The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oshodi Transport Interchange

  • ‘Lagos to redesign Oshodi Transport Interchange’

    ‘Lagos to redesign Oshodi Transport Interchange’

    Lagos State Government says it will redesign the Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) to prepare for the integration of the Rail Mass transit systems.

    Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

    He said Lagos State Government would address the ongoing developments and challenges affecting the Oshodi Transport Interchange.

    Read Also: Rivers emergency declaration: Okpebholo faults Jonathan

    He said this was in preparedness for the integration of the rail mass transit system; Red Line rail project connecting the Blue Line.

    “The ministry recognises that a review of the OTI’s design and operations is essential for its optimisation and so a meeting with relevant stakeholders to discuss the current state of the OTI.

    “ The review will also identify viable solutions that will enhance its operational efficiency in alignment with global standards and Standard Operating Procedures,” he said.

  • Work on Oshodi transport interchange, bus projects may be stalled

    The recently commissioned world class Oshodi Transport Interchange and high and medium capacity buses for public transportation in Lagos by President Muhammadu Buhari may be endangered if what transpired during the debate on the report of the Appropriation committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly and subsequent passage of the budget on Monday is anything to go by.

    The projects which were intiated and still on-going by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration have unresolved issues with the state Assembly which would affect their speedy completion by this administration.

    Infact, the projects were the only issues that came up for mention during the debate of the Appropriation committee report on the 2019 budget at plenary on Monday before the budget was eventually passed.

    Part of the recommendation of the committee as contained in the report was that the money budgetted for the completion of the projects should be deleted from the 2019 budget which would have meant stalling or stopping work outrightly on the projects.

    Our investigations into why the House would want to do that to such laudable projects that would bring succour to millions of Lagosians and Nigerians revealed that there are issues, of non compliance by the executive to directives of the Assembly concerning the projects, involved.

    However, during the brief debate on the committee report at plenary, Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru advised or suggested that instead of deleting the monies for the projects outrightly from the budget it should be transferred to Special Expenditure fund.

    And former Chairman of the Appropriation committee, Hon. Rotimi Olowo who spoke after Abiru supported the suggestion, they were the only two people who contributed to the debate and this was the only issue raised before the committee’s report was adopted as a resolution of the House and budget was subsequently passed.

    The implication of remitting the monies to the special expenditure fund is that the governor cannot access the money unless he makes recourse to the House.

    Our investigations revealed that the lawmakers took this step because, according to them the two projects are alien or unknown to the House.

     

     

     

  • Lagos budget: Oshodi transport interchange, bus projects endangered

    The recently commissioned world class Oshodi Transport Interchange and high and medium capacity buses for public transportation in Lagos by President Muhammadu Buhari may be endangered if what transpired during the debate on the report of the Appropriation committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly and subsequent passage of the budget on Monday is anything to go by.

    The projects which were initiated and still on-going by the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration have unresolved issues with the state Assembly which would affect their speedy completion by this administration.

    Infact the projects were the only issues that came up for mention during the debate of the Appropriation committee report on the 2019 budget at plenary on Monday before the budget was eventually passed.

    Part of the recommendation of the committee as contained in the report was that the money budgeted for the completion of the projects should be deleted from the 2019 budget which would have meant stalling or stopping work out rightly on the projects.

    Our investigations into why the House revealed that there are issues, of non-compliance by the executive to directives of the Assembly concerning the projects, involved.

    However, during the brief debate on the committee report at plenary, Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru advised or suggested that instead of deleting the monies for the projects out rightly from the budget it should be transferred to Special Expenditure fund.

    Former Chairman of the Appropriation committee, Hon. Rotimi Olowo who spoke after Abiru supported the suggestion, they were the only two people who contributed to the debate and this was the only issue raised before the committee’s report was adopted as a resolution of the House and budget was subsequently passed.

    The implication of remitting the monies to the special expenditure fund is that the governor cannot assess the money unless he makes recourse to the House.

    Our investigations revealed that the lawmakers took this step because; according to them the two projects are alien or unknown to the House.

    According to a source in the House who craved anonymity, “the Oshodi transport interchange and bus projects as captured in the budget are unknown to the House; the two projects are not really known to this House because they were not budgetted for in the previous budgets”.

    Read Also: Ethnic groups seek harmony in Oshodi

    Our source further revealed that although the governor made request for them during the 2018 budget re-ordering, but when the House demanded for more information on the projects from the Executive there was no response.

