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Tag: Ambode

  • Ambode seeks kids’ protection against domestic accident

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has called on parents, guardians and members of the public to be dedicated to the safety of children and protect them from domestic accidents and all forms of injurious act capable of standing against their development.

    Ambode spoke yesterday during the Children’s Day celebration at Agege Stadium.

    Ambode noted that it was imperative for parents, adults, community leaders, teachers and other relevant stakeholders involved in children upbringing to take mentoring seriously and provide good leadership.

    Ambode, represented by his deputy, Dr Oluranti Adebule, noted that the safety of children should not be considered as the sole responsibility of their parents and teachers.

    “Whatever they become tomorrow would have either positive or negative impact on our society, hence the need to groom them to become responsible citizens.”

    While describing the theme for the year 2018 celebration: ‘Creating Safe Spaces for Children: Our Collective responsibility as apt and very instructive’, Ambode noted that it speaks to the need to reexamine the role we play as parents, teachers and guardians in the development and growth of children.

    “We should task ourselves on good value system and we must inculcate in the children to become dependable future leaders of the country tomorrow.”

    He noted that the theme was a clarion call for all of us to be dedicated to the safety of our children and ensure their protection against any harm anywhere any time.

    ‘’We owe it a responsibility to protect them from domestic accidents and every form of injurious act by ensuring that all safety standards and regulations are adhered to.’’

    He said his administration as part of the measure to stem the incursion of hoodlums into schools and reduce incidents of kidnapping has provided in schools security infrastructural facilities such as watch towers, security alarm system, floodlights as well as construction and rehabilitation of perimeter fence to prevent strange movement around school premises.

    ‘’In addition to the provision of security infrastructures in our schools, we have also deployed security operatives to keep our schools safe.

    ‘’It is our resolve to protect Lagosians from all forms of hazards by creating safe spaces for political, socio- economic activities to thrive.

    “That the state government has put in place measures such as Child Right Protection Law in line with the goal of the Universal Children’s Day so as to improve child welfare, promote and celebrate children’s rights to enhance unity and promote love among all children.

    ‘’In addition to other measures being taken to protect children against bullying, exposure to hazardous environment , drug abuse, mental and physical torture, we also promote the campaign  that all children below the age of 12 be strapped to the central back seat, the safest in the vehicle,’’ he said.

    He assured the children that the future holds a better place for them, encouraging them to believe in themselves and always endeavor to become the best in their chosen career. He promised that his administration would continue to initiate policies and programmes that would promote their growth and development

    Lagos State Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Mrs Adekanye Adebunmi said the annual Children’s Day celebration was in line with the universal declaration on the celebration of children and protection of their rights so as to help them realise their potentials in life.

    Adekanye noted that the Lagos state government for a very long time has been initiating policies and programmers geared towards child development adding that Lagos State was the first to domesticate the Child Rights Law in the country and had embarked on a lot of advocacy programmes that have helped to bring ethical rebirth to school and give them better orientation that would help them to become responsible adults.

  • Ambode’s three years of ‘ekwueme’ traits

    On May 29, 2015, Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, became the 14th Governor of the State. Three years after, he has invested tremendous time, energy and resources to ensure rapid socio-economic development of the State.

    From the outset, Ambode’s goal was to give Lagosians a functional and safer city, where people can find success and satisfaction. His slogan: “Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko, ‘Lojewalogun” which means: “The progress of Lagos is our priority”, is about development and modernization. Thus far, he has been able to achieve this through visionary leadership, untiring commitment to excellence, technocratic competence, commitment to results and, above all, accountability.

    In Ken Follett’s novel, ‘The Pillars of the Earth’, the writer explores the development of medieval architecture as captured in the building of a cathedral in the town of Kingsbridge, England. Like the medieval architects in the novel, in the past three years, Ambode has been going about the reconstruction of Lagos like a skilled builder. The result is that his Administration has erected several pillars upon which the future of Lagos could now firmly rest.

    Across the State, massive infrastructure projects are visible.  Recently, 21 roads and 3 bridges connecting Lagos with Ogun State were commissioned while Aboru Link Bridge was equally commissioned two years ago. In the Badagry axis, Imeke-Ajido Link Bridge and numerous other roads were constructed. Similarly, the Ajah and Abule-Egba Bridges, Ojodu-Berger Pedestrian Bridge with adjoining roads were completed and commissioned. Also, a world class Bus Terminal at Ikeja was recently commissioned. In 2016, 114 inner roads were rehabilitated while a total of 181 community roads are currently undergoing reconstruction.

