The Nation Newspaper

Tag: flyover

  • 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.

  • Kano okays N4b for flyover, roads

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has approved N4 billion for an underpass and flyover bridge.

    The bridge and underpass are expected to connect Zaria Road/Silver Jubilee and Zoo road in the metropolis.

    Commissioner for Information, Youth, and Culture Muhammad Garba spoke in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

    The statement reads: “Governor Ganduje, after presiding over the 11th State Executive Council meeting, said the projects would reduce carbon emission and minimise accidents.

    “The government had been engaged in the reconstruction, expansion, rehabilitation and upgrading of existing roads, which included the construction of an underpass at Sharada/Panshekara junction (inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari), and the construction of multiple underpasses on Katsina road (almost completed).”

    Garba added that the government is also completing inherited projects, including the Murtala Muhammed Way flyover (inherited from the previous administration at 15 per cent completion stage), Gadon Kaya underpass/Yahaya Gusau Road, among others.

    The council also approved $36,000 as payment of project fees to 18 state-sponsored students in El-Razi University, Sudan; procurement of bedsheets for 31 secondary health facilities at N39 million; reconstruction of Dawakin Kudu-Lahadin Makole Road in Dawakin Kudu council at over N748 million.

    Others include expansion/repairs of Giginyu-Kawo-Eastern Bypass Road in Nasarawa council at N588 million and the rehabilitation/upgrade of Fagwalawa Primary Healthcare Centre to Cottage Hospital at N230 million. 

     

  • Ketu to get layby, near flyover

    Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode has approved the construction of three-lane layby at Ketu bus stop to decongest traffic gridlock on Ikorodu road.
    Acting Commissioner for Transportation Anofiu Elegushi, told stakeholders yesterday in Ketu that the government also plans to construct another pedestrian bridge there to reduce pressure on the existing one.
    The layby, he said, would have a modern car park to ease traffic flow and create jobs for people in the area.
    The commissioner said: “Government is committed to freeing all traffic gridlock areas, we started with Oworo Layby to Ogudu and last week we were at Alapere with another project that will also address the traffic situation in that axis,” he said.
    He said the layby would be for picking and dropping passengers, urging the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) leadership to corporate with the government to enforce compliance.
    He expressed displeasure over the handling of the yet to be commissioned layby at Berger bus stop, saying NURTW members have converted it to a park
    “The Idea of the layby here in Ketu is fantastic. What we plan for Ketu is a bigger version of what we have in Oworo; we will continue to free traffic prone areas such that from Obalende to Ikorodu will take like 45minutes, Elegushi said.”
    The project, he said, would be to the advantage of transporters, adding; “We need your support and we want you to work with us because there will be dedicated lane for yellow buses to operate.”
    On the planned pedestrian bridge, he said the government opened the barricade on the road for crossing following public complaints that the bridge was vibrating “too much pressure”. “We decided to open the barricade and allow people cross the road while others use the bridge, but we plan to construct a new pedestrian bridge to meet up with the needs of the area.”
    Oba Isiaka Olufemiloye of Ketu hailed the government for the gesture which he said would reduce residents’ hardship.
    A representative of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), which is handling the project, Mr Deola Agbola, said it would be constructed in three phases to ease traffic burden.

  • Excitement as Abule Egba Lagos flyover nears completion

    Excitement as Abule Egba Lagos flyover nears completion

    Construction of the Abule Egba Flyover on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway is 98 per cent completed as the bridge is expected to be opened to traffic  by May 15,the site engineer, Mr George Tommows, said yesterday.

    The  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted  Tommows as saying “by May 15, this bridge will be ready for vehicular activities.”

    He said what remains to be done on the bridge  are  asphalting, street lighting and painting.

    The site engineer commended Abule Egba residents for their cooperation.

    “Ordinarily, a construction site is expected to be devoid of human and vehicular traffic for safety, but this area is densely populated and it is difficult to keep people from moving around,

    “It was challenging but we were able to manage it.The cooperation we received from the host community and other road users aided the progress of the job.

    “We can assure them that the flyover is of high quality,” he said.

    The  construction, which began in February 2016, is being handled by Messrs Craneburg Construction Company.

    The flyover is expected to reduce travel time, improve road connectivity and improve socio-economic activities in the axis.

    Some road users who spoke to NAN expressed satisfaction at the progress of the work.

    Mr Kehinde Folagbade, a resident of Abule Egba, said  that the flyover would bring a relief to motorists.

