nla Road, Agege, CIPM Road, Alausa, Ijegun-Ikotun Road, Mba Street, Ajegunle, 1st and 2nd Avenue, Festac Town, Afolabi Ege Street, Ojo, Thomson Road, Ikoyi, 2nd Avenue, Ikoyi, Queens Drive, Ikoyi, Ebutte Ero Road, Lagos Island and Akin Adeshola Road, Victoria Island.

    “In addition to this, the construction of two roads in each of the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Government Development Areas in the State was flagged off last week.  A total of 114 roads will be delivered through this intervention in the next six months at a cost of N17.5b,” The Governor said.

    Governor Ambode also listed other strides of his administration in the last quarter including the injection of 434 new BRT buses, the commencement of construction of fly-overs in Ajah roundabout, Abule – Egba Junction and Berger Bus stop as well as the resumption of work on the Blue Line Rail Project expected to be completed by December 2016.

    He also said that the state government has embarked on the rehabilitation of schools, construction of new classroom blocks and provision of furniture to the tune of N2.5b, jointly funded with the Federal Government under the UBEC scheme with the State adding an additional N526m.

    On the projection for the first quarter of 2016, he assured that with the budget already in place his administration will kick-start the N25billion Employment Trust Fund, employ new staff into LASTMA, Fire Service and Hospitals, strengthen the state security infrastructure as well as take the Light Up Lagos Project to more areas.

    He said, “As your Governor, I am resolute in my commitment to you; to serve and justify the trust you have reposed in me and work tirelessly to deliver good governance for the collective good of all Lagosians.

    “All we need is your support and cooperation. We thank you for your direct feedback to us. We take them on board but we also need you to always fulfill your side of the social contract by ensuring regular payment of your taxes and willful compliance with the State Laws.

    “There are better days ahead. Together, we are building a Lagos that we are all proud of”.

  • Abule-Egba traffic killing, say motorists

    •Govt: repair will end in April

    Some residents, motorists and commuters in Ile-Epo and Abule-Egba in Lagos have described the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway gridlock as killing.

    The Nation investigation shows that motorists struggle for right of way without consideration for one another.

    A bus driver, Faruk Adesina, said before work began on bad portion of the road, it took him one hour to get to Oshodi, but now he spends three hours.

    A resident, Musa Yusuf, said: “ The traffic congestion at Abule-Egba is as a result of the ongoing construction at the Ile-Epo market, the state government should please see to the immediate completion of the road, as the road has not only contributed to the traffic situation but has also denied traders the opportunity to work for their daily bread. I also urge the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to be less aggressive when apprehending traffic law offenders”.

    Another resident said: “The state government should build a pedestrian bridge at the Abule-Egba Junction, as it is always risky crossing the busy road. The T-junction, just where the traffic lights are needs to be expanded, the road is rough and too tight for all vehicles to squeeze through at ones, we need more roads and BRT lane”.

    A commuter, Fredrick Lawson, said the traffic snarl affects productivity.

    Besides, students and workers who close in the evening always get home late after a hectic day at work and school, he said.

    “It is so serious that Lagos is now popularly known for massive traffic lock downs,” he said.

    Reacting, Lagos State Government said Lagosians plying the road, especially around the Ile-Epo axis, would soon smile.

    Mr Yomi Oladapo, Head Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), said the General Manager Ayotunde Sodeinde, has promised that the on-going construction of drainage alignment and the bad portion of the Ile-Epo axis of the expressway would be completed in April.

    Oladapo quoted Sodeinde as saying that the drainage work, with a stretch of about 840 metres, and the bad portion of the road, which is about 1000 metres, would soon be completed.

    The corporation, he said, had already reconstructed 750 metres of the drainage; the remaining 100 metres will be completed by January 24.

    The rehabilitation, which he said, began last October was put on hold until the six electric poles laid on the drainage alignment were relocated last December 31.

    The general manager, according to the statement, said the agency reconstructed the drainage system to a size of 1.2 metres, following which its massive rehabilitation began.

    This, he said, would enable the drainage system to contain the flow of flood water.

    He pleaded with traders in Ile-Epo Market to dispose their refuse in designated dump sites.