    Presently, work is on-going on the Pen Cinema Flyover while the redevelopment of the Lagos Airport Road into a 10 lane international standard highway is on course.  Equally work is progressing on the Oshodi Transport Interchange which when completed is bound to change the face of public transportation in the State. Just a few days back, approval was given for the construction of Fagba flyover.

    In a democracy, a strong and thriving economy is vital because extreme poverty could be a serious threat to nation building. This explains Ambode’s unwavering dedication to strengthening the State’s economy. Presently, in Nigeria, Lagos has effectively proved that it is possible to build an economy that is not solely reliant on oil.

    A large chunk of the State’s infrastructure renewal projects is being financed from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Presently, due to the impact of ongoing reforms and growth in the State’s economy, the State is experiencing relative improvement in its average monthly IGR. In the first quarter of 2018, the State has achieved an average monthly IGR of N34billion, compared to monthly averages of N22bn, N24bn and N30bn in 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.

    One vital tendency that has become a recurring symbol of the Ambode administration is the Governor’s penchant for fulfilling promises. Sometime ago, while on a project inspection tour at the popular Ladipo Motor Spare Parts Market, Oshodi, as soon as the  Governor was sighted by the traders, chants of Ekwueme! Ekwueme! Ekwueme! filled the air. In Igbo language, Ekwueme means promise keeper. So, the ecstatic traders were merely expressing their appreciation to the Governor for keeping to his promise of improving infrastructure around the market.

    In this clime, a good number of political leaders make empty promises. It is, however, in keeping faith with his electoral promises that Ambode has raised the bar of political leadership in the country. To him, a leader should be bound by his word. In his inaugural speech, Ambode pledged to run a government that will leave no one behind; a government that will implement programmes that make life simpler, easier and happier for the people. In fulfillment of that promise, his administration has ensured even allocation of infrastructure development across the State.

    In the area of youth empowerment, the Governor promised to create a favourable atmosphere for the empowerment of the youth. Presently, his administration has put in place the N25b Lagos State Employment Trust Fund which youths with creative ideas and talents now access to realize their dreams. Similarly, in fulfillment of his promise to make Lagos a sure and first destination of choice for investors in Africa, Ambode established the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment to coordinate the State’s various investment initiatives.

    The Governor is equally making good his promise of ensuring prompt payment of Public Servants’ wages on the 23rd of every month. This is simply a way of fulfilling his promise of creating a conducive atmosphere for Public Servants to thrive in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities. In our climes, there is, indeed, no better way to motivate workers than ensuring that their wages are paid on time.

    Retired public servants are equally benefitting from Ambode’s promise of improving workers’ welfare. For instance, in 2015, in order to reduce the economic and emotional burdens of the State pensioners, a sum of N11bn was released to offset pension liabilities owed retirees in 2010.  Also, between May 2017 and March 2018, N9.3 billion was paid as pension to 2,466 retirees in the State.  Last year alone, government paid over N9 billion as terminal entitlements of retirees. Without a doubt, this intervention has gone a long way in ameliorating the sufferings of retirees in the State.

    A New York Times bestselling author, Richard Paul Evans, once said: “Broken vows are like broken mirrors. They leave those who held to them bleeding and staring at fractured images of themselves.” Making promises and keeping them is definitely a good virtue that must be embraced by people in all walks of life. In the Nigerian political landscape, the consequence of several broken promises accounted for one of the reasons why many display apathy towards certain basic civic duties, especially tax payment and the electoral process.

    But the Ambode Administration has demonstrated that promises are sacred and, as such, must be kept. Creating an atmosphere in which citizens and investors have no option but to stand by the government, the administration has continually proved that fulfilling of promises is possible, and that it is a virtue every responsible government should covet and uphold. Consequently, the State government has injected new hope and energy into a broken morale, scattered systems and altered preconceived mindsets that Nigeria’s ruling class is full of liars.

    Thus far, Governor Ambode has been able to manage the Lagos economy through prudent and stringent management of available resources. This has qualified him as  trusted and reliable leader. According to German writer and statesman, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, ‘not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting’.

    As the Governor focuses on the last lap of his four years mandate, Lagosians are certainly in for more dose of his ‘Ekwueme’ trend in the State.