    “Lagos State Government is doing its best; traffic managers are working round the clock. We are happy that the work will soon be concluded,” he said.

  • Flyover in Ebonyi excites motorists

    Flyover in Ebonyi excites motorists

    Despite appreciating government’s commitment to ensure that modern market is provided for traders in Abakpa Main Market in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, traders at the 6,000-capacity international market, located on the Trans-Sahara Highway which links the state with Enugu and Cross River states, have expressed their worry over how to cope with heavy vehicular traffic on a road directly opposite the market.

    Chief Peter Oba, former Chairman, Abakaliki Main Market Traders’ Association whose committee is negotiating the relocation of the traders said most neighbouring states in the area do not patronise the markets in Ebonyi State as they even pass through the state to Onitsha, Nnewi in Anambra State to buy goods whereas such goods abound in Abakaliki.

    To reverse the trend, Oba said every facility that would make the international market attractive would be put in place, noting that with three flyover bridges being built along the road by the government, there was no basis to raise the fears over traffic flow.

    “I have gone far in negotiating with importers from neighbouring states for them to invest in the International Market, Abakaliki with the view to improving the Internally Generated Revenue of the state through commerce. We have transformed 22 local unorganised markets into organised daily markets,” he said.

    Oba, who is also the President Ebonyi State Amalgamated Traders’ Association, further explained that as the Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Trade Unions/Associations and Market Development, he serves as a bridge between the government and the traders.

    “Traders in Ebonyi State understand the workings of government and perform their social responsibilities without murmuring or grumbling. As providence would make it, just recently, the dream came through.

    “It was a moment of joy for the commerce sector as the people trooped out en masse to witness the official test-running of Akanu Ibiam Flyover in Abakaliki built by David Umahi-led administration.

    The flyover would enhance free flow of traffic through the international market and link the neighbouring states. To many observers, it was like a moonlight night, especially for those who wondered how such gigantic project could be executed in the current economic recession which the country is experiencing.

    Before now, Akanu Ibiam Junction which situates at the heart of Abakaliki by Trans-Sahara International Highway and formerly known as Spera In Deo Junction used to be a nightmare not only for motorists but also residents and other road users.

    Apart from the traffic gridlock that was permanent feature in the area, it was also a death trap for both pedestrians and motorists as road mishaps were recorded there often.

    As a result of the development, Umahi promised the people during his electioneering campaigns that he would, in addition to beautifying the city, construct a flyover to ease traffic for motorists plying the ever-busy highway.

    During the test-run of the flyover, Umahi noted that the state would, by next year, embark on the construction of another flyover at Nkalagu Junction to reduce the spate of accidents there.

    The governor pointed out that the project was aimed at making the state capital one of the best in the country.

    He commended the Ministry of Works, especially the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Fidelis Nweze for being steadfast to the developmental dreams of the state government, even as he assured the people that three more flyovers would be constructed at Nkalagu Junction, Vanco and Ebonyi Hotels to ease traffic congestion.

    The Commissioner for Works, Nweze explained that the flyover was opened for use to allow for sand compartment, pointing out that the finishing touches would continue despite allowing motorists access to it. For the traders, it was a dream realised as they are to relocate to the market.

    Incidentally, the event was a platform to bless two indigent teenage hawkers, Ukamaka Ikema and Chimuanya Nwarie.

    The two children had unknowingly ran into the governor at the Akanu Ibiam Flyover.

    Ukamaka, 10 is a primary three pupil of Ezikwo Primary School while Chimuanya, 12, is a JS I student of Evangel Nursery, Primary and Secondary School  in the state capital.

    Umahi, in the company of his deputy, Dr. Kelechi Igwe and some members of the state Executive Council, had, on noticing that his security aides frightened the children, directed his orderly to bring them to him.

    After interacting with Ukamaka, who was hawking satchet water, the governor asked his ADC to deploy a patrol vehicle to go and bring the parents of the teenagers from their homes. The children had told the governor that they had closed from school before they began hawking for the day.

    Later, the governor interacted with the mothers of the two children, warned them against sending their wards to hawk. After hearing the plight of the parents, he approved N500,000 for each of them for their upkeep and tuition.

    Umahi told the parents to deposit N200,000 each in their banks and use the balance of N300,000 each to start small-scale business.

    The women, who were over-joyed, also had another package. They were both offered temporary appointments by the governor. Before they left the Government House, accounts were opened for the two children by officials of Zenith Bank.

    Mothers of the two beneficiaries, Mrs Blessing Nwarie and Mrs Ada Nwota, both natives of Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area, praised and thanked the governor for the gesture.

