The Nation Newspaper

Tag: beautification

  • Road rehabilitation, beautification take off

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello has announced the takeoff of the rehabilitation of Abuja roads, beautification of ornamental flowers and the trimming of overgrown trees.

    Bello stated that the rehabilitation of the roads especially in some strategic roads within the city centre is to ensure smooth vehicular movement.

    The minister, who revealed this in a press statement by the Deputy Director/Press Statement FCT, Muhammad Sule, stated that the first phase of the rehabilitation programme include the total rehabilitation of M20, the dilapidated road leading to the popular Utako Motor Park; rehabilitation of road shoulders along the Shehu Shagari Way in Maitatma District and Ring Road I (Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway).

    He stated, ”To ensure smooth vehicular movement in and around the Federal Capital City, Abuja, the FCT Administration has commenced the immediate rehabilitation of some strategic roads within the city centre.

    “Some of the roads under the first phase of the programme include the total rehabilitation of M20, the hitherto dilapidated road leading to the popular Utako Motor Park; rehabilitation of road shoulders along the Shehu Shagari Way in Maitatma District and Ring Road I (Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway) respectively.

    “Others are the trimming of overgrown trees and beautification of ornamental flowers along the road leading to Defence House and IBB Way both in Maitama District, Abuja, and the provision of kerbs at the famous Unity Park close to Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Maitama, Abuja.

    “Speaking on his plans to ensure a clean and filth-free city, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello insisted that Abuja under his watch must be restored to its original clean and green concept.

    “Malam Bello who assumed office about three months ago, as the 16th FCT Minister revealed that he has a mandate from President Muhammadu Buhari to restore Abuja to its original Master Plan in line with the vision of its founding fathers.

    “He, therefore, solicited for support and cooperation of residents, development partners and key stakeholders in the Abuja project to ensure that the city is kept clean at all times.

    Conducting reporters round some of the ongoing works in the city, acting Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Hajiya Safiya Umar, said that the minister upon taking office,  had ordered the Agency to ensure prompt evacuation of all refuse whether liquid, solid or construction waste.

    “The Coordinator, who observed that the Federal Capital City has become dirty prior to the coming onboard of the present FCT Administration, however attributed the uncleanliness to the problem of transition period.

    “She thus warned that after this massive cleaning exercise embarked upon by the Administration, anyone found dumping construction waste indiscriminately would be prosecuted accordingly.

    “The Coordinator disclosed that even trucks used in the indiscriminate disposal of construction waste in unauthorized places would be confiscated if found.

    “Meanwhile, following the rehabilitation of the road leading to the Utako Motor Park, there was wild jubilation by motorists and commuters at the park who welcomed the development.

    “They commended the FCT administration for fixing the dilapidated road, which has not been passable for years.”

     

  • In Ibadan, beautification is serious business

    Beautiful sceneries are emerging daily in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to replace old, filthy sites that formerly characterized the city as one of the dirtiest in the country, writes BISI OLADELE

    Beautified roundabouts, walkways, mini parks, modern water fountains and street lights, among others are fast becoming the yardsticks redefining the once rustic city of Ibadan.

    The city surrounded by seven hills, according to the renowned poet, John Pepper Clark, is the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. It boasts of over five million people, foremost institutions, research institutes and media organizations. The key organizations, some of which have acquired the status of national monuments and the city’s central location have always marked Ibadan out in the entire country.

    But filthy environment characterized by dumb sites along main roads and dirty drainages had made the same city infamous for decades.

    However, the filthy sites have since given way to beautiful sceneries due to the efforts of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration to change the view and rewrite the city’s profile.

    Today, a move around Ibadan would offer insights to the efforts of the state government since January, 2012. Beautification has become a core aspect of the government’s urban renewal project which is attracting more people to the city for business and other purposes. While green sites add to the allure of the environment at daytime, well-illuminated roundabouts and sites glitter in the night to beautify the city.

    The major firm handling the beautification project, Ershaw Limited, has been busier than any other firm working for the Ajimobi administration since January, 2012.