    “So what the House did in the last budget, there were some expenditures that we put under special expenditure fund because we needed more information on these projects which was not given to us when we were working on the budget and this two projects fall into that category.

    “The reason for keeping them in special expenditure is that whenever the governor wants to assess the money he will make recourse to the House so that whatever we need to know will be explained to us.

    “But despite the fact that we gave that order from 2018 budget, the executive was spending that money without making recourse to the House and that is why the House is saying the projects are not known to it.”

    It is these same projects that the executive is making request for further funding in the 2019 budget which the House has declined.

    “The reason for declining the request is because of the previous instruction that we gave which they did not comply with.”

    A lawmaker who also craved anonymity said the lawmakers agreed at their parliamentary meeting to move the funds to Special Expenditure for two reasons.

    Firstly, deleting them completely from the budget will affect the total size of the budget which was ready for passage and would result to further delay in trying to reconcile the budget with the new reality.

    And secondly, “now a new government is coming in, Ambode is going, taking the expenditure for the two items to the special expenditure fund means that the new administration can still assess the monies and continue with the projects once it makes recourse to the Assembly for approval,” he said.

    However, since it is just one month to the end of the lifespan of this administration Lagosians might really not have to wait for too long for the continuation and completion of the projects, that is if the incoming administration makes it a priority.

     

  • Lagos announces partial restriction of Oshodi flyover

    The Lagos State Government on Friday said there would be partial restriction of movement on Oshodi flyover to enable it advance the ongoing construction of the Oshodi Transport Interchange. 

     This is with effect from 10:00pm Sunday, July 1st to 5:00am Monday, July 2nd, 2018.

     In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, the Government said construction work at the Oshodi Transport Interchange had entered critical stage and the contractor Messer Planet Projects Limited would be hoisting heavy structural steel trusses for the assembly of the Skywalk Bridge.

     Men of LASTMA, FRSC, Police, LAGESC, VIO, etc. would be on ground to manage traffic and provide safety and security support during the 7-hour night operation.

     The Skywalk Bridge, the longest free standing pedestrian bridge in Nigeria at 53.4m long and six metres wide, would link Terminal One and Two buildings at the Oshodi Transport Interchange.

     The flyover would be completely closed in the direction of Anthony to the Airport, while the motorists (in both directions) would now make use of the second carriageway, that is, the one in the direction from Airport to Oshodi to Anthony.

     He said motorists coming from Anthony can either access Town Planning Way through Ikorodu Road or Apapa Oworonshoki Expressway and then turn to Ilupeju Industrial Avenue then link Agege Motor Road via Ilupeju bypass and make a U-turn at Bolade and turn to Apapa Oworonshoki Expressway.

     “For motorists coming from Isolo/Airport Road, you can enter the service lane at Charity and turn to Agege Motor Road at Oshodi and then link Ilupeju Industrial Avenue via Ilupeju Bypass and then turn to Town Planning Way to link up Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway,” the Commissioner said.

     Besides, Akinsanya added that in the days and weeks ahead, there would also be closure on some certain section of roads within the axis to vehicular and human traffic, just as he solicited the cooperation and support of all road users plying the corridor to observe all the precaution signs on the road.

     “We encourage individuals and groups that may have cause to use the network of roads and bridges passing through, or linking Oshodi and environ, to be alert to disruptions and danger associated with movement of heavy steel and equipment,” he said.

     He added that the State Government has also put in place effective traffic management strategies to manage traffic situation during the period of closure.

     He said the notice of restriction of the road became expedient to enlighten motorists and other road users to utilize alternative routes to avoid delay as well as obey traffic officers deployed on the road to ease movement.

     Akinsanya also thanked road users and motorists for their support, patience and understanding since the commencement of the project, assuring that on completion it would be an iconic facility that would change the face of Lagos forever.

     

  • Oshodi transport terminals will be ready by October – Contractor

    The project Manager of a firm handling the construction of three terminals at the Oshodi Transport Interchange, Mr. Abiodun Otunola, said on Friday the project would be ready by October.

    Otunola, a civil engineer with Planet Projects Construction Company, the firm handling the job, said 70 per cent of the work has been done.

    The projects include three terminals for interstate vehicles, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the third designed to serve the entire state.

    Otunola said: “Everybody working here is a Nigerian and you can see the quality of the structures and work we are doing.

    “There is no design like this anywhere in the world, it is unique and a peculiar structure due to the shape and geography of this place, Oshodi.”

    The engineer said the terminals were built in such a way that passengers could link one terminal from the other.