    They said they were convinced that Governor Umahi was God-send to uplift the downtrodden.

    “I pray that the Almighty God should continue to shower his blessings and wisdom upon our amiable governor and family,” Mrs Nwarie prayed..

    Ukamaka and Nwarie, in their separate remarks, thanked Umahi and promised to be good children.

  • Protests in Ekiti over Fayose’s plan to demolish more houses for flyover bridge

    Protests in Ekiti over Fayose’s plan to demolish more houses for flyover bridge

    Residents of Okesa area of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on Thursday protested against the latest plan by the state government to demolish more houses in the neighborhood to make way for the ongoing construction of a one kilometer flyover.

    Governor Ayo Fayose during his monthly media chat, Meet Your Governor, aired on the major electronic media in the state on Monday  had unfolded the plan to demolish more buildings to construct an outer road for the flyover to aid mobility.

    Fayose explained that the demolition exercise will commence on Monday, September 12 which falls on the Eid el Kabir day.

    But scores of house owners and landlords in Okesa staged a public demonstration against the plan by the Fayose administration to pull down their structures in furtherance of the flyover project.

    Acting under the aegis of Okesa Landlords Association, the protesters marched from their neighborhoods through the Secretariat Road before terminating their protest at the Ekiti House of Assembly.

    The protesters were received at the Assembly complex by the Speaker, Kola Oluwawole, who appealed for calm and promised to communicate their grievances to the governor.

    The placard-carrying protesters claimed that the decision to demolish their houses came to them as a shock as they never expected another round of demolition which they said would turn them to “refugees and homeless destitute.”

    According to the spokesman of the house owners, Dada Adesanya, they are gripped with fear about where to relocate after their buildings might have been demolished by government bulldozers.

    He said: “Most of the owners of the buildings are old people who have no money to build new houses. A notice of three days is too short for them to relocate.

    “Apart from this, the initial agreement of 15 meters to the road was what we agreed with the government before they now came with 30 meters which we find too shocking  and sudden.

    “Most of the occupants of the affected structures are aged people who had lived for over eight years in the ancient buildings and could not afford to build another house owing to financial constraints.”

    Adesanya said the people appreciate he developmental project of the present administration but urged the government to have a rethink on the hardship the project would unleash on the people.

    Responding, Speaker Oluwawole commended the peaceful conduct of the protesters  and told the house owners that the intended demolition was to guard against vehicles ramming into the buildings.

    Oluwawole explained that government meant well for the people hence the need to embark on developmental project that would attract investment and industrialization.

    The Speaker advised the people to carry the authorities of the Ministry of Lands and Housing along in their agitations as the Assembly was also ready to wade into the matter.

    He, however, added that all citizens of the state should be ready to make sacrifice when necessary to pave way for economic prosperity and infrastructural development.

    Oluwawole said: “I like the way you have been peaceful, we will take your case to the executive. Every citizens must be ready to make some sacrifices.”

  • Fayose to demolish more houses for flyover project

    Fayose to demolish more houses for flyover project

    Ekiti Ambassadors deplore ‘poor governance’

    AN interest group based in Ekiti State, the Ekiti Ambassadors, has expressed regret that the state hitherto regarded as land of people of integrity, virtue and honour has become a laughing stock for alleged poor governance and misplacement of priorities.

    It said events in the state had brought shame to Ekiti and made its people to be regarded as third-class citizens in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

    Addressing a news conference in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, yesterday, its President, Owoola Daramola, said the trend in Ekiti must be reversed as the 2018 governorship election draws nearer.

    Daramola, who was supported by other members of the body’s executive committee, said “people are suffering and don’t need grandiose projects, such as a flyover being constructed by the Ayo Fayose administration”.

    He contended that majority of Ekiti citizens need good jobs, and not a flyover being constructed when civil servants are owed five-month arrears of salaries.

    Daramola said the search for the right person to occupy the governorship seat must begin now, saying Ekiti people need “a man of integrity, virtue and honour, an honest man of wisdom, with strength of character and passionate about Ekiti development”.

    He said: “We need somebody, who is conversant with the politico-economic history, who will revert and reverse the sad story of Ekiti land. We need somebody that is part of the system, who understands the people, who knows how and what the people feels.

    “Somebody who has investment and interest at home; somebody who will make Ekiti a place of envy and honour. We need somebody that will lay the foundation of future political-economic leadership, growing, nurturing and maintaining it for generations yet unborn.