    It has worked on sites including the Agodi Government House Park, Parliament Road to Mokola Roundabout, Gate, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (old) Toll Gate where a mural design on the rock-fence embankment and the inscription, “welcome to Ibadan” as well as the uplifted approach and green ambience seemed to tell those entering the historical city of the “new development and complete renewal” of Ibadan.

    The company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Arc. Olumide Eso, described the project as laudable as it elevates Ibadan from the abyss to a true city.

    The permeable blocks on the State High Court embankment at Ring Road remind one of how grass used to overgrow the place few years ago while the Gangan drum icons at the some of the roundabouts along the axis speak of the state’s rich cultural heritage. Another highlight at Ring Road, which Eso said highlighted the wholesomeness of the beautification package, is the customized branded container, which he said would be allocated to former roadside traders.

    One of the affected traders who said she used to sell her wares opposite the Mobil Filling Station around Oluyole Area of the city, Mrs Ajoke Lawal, commended the government’s effort on the branded containers, saying they would ease the pressure off the displaced traders; some of who she said had nowhere to go.

    At different areas of the city such as Ojoo, Yemetu, Challenge and Bodija, among others, the construction and branding of bus stop sheds have given beauty to the city’s landscape as well as provide succour for motorists and pedestrians.

    Apart from the branded bus stops, the drastic change at Gate, where the median that used to be home to sellers of different items has given way to a beautiful green area, is a mark of the good effort. Not only are the median and sidewalks wearing a new look, many residents expressed disbelief at the success of the beautification.

    Eso disclosed that Oyo State was voted the “Most Improved State in Nigeria at the 2013 Environmental Summit” for its urban renewal programme.

    He said this was made possible because of the government’s commitment to the programme and “the ingenuity of Ershaw’s holistic approach and design strategies of incorporating the beautification and greening of roads, interchanges and medians.”

    Relating the company’s experience on the field, Eso said his company met resistance from the former occupants of most of the beautification sites, pointing out that it took a little while for them to overcome the resistance.

    ”Though the Ministry of Environment handled the demolition of the sites we wanted to beautify, there was stiff resistance from the occupants when we moved to sites in some of the places. At a point, the ministry provided us with YES-O cadets who provided security.

    “But soon after the beautification efforts were completed, there was a change of attitude from most of the former occupants. Some of them commended the transformation, especially with the building of Customised Branded Containers at Ring Road, to house traders who were once by the roadside. The advantage of the containers is that they are movable, so the government can take them to anywhere it wants.”

    On whether the project was well-funded, he said: “In terms of funding, the state government’s commitment to the project was 100 per cent as it funded the project in order for us to achieve the desired goal of renewing and transforming the landscape of Ibadan.”

    A few of the residents who spoke to The Nation on beautification of the city commended government for the project. They said the sites give Ibadan a much better look and enhance the beauty of the environment.

  • Gains of tree planting, beautification, by consultant

    The Coordinating Consultant to the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Mrs Titi Anibaba, has said that the state’s beautification and tree planting projects had helped in reducing the security challenges.

    Speaking in preparation for this year’s tree planting campaign billed for Sunday, Mrs Anibaba said open spaces, loops and under-bridges hitherto occupied by hoodlums had been turned into modern parks and gardens.

    Saying that the exercise had attracted visitors to the state, she noted that trees purify the air, reduce effects of noise and flooding, and enhance the value of property.

    Mrs Anibaba added: “We have planted 4.3million trees in six years, while we hope to reach the 10 million mark in the next five years. Nigerians have bought into the campaign as they seen the benefits of trees; hence, the campain has spread to other states such as Osun and Ogun.”

    She also said the private sector had embraced the programme.

    She said LASPARK is an institutional framework created for the sustenance of the project. She urged Lagosians to join this year’s campaign with the theme: Green is Peace, which she said, is billed for the different locations in the 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas across the state.

    Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, she said, would lead the campaign at the Total Filling Station, Onipetesi, Agege, while he will be represented at four other ceremonial venues – Ojodu Motor Park, Iponri-Costain, Igbobi Orthopeadic Hospital and Oworonshoki Playground.

  • Apapa LG gives beautification of road to Flour Mills

    The Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Joseph Ayodeji, has given the beautification of one of the longest roads in the local government to Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc.

    Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc is one of the few corporate organisations that partner with Apapa Local Government in its quest to develop the community.

    Speaking at the commissioning of the rehabilitated United Christian Nursery and Primary School complex on Wednesday, the Group Managing Director of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Chief E.A. Ukpabi said the company has earmarked N200 million towards executing three key projects aimed at improving Apapa community, the environment and the welfare of the people.

    The Chairman of Apapa Local Government, Ayodeji Joseph, commended Flour Mills for its unrelenting efforts in transforming the council and making impacts in the lives of the residents.

    Flour Mills spent N60 million on the renovation and rehabilitation of the 33-year-old United Christian Nursery and Primary School, Apapa, Lagos.

    The Group Managing Director of Flour Mills said the gesture was a fulfillment of the promise made to the council during the celebration of the golden anniversary of the company in 2010.

    “We are today witnessing the fulfillment of our commitment. when we made a promise in 2010 , United Christian Nursery and Primary School, Apapa was in terrible need of repairs to its dilapidated structures, furniture and surroundings. These have all been transformed. The school wears a befitting look, a pleasant and environmentally friendly learning environment for three hundred and seventy pupils and forty teachers,” said the group MD.

    Aside the rehabilitation of the school, the company has assisted in other areas such as health, landscaping, traffic control, drainage and provision of traffic light, among others.

    The elated Apapa Council boss said if it was within his power, he would have named Apapa Local Government Council Flour Mills of Nigeria.

    While appreciating the gesture of the company, Ayodeji appealed to the Flour Mills to consider the continuous maintenance of all projects started by the company in order to sustain their beauty and justify the huge resources committed to them.

    “Addirionally, I want to offer for beautification the stretch of road from Eleganza Junction adjacent to Zenith Roundabout up to the end of Commercial Road by Mr. Biggs. This offer is a direct result of sustained pressures by the competitors of Flour Mills of Nigeria to take up the project,” said Ayodeji.

  • Amaechi hails Ajimobi on Oyo’s beautification

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi has hailed his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi, for cleaning up Ibadan, the state capital.

    He said he used to think Ibadan was a dirty city.

    Amaechi spoke during a visit to Ajimobi at the Governor’s Office, shortly after commiserating with the family of the late Justice Kayode Esho at the deceased’s Ikolaba home.

    He said contrary to widespread information that Ibadan was extremely dirty, he was impressed with the ancient city’s aesthetics.

    Amaechi said: “With what I have seen today, Ibadan is not all that a dirty city as we were made to believe. Even the primary school opposite the late Justice Esho’s house is neat, contrary to the impression given to people outside the state.

    “I also confirmed from the Eshos that the governor is doing a lot to change the face of Ibadan and the state.”

    Amaechi said the state’s clean up would have a positive effect on its economy.

    On the ongoing constitutional review, he said the Governors’ Forum wants the practice of true federalism and believes in the provision of basic social amenities for the people.

    On the creation of state police, Amaechi said the forum was still deliberating on the necessity of state police in reducing crime.

    He urged members of the Oyo State Executive Council to be dedicated to the service of the people and emulate the former Premier of the defunct Western Region, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    Amaechi said Awolowo’s commitment to humanity and the people he governed was responsible for his “undying popularity” among the Yoruba.

    He said the late Justice Esho contributed immensely to the peace enjoyed in Rivers State today through his recommendations as the Chairman of the state’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008.

    Ajimobi described Amaechi as “a man with special ability to manage human beings, as attested to in his handling of the NGF”.

    He said Amaechi has encouraged politicians and public office holders to be honest and courageous.

    Ajimobi said Amaechi has turned Rivers into a model State, adding that he was willing to replicate some of Amaechi’s programmes.