     

    • Ogunbiyi is of the Lagos State Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

  • Our achievements divinely inspired, says Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday attributed the achievements recorded by his administration in the last three years in all sectors and sections to the hand of God.

    According to him, the feats attained across the length and breadth of the State were divinely inspired.

     

    Governor Ambode, who spoke at a Special Thanksgiving Service held at Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja to mark the third anniversary of his administration, said it was obvious from the upward trajectory of the State that God was involved in the process of thinking, planning and executing policies and programmes for the people, which according to him, had resulted in wonderful accomplishments for the State.

     

    “In two days time, we will be three years in the saddle of this major task. There is no other way  to celebrate and that is why we are doing this service because we believe strongly that there is no way we would have made the level of progress so far made without some supernatural hands and we want to give God all the thanks.

     

    “No matter how much strategy that you have read in school or how much work you have done in the public service, it is not possible for you to put a plan up, strategize and try to implement and it works. If it is working back to back and consistently, there has to be some other source that is making it work because you are just one out of several others and why it works for Lagos is the more reason why one has to be very sober and humble to actually know that there is something that is making that to happen and that has to be God,” the Governor said.

     

    He said notwithstanding the complexity of managing the massive population of the State, it was evident that Lagos had been hugely prosperous, just as he thanked all those who have helped in managing the State rightly in the last three years.

     

    “I just want to say a big thank you to everyone that has actually been a co-traveler in this journey that we have had in the last three years. It has not been easy but somehow to the glory of God, it is evident that there is huge prosperity in Lagos.    

     

    “In all these, the complexity of managing 24 million people, there has to be something else driving it and in all situations, we give glory to God; in all situations, we are grateful that He has given us the opportunity to become a source of joy to the rest of Nigeria because Lagos is like the last hope for the country,” Governor Ambode said.

     

    Justifying the need for the service, the Governor said it was important to appreciate the almighty God and indeed the people of the State for their support which facilitated the achievements, assuring that more infrastructural projects would be implemented in the next one year.

        

    According to him, “We are doing this Church Service to celebrate three years of our administration in office. Just last Friday, we had the same service across all our Mosques in Lagos State. We are very grateful for the support Lagosians have given us in the last three years and then coincidentally today is Children’s Day and so it is more or less double celebration and most people must have forgotten also that today is marking the 51st anniversary of Lagos State. This same time last year, we marked the Golden Jubilee of Lagos@50.

     

    “So, for me, the last three years have been very eventful and very fruitful. You can see remarkable progress going on across the length and breadth of Lagos and so we can only do better and then render more services to Lagosians in the next one year,” he said.

     

    In his exhortation, Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin commended Governor Ambode for the infrastructural strides and progressive development of the State’s economy, saying it was laudable that Lagos economy remains one of the strongest in Africa.

     

    “I want to appreciate His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the tremendous work he has led and inspired across Lagos State both in the public and private sectors and especially with the infrastructural development and the progressive development of our economy that it remains one of the strongest economies in Africa and for that we are truly grateful,” Adefarasin said.

     

    He said there was an oath of God upon the Governor’s life to continue in office for another four years beyond 2019, saying more infrastructural strides and development would be witnessed in the State.

     

    “Mr Governor, there is an oath of God upon your life; this seat, you will remain in it for another five years and the excellence and progress that we have seen in the first three years will only increase and abound to the betterment and the strengthening of Lagos institutions, infrastructure and the powerful economy that has been built in three successive administrations,” Adefarasin said.  

     

    Speaking on the theme “The Power of An Unstoppable Promise,” the clergyman said God is limitless, infinite and can never be diminished or depleted, adding that when He makes a promise, He would surely deliver it, just as he admonished the people not to be perturbed by the enemies in holding on to God’s promise.

  • Ambode, Duke demand more funds for Lagos

    LAGOS State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, on Thursday, warned about the danger of abandoning Lagos State to shoulder the developmental challenges imposed by incessant migration from all parts of the country, alone. Warning that the continued expansion of the 24 million population within a territorial land mass of 923, 773 square kilometres is leading to huge infrastructural deficit that federal allocations and internally generated revenue have not addressed, they urged other state governments to create productive economies, to stem the drift to Lagos. Duke was the guest speaker at the Leadership 2017 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony, organized by the Leadership Newspapers, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, where Lagos governor, Ambode, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, received the Governor of the Year Award. Duke noted that Lagos’ N1.4trillion budget for 2018 was too meager to fund crucial infrastructure.