    “Our position is that the head of the next administration would be someone with ties with us in Ekiti; someone that understands what we feel and what we need; someone that shares the same cultural and traditional ties with us; someone genuinely dedicated and devoted to serving the public.”

    The Ekiti Ambassadors boss said the group would work with some non-governmental and civil society organisations to begin massive enlightenment of voters to make the right choice and desist from collecting rice, salt, money and other forms of inducement from politicians.

    Daramola added: “Ekiti has become a laughing stock in the comity of states in Nigeria and to the outside world. Political parties must put their house in order and go back to the grassroots to rebuild their structures.”

     

  • COREN to probe flyover project

    council for the Regulation of Engineering Practice in Nigeria (COREN) plans to investigate the flyover project in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

    The probe will include the Ama Wire Okigwe road and Akwakuma Orlu road flyovers under construction by the Imo State government

    This is coming after the alarm raised by the social justice group, Imo Bilie Initiative of Nigeria (IBIN) over the poor quality projects being carried out in the state by the government saying the projects do not meet international standard

    Meanwhile, the Engineering Regulation Monitoring (ERM) Owerri Inspectorate has been directed to visit the sites and report back to the council for appropriate action.

    COREN’s Registrar, Mathias Adoyi who spoke in a telephone interview at the weekend, said the council would remain committed to safety and value for money in engineering projects, among other things, adding that the regulatory body would do its best to retain its valued integrity

    The group through its Convener and National Coordinator, Obidinma Aku had written the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), COREN and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to investigate the work saying the flyovers are death traps.

    The Secretary to the Imo State Government, Ezenna Eche, denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the flyovers, including the one at the Okigwe road, met the required standard.

    He said though the foundation was laid by the previous administration of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, the government of Rochas Okorocha has been able to redesign and make them even stronger.

    Eche said: “In fact, I didn’t know that this present government would be able to work on that project, but it has been able to complete it. It seemed as if he was not going to complete the project because it was started by a government that would commission a project and would not complete it. They said he would abandon it but it didn’t happen that way.’’

    Eche said contractors do many of the jobs, and that it is the government is committed to the local content programme.

    He added that there was no need for contractors and technicians to come from countries, such as Korea, Japan and Lebanon, to work in Nigeria when there are competent Nigerians to execute the jobs.

    He, however, regretted that in most cases, people are not living up to standard.

    “We keep doing things the old way, some people when they are mobilised run away with it while others do shoddy jobs, nevertheless, the projects are up to standard, where there are errors we make amends he maintained,” he said.

    But, according to Aku, heavy duty trailers and tankers ply the road very often, a development, he said, would bring about the sudden collapse of the bridge if quality materials were not used.

  • Flyover: APC slams Fayose

    Flyover: APC slams Fayose

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has criticised Governor Ayo Fayose for failing to pay workers’ salaries and building a N5.7billion flyover.

    The party said it was clear that the governor never loved the people as he claimed, judging by his alleged anti-people policies.

    The APC said Fayose’s preference for building an airport, market and flyover bridge contradicted his campaign slogan to “tar stomachs” before building physical infrastructure.

    It added that it was sheer opportunism and lack of integrity to deceive the people during campaigns with mouth-watering promises only to turn around to deny them such.

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the APC said the policies embarked upon by the Fayose administration has impoverished workers, pensioners, traders and business owners.

    Olatunbosun regretted that the governor had been playing on the people’s intelligence since he assumed office.

    “We knew from the onset that the governor had no programme to lift Ekiti people out of poverty.

    “At best, his stomach infrastructure slogan was meant to dishonestly set the people, particularly workers, against the Kayode Fayemi administration, which embarked on massive infrastructure development.

    “As an anti-development politician, Fayose started promoting “stomach infrastructure” with the promise not to owe workers.

    “Now, the governor has turned full circle, telling workers that they should expect  their pay three times in a year.

    “Even though he criticised Fayemi for borrowing money for development purposes, Fayose has borrowed N10 billion to build a needless flyover while workers and pensioners are being owed between five and six months in arrears.

    “The money was in a fixed deposit account for some time but Fayose has not told Ekiti people how much interest has accrued on the money.

    “Fayose has not paid teachers, local government workers and state retirees their benefits, yet he sees nothing wrong in borrowing N10 billion to build a flyover to nowhere.

    “Even he knows that thepeople don’t need any flyover in that area.

    “We can only sympathise with workers, pensioners, traders and school pupils who are now paying taxes and urge them to keep praying for divine intervention,” he concluded.

  • 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.