    According to him, those found defaulting would be handed over to the Ministry of Environment task force for sanction.

  • Ambode okays flyover for Ajah, Abule-Egba

    Ambode okays flyover for Ajah, Abule-Egba

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the construction of flyover for two of the state’s high-density traffic zones, Ajah round about and Abule-Egba junction.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said the two projects were approved by the State Executive Council and had been duly awarded to contractors for immediate action.

    He said the projects would be completed within 16 months as part of the governor’s ongoing road infrastructure projects across the state. He said the Ajah round about would be undertaken simultaneously with the rehabilitation of Freedom Road in Lekki.

    According to him, the Ajah flyover would have a solar-powered signalised intersection to ease traffic.

    He added that the upgrade of Freedom Road would ease traffic considerably for vehicles using the Third Roundabout to connect Lekki through the Admiralty Way.

    “The construction of the reinforced concrete dual-carriage flyover bridge at Abule Egba junction will equally bring succour to millions of commuters using the Lagos -Abeokuta Expressway daily when completed,” he said.

    Ayorinde said the Abule -Egba flyover would also have signalised intersection under it to service Oko-Oba and other link roads within the axis.

    He said that the state government had also awarded contracts for the rehabilitation and upgrade of strategic arterial/inner roads in Epe Local Government Area of the state.

  • REVEALED: Cause of fire at Ile-epo oja

    REVEALED: Cause of fire at Ile-epo oja

    The cause of the fire outbreak at Ile-epo oja, Abule Egba are of Lagos state that consumed many shops over the weekend has been discovered.
    The inferno which reportedly started at about 9pm was blamed on careless handling of generators.
    It was gathered that one of the shop owners put off the generator and carried it inside without allowing the heat to reduce and then kept a carton on it before leaving for home.
    Reports further claimed that the carton containing seasonings melted due to the hotness of the generator resulting in the fire that razed no fewer than four shops.
    Eyewitnesses reported that one of the miscreants (area boys) hanging around saw the fire and informed another shop owner, Segun who sells cassette at the other section of the building.
    Segun was said have notified the Agege fire station immediately who came but were unable to immediately put the fire under control.
    Thus, the Agege fire station contacted Alausa fire service station who eventually came to help.
    Owner of one of the affected shops, who sells cooking utensils and household items, was said to have brought in new goods on Friday before the fire incident of Saturday. Her shop was completely razed by the inferno.
    An old man whose shop was also razed said: “This is my only means of livelihood. I also send my two children to school from what I make here.”
    He also sells household wares and cooking utensils.
    It was discovered that many Northerners who trade nearby rushed to offer help as the fire stated. They broke into some shops as part of efforts to savage a few of the goods as they could.
    When The Nation arrived the scene, some men were seen tiding up the shops.

  • Power Minister, call Abule Egba PHCN to order

    SIR: I am a law-abiding citizen and feel it is a duty to pay my electricity bills and by God’s grace this I have never failed to do. And at all time my account with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN reads credit. I understand the times in the land and do not expect that even with that I should get constant power supply, but this has never discouraged me knowing that in the foreseeable future and as the Jonathan power sector reform agenda starts to yield fruit, I and many others will see that it is always better to be on the right side of the law.

    But alas, for all this, PHCN at the Abule Egba area in Lagos has been crazy enough to cut off the light supply of a wide area in Abule Egba ensuring that I and many others do not get even the little light that usually comes to us after their load shedding.

    Reason? To punish those who are owing them. I now ask: should those who are paying PHCN suffer because of those who are not paying? Why throw out the baby with the bathwater? Where is justice? Would this type of action not discourage those who are paying? The right thing is for them to go after those who owe them and cut their light. If they are scared of going to their houses to do that they could go with the police. I do not encourage impunity. But even God himself would not have destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah if he had found one just man in those cities.

    I and other law-abiding people should not suffer for the crime of others. Or does PHCN’s mandate include denying those who are paying light supply?

    The power sector reform has made PHCN staff to carry on like those with a chip on their shoulder. Never mind the payoff. Not all have even gotten it with the handover date close. So they are like angry wild animals. And they will not leave without biting off the flesh of the people.

    Dr Cosmas Odoemena,

    Lagos