    “The leadership at the State and Federal level must recognize that a State that contributes more than 50 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and majority of industrial activity needs urgent support,” he said. While accepting the award on behalf of Governor Ambode, Bamigbetan reiterated Duke’s views, stressing the governor’s “determination to put his expertise and experience at the service of the people to ensure continuous infrastructure and human development.” Earlier, while declaring the Conference open, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo advocated that states must operate like countries, by drawing inspiration from the Western Region which executed landmark projects and programmes in the First Republic. He said the giant strides of Lagos State since the administration of former governor, Bola Tinubu, which planned the re-development of Lagos on aggressive internally generated revenue (IGR), has demonstrated the importance of taxation to the provision of infrastructure. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Chairman of Leadership Newspapers, urged governors to act like Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of companies, who must make profit for their firms to stay solvent. “The days when states would go cap in hand, every month, to the Federal Government, will soon be over because the Federal Government itself will be too busy struggling to solve its own federal problems. The good news is that every state in Nigeria can survive as a rich entity, with a little imagination from its leaders,” he said. Nda-Isaiah noted that, the states might need to suffer hard times in order to come to terms with reality. “Lagos State found out the hard way that it could earn much more than its monthly allocations from Abuja when the then President Olusegun Obasanjo illegally impounded the monthly allocations of its local governments for selfish reasons. “That was when the governor, then Bola Tinubu, knew the real definition of IGR. Since then, the State has not looked back,’’ he said. He advised other states to develop proprietary methods of boosting their IGR, noting that Lagos chose corporate taxes because that was where its advantages lied.’’

  • Ambode adopts LASU’s best graduating student

    GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode has adopted the overall best graduating student of Lagos  State University (LASU), Fuad Adetoro Ogunsanya, who finished with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.78 in Business Administration.

    The governor gave Ogunsanya N5 million, pledging to sponsor his postgraduate studies in any school of his choice worldwide.

    At LASU’s 22nd convocation yesterday, Ambode said he rewarded Ogunsanya for his doggedness, despite the health challenges that delayed his education.

    Ambode said he had a similar story.

    He said: “The Lagos State government does not generally give scholarship anymore, but your story is too compelling and is a reflection of my own story. I will adopt and sponsor you anywhere you want to go for your Master’s. I will personally be responsible for it.

    “In addition, for emerging the overall best student, I will give you N5 million. An occasion as this deserves serious attention as the education of our youths is paramount to us.”

    In his valedictory speech, Ogunsanya told how cataract in both eyes affected his performance in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and delayed his education.

    The 24-year-old, who lost his father in 2015, said he had to do a second surgery to remove the defect when the first failed before he was able to make his ‘O’ Level papers.

    “I eventually had a successful surgery at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan (Oyo State capital) before sitting for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and getting admission into LASU. I wanted to study Accounting, but at that time the course was not accredited and Business Administration was available. So, I had to grab it. Today, see where that impromptu decision has brought me,” he said.

    Ogunsanya said Nigerian graduates had a lot to offer, urging employers to give them a chance.

    LASU’s Chancellor Justice Adesola Oguntade, who is Nigeria’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom (UK), advised the graduating students to provide solutions to the nation’s problems.

    He said: “Presently, our world has many problems and challenges, such as insecurity, unemployment, terrorism, among others. Use your knowledge to change the world. Create a change that you will be proud to leave for the next generation. Keep your eye on integrity. It is paramount, and will help you in leadership. Be courageous. Follow your instinct, embrace collaboration and do not allow failure to stop you.”

    Also, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun, attested to the quality of graduates the university had produced.

    He said they had been thoroughly baked in knowledge and character.

    Over 29,000 diploma, first degree and postgraduate students, who finished in the 2016/2017 academic session, graduated at the event.

  • Education Secretaries back Ambode

    Education Secretaries of  the 20 Local Government Education Authorities (LGEA) in Lagos State said they are supporting Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s second term bid because of his strides in the education sector.

    They are also seeking a role to mobilise key stakeholders they have access to for his campaign for the 2019 election.