    “With this, we are solving transport, environmental and security problems in Lagos State; Oshodi that I used to know is getting shape gradually, in a few months, you will see a new Oshodi,’’ he added.

    Otunola noted that Lagos residents deserved befitting and comfortable transportation facilities, especially at Oshodi, the hub and centre where people move to other states and some West African countries.

    “Before now, we discovered that there are about 17 different parks with no standard facilities like toilets, ticketing and adequate security personnel in place.

    “There is no part of Nigeria that is not served from a particular spot at Oshodi. When some people say it is a mere bus stop, I laughed. They are not being realistic and not saying the truth.

    “In the western world, they call it terminals, either buses or train terminals with many facilities in place and I know Lagos is getting there very soon.

    “So, it is going to be Lagos gift to Nigeria and the West Coast when it is fully done in terms of facilities, like Wifi, waiting area, ticketing booth, ATM points, loading bay, offices and conveniences.

    “The size, population, complexity and number of destinations at the terminals are going to be more than 50 of present day’s motor park at Oshodi.”

    NAN

     

     

  • Lagos flags off Oshodi-Int’l Airport road

    Lagos flags off Oshodi-Int’l Airport road

    The Lagos State Government on Monday flagged off the reconstruction of the Oshodi-International Airport Road, with a pledge to complete the project within the next fifteen months.

    The State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode had last month at the quarterly Town Hall Meeting held in Badore area of Ajah, announced that the reconstruction of the road, which is a major gateway to the country, would commence in September, and that the construction would facilitate the transformation of the road to a world class standard.

    Specifically, the design of the project include the reconstruction and expansion of the existing carriage to three-lane Expressway on both directions, construction of two-lane Service Road in both directions, construction of Ramp Bridge to provide a U-turn from Ajao Estate to Airport, construction of a flyover at NAHCO/Toll Gate and drainage works.

    Others include the removal of existing Pedestrian Bridge at Ajao Estate and construction of Pedestrian Bridges at Ajao Estate and NAHCO/Hajj Camp, construction of Slip Road to provide access to Ajao Estate, construction of Lay-bys and installation of Street Lights, among others.

    Speaking while flagging off the project, the State’s Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Engr Adebowale Akinsanya said the commencement of the project was in line with the commitment of the present administration to transform the entire axis, being the major gateway to the country’s commercial nerve centre.

    He said the State Government took it upon itself to undertake the reconstruction of the road being one of the busiest roads in the State with vehicular volumes averaging 50,000 vehicles daily, and that its poor state was not acceptable for the status of the State as the fifth largest economy in Africa and the nation’s commercial hub.

    He said some of the fences along the corridor have been identified to be within the right of way, but that government would minimize the impact of the project on property owners.

    He said in order to properly carry along people of the area, a stakeholders’ meeting will hold on Thursday to sensitize the people whereby they will have an opportunity to ask the necessary questions.

    He said to fast-track the project, three group of workers will work on the project and they would work day and night, while upon completion, the project will be linked to the Oworonshoki reclamation project, which is also ongoing and is aimed at transforming the corridor to a major entertainment and tourism hub.

    The Commissioner, however, urged residents and motorists to cooperate with government while the construction will last, saying that the intention was to transform the area.

    “There will be some minor inconveniences but we are going to try to mitigate the impact. The work will be accelerated. The project is to make life easier for everybody. We just want to appeal to people to cooperate with us. We will be here to talk to the people in case of any issue and we are also working with our partner, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),” the Commissioner said.

    Also speaking, Managing Director of Planet Projects, the firm that designed the project, Mr. Biodun Otunola said prior to the commencement of the construction, adequate feasibility studies were carried out, and that the project, upon completion, would facilitate total transformation of Oshodi and International Airport corridor.

    He said in as much as there would not be alternative roads created specifically for the project, adequate measures have been put in place to educate the public on the staging that would be developed, saying that the project would be executed in phases, while motorists will make use of other sections of the road during construction work on a particular section.

    Otunola, whose company is also handling the construction of the Oshodi Transport Interchange, said by the time the road project and the interchange are completed, the whole axis would have been transformed to world class standard.

    “The desire of the State Government under Governor Ambode is to ensure that this whole corridor is turned into an international corridor so that investors and the people can be proud that we have an international gateway that we all can be proud of.

    “We are not just building roads, we are thinking of the transportation implication and so there is a bus reform project that is ongoing and every part of Lagos will be connected by bus and that is why this road project will be linked to the Oshodi interchange. So, there will be about 20 lay-bys, bus terminals and so on which are all flowing from the same Master plan for this area,” he said.