    The Education Secretaries, under the National Association of Education Secretaries of Nigeria (NAESN), Lagos State Chapter gathered at the Agee LGEA Secretariat, Dairy Farm Primary School complex, Agege, for an interdenominational praying service last Thursday to pray for the Governor.

    The programme featured a march by each LGEA, prayers and exhortation by religious leaders and speeches.

    State Chairman, NAESN, Olalekan Majiyagbe, said in his speech that the governor impressed the group.

    “The Governor did well for all of us in many areas which are too numerous to mention.  The payment of our salaries as at when due and infrastructural facilities in our schools served as motivation.  The caring attitude and reward of excellence in service encouraged us to work harder and ensure quality service delivery,” he said.

    Majiyagbe added that NAESN could help the Ambode Mandate Support Group attract some stakeholders in the basic education subsector.

    “I am therefore appealing to the Ambode Mandate Support Group to accommodate us fully, to assist them in managing the special groups, that is Parents, School Based Management Committee (SBMC), food vendors, because some of them belong to different political parties while majority of them were not politicians,” he said.

    Samuel Dairo, a pastor who preached at the event, prayed that Ambode would not fail.

    Chairman of the event and Deputy President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) , Mr Yomi Otubela, said Ambode had set a precedence that should be encouraged.

    “There are abundant testimonies that will testify to the great work His Excellency has done in our midst since he assumed power three years ago.  And it is just normal and commonsensical that we give him another chance,” he said.

  • Ambode adopts LASU’s best graduating student

    GOVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode has adopted the overall best graduating student of Lagos  State University (LASU), Fuad Adetoro Ogunsanya, who finished with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.78 in Business Administration.

    The governor gave Ogunsanya N5 million, pledging to sponsor his postgraduate studies in any school of his choice worldwide.

    At LASU’s 22nd convocation yesterday, Ambode said he rewarded Ogunsanya for his doggedness, despite the health challenges that delayed his education.

    Ambode said he had a similar story.

    He said: “The Lagos State government does not generally give scholarship anymore, but your story is too compelling and is a reflection of my own story. I will adopt and sponsor you anywhere you want to go for your Master’s. I will personally be responsible for it.

    “In addition, for emerging the overall best student, I will give you N5 million. An occasion as this deserves serious attention as the education of our youths is paramount to us.”

    In his valedictory speech, Ogunsanya told how cataract in both eyes affected his performance in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and delayed his education.

    The 24-year-old, who lost his father in 2015, said he had to do a second surgery to remove the defect when the first failed before he was able to make his ‘O’ Level papers.

    “I eventually had a successful surgery at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan (Oyo State capital) before sitting for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and getting admission into LASU. I wanted to study Accounting, but at that time the course was not accredited and Business Administration was available. So, I had to grab it. Today, see where that impromptu decision has brought me,” he said.

    Ogunsanya said Nigerian graduates had a lot to offer, urging employers to give them a chance.

    LASU’s Chancellor Justice Adesola Oguntade, who is Nigeria’s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom (UK), advised the graduating students to provide solutions to the nation’s problems.

    He said: “Presently, our world has many problems and challenges, such as insecurity, unemployment, terrorism, among others. Use your knowledge to change the world. Create a change that you will be proud to leave for the next generation. Keep your eye on integrity. It is paramount, and will help you in leadership. Be courageous. Follow your instinct, embrace collaboration and do not allow failure to stop you.”

    Also, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun, attested to the quality of graduates the university had produced.

    He said they had been thoroughly baked in knowledge and character.

    Over 29,000 diploma, first degree and postgraduate students, who finished in the 2016/2017 academic session, graduated at the event.

  • Protesters want Ambode to probe Ilaje killings

    Hundreds of residents of Ilaje community in Makoko, Lagos on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest to the state House of Assembly over recent killings in the area.

    The protesters urged Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode and Lagos Assembly to probe the alleged killing of four persons in the community on May 10 by men of Lagos State Task Force.

    Addressing the leadership of the House, Mr Alex Omotehinse, spokesman for the protesters, said that the alleged murder of innocent persons by the police required government’s investigation to prevent break down of law and order.

    “Our protest is all about unlawful invasion, killing and maiming of our people by the policemen under the leadership of Jide Bakare, the Chairman, Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabbing.

    “We are not fighting on our land, Bakare led a team of policemen to Ori Oke and Ilaje Community, and invaded the communities, killing four people, while several others were injured.

    “The injured are in the hospitals with gun injuries. The Commissioner of Police said he was not aware of the operation, describing it as illegal.

    “The Lagos Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohinmi, had said that the command set up a committee and that the people involved had been arrested.

    “But surprisingly, those involved are still moving around freely and nothing has been done to them.

    “That’s why we call on the governor and the House of Assembly to set up an independent panel of enquiry so that those who are culpable would be brought to book.

    “As a matter of urgency, this matter must be addressed, we want the police to parade the culprits and stop aiding and abetting them,” he said.

    According to him, if the government failed to act, the Ilaje nation will rise to defend themselves, saying that they were peace-loving people.

    Omotehinse, General Secretary, Ilaje National Alliance Movement, said that the people wanted the arrest and prosecution of those who carried out the attack on the community.

    Omotehinshe, who said that the people had lost confidence in the police to carry out impartial investigation into the case, alleged that the police command was shielding the culprits.

    Also speaking, Mr Adeola Ilori, a human rights lawyer, said that he was pained that the state government had not paid a visit to the family of the victims.

    Ilori said that such attacks on defenceless citizens was not only a threat to the people, but also their future.

    Addressing the protesters, the Speaker of the House, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, who commended the protesters for peaceful conduct, said that the House would look into the matter.

    Obasa, who was represented by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade, said: “I want to assure you that this case will be presented to the Speaker.

    “All the issues you have raised are issues of importance and we will look into the matter. All I am telling you is that justice will be done on this matter.”

     

    NAN

  • Ambode okays flyover for Fagba

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday approved the construction of a flyover at Fagba to ease traffic and reduce travel time on the Pen Cinema-Iju Road.

    He gave the approval after inspecting the ongoing construction of the Pen Cinema flyover, where he observed the need to holistically address traffic around Agege-Iju so as to make the bridge more effective.

    According to him, this is in response to the yearnings of the Fagba community and road users plying the axis. He added that it was also in furtherance of his administration’s commitment in ensuring free flow of traffic and reducing man-hour loss across the state.

    Ambode said: “Iju Road which is one of the major roads in Lagos State has over the years served as a strategic growth pole in the socio- economic landscape of the state; it has overgrown its present traffic carrying capacity resulting in the traffic challenges being experienced presently.

    “The proposed flyover at Fagba will be constructed concurrently with the ongoing Pen Cinema flyover and accelerated to minimise the inconvenience of the motoring and commuting public during the period of construction.

    “The bridge which will have a dual carriageway separated by concrete median barrier will allow seamless flow of traffic into Jonathan Coker for vehicular movement from College Road/Pen Cinema and vice versa for traffic from Jonathan Coker Road that are Iju or College Road bound.”

    The Governor said, on completion, the Fagba bridge would aid socio-economic activities, development and safety of road users.

  • Ambode approves construction of Fagba Bridge

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, has approved the construction of a bridge at the Fagba intersection in Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area to ease the perennial gridlock and reduce travel time within the axis.

    Ambode gave the approval after inspecting the ongoing construction of the Pen Cinema Bridge, where he observed the need to holistically address the gridlock around Agege-Iju axis.

    According to him, the development is in response to the various yearnings of the community in Fagba and several road users plying the Iju-Fagba axis.

    He said it was also in furtherance of his administration’s commitment in ensuring free-flow of traffic and reducing man-hour loss across the state.

    “Iju Road, one of the major roads in Lagos State, has over the years, served as a strategic growth pole in the socio-economic landscape of the state.

    “It has overgrown its present traffic carrying capacity, resulting in the traffic challenges being experienced presently.

    “The proposed bridge at Fagba will be constructed concurrently with the ongoing Pen Cinema flyover, and accelerated to minimise the inconvenience of the motoring and commuting public during the period of construction.

    “The bridge will have a dual carriageway separated by concrete median barrier.

    “It will allow seamless flow of traffic into Jonathan Coker for vehicular movement from College Road/Pen Cinema and vice-versa for traffic from Jonathan Coker Road, that is Iju or College Road bound,’’ the governor said.

    Ambode said the Fagba Bridge on completion, would go a long way to improve socio-economic activities, enhance development and safety of road users in the axis with consequent improved standard of living.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government recently completed several road projects totaling 130 kilometers and the network of 21 boundary roads in Alimosho Local Government.

    It also has other major road projects cumulating in 120 kilometers that are currently ongoing across the state.