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Tag: roads

  • Roads, women empowerment top stakeholders’ demands in Apapa

    Roads, women empowerment top stakeholders’ demands in Apapa

    The Lagos State Government has been urged to intensify its effort in rehabilitating rural roads in Apapa Constituency 2 and increase the slots for women in both elective and appointive positions. These demands were made by participants at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    A participant, Mrs Fausat Ojora, from Ward G, said that there is need for the state government to increase the number of women in both elective and appointive positions, saying that women constitute over 65% of voters in the state. She argued that increasing the number of women in elective and appointive positions would help in encouraging them in politics.

    Ojora, however, appreciated the mass transit buses distributed to public schools by the lawmaker representing the constituency, Olumuyiwa Jimoh and implored the government to rehabilitate the bad roads in the constituency. Another participant, Mr. Jimoh Olawale, sought the intervention of the government in repairing some roads in the area and urged the government to compensate those whose houses were demolished for the expansion of roads.

    In his comment, the Vice Chairman of Apapa Iganmu LCDA, Akanbi Balogun, spoke on the ongoing construction of local market in the council, saying further that, the local government was embarking on some palliatives to make the roads motorable.

    In his response, Jimoh assured the constituents that the government would rehabilitate the primary schools in the area and advised them to pay their taxes.

    He told the people that the federal government has started repairing Apapa and Ijora Roads and that the issue of congestion on the roads would be adequately handled.

  • Senator decries deplorable roads in Oyo Central

    The senator representing Oyo Central in the National Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu, has decried the number of deplorable roads in her constituency.

    Sunmonu, who spoke yesterday when a delegation of her constituents visited her in Abuja, noted that most of the roads in the constituency have become death traps.

    The former Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker listed Oyo-Ogbomoso Road (under construction), Ibadan-Oyo and Oyo-Iseyin roads as the worst affected.

    The lawmaker, who displayed photographs of accident vehicles on the roads, said it was disheartening that accidents had become regular on the roads.

    Sunmonu, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, noted that though she had raised the matter on the floor of the Senate, she would lead the delegation to take up the matter with the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), to seek quick fix of the roads.

    The senator said she would also work with her colleagues to ensure quick measures to fix the roads.

    She expressed optimism that fixing the roads would reduce incessant accidents on the roads.

    Sunmonu noted that besides a meeting with Fashola, she also led the delegation to meet Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to talk about mining activities in her constituency.

    Chief S. M. Akindele, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, said they were in Abuja to see and encourage Sunmonu to do more.

    Akindele said: “We are here to see our senator and in our adage, if somebody is doing something good, you need to thank her and encourage her to do more. Seeing is believing. W we have seen, we are here to encourage her to continue the good work she has been doing.

    “All the party leaders are here: the women leaders are here, the elders are here. We also need to thank her colleagues in the Senate for supporting her, especially on the issue of the deplorable state of our roads. We are happy with her work as our senator.”

    Besides Akindele, other members of the delegation included Oladele Hezekiah, Adegboyega Aderemi, Adeoye Kamarudeen, Adebayo Remi, Alhaja Juwon Adewuyi (Wome Leader), Asamu Kayode (Youth Leader for Egbeda), Owonikoko Lukman (Oyo East LGA) and Alhaji Ayoola W. A. (Secretary).

  • Stop cutting roads, lawmaker warns companies

    A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mrs. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, has condemned the nonchalant attitude of people to government property and continued misuse of state or national assets to achieve selfish gains.

    She said government was spending huge funds to fix a number of infrastructural facilities such as roads, which hardly lasted a year before they got damaged by people through abuse.

    Mrs Tejuoso, representing Mushin Constituency 1 in the Assembly, spoke at a constituency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos.

    She noted that despite the state government fixing 114 roads across the state this year, many of the complaints of the people at the stakeholders’ meeting were on bad roads.

    Mrs Tejuoso said: “I can confirm to you that our roads are good. But our people must stop doing the wrong things with our road. Many people don’t respect government property. For instance, you can’t have tanker drivers parking on the road, repairing their vehicles and draining the oil and expect the road to be durable; it is going to cause wear and tear fast on that road.”

    She also condemned the practice of cutting the road by people and companies erecting telecommunication, electricity and water cables and leaving the place uncovered for a long time or haphazardly done.

    “We don’t need people dropping their refuse on the roadside; it is not only unhygienic, it causes a colossal damage to the road when it rains,” she lamented.

    According to the lawmaker, the suggestions and demands made in the previous two meetings by the people have been forwarded to the Executive arm of government, adding, “Most of the infrastructural projects, which are evident and visible across the state are the outcome of the 2015 and 2016 meetings.”

    She said the eighth Assembly has attended to over 600 petitions conclusively out of about 850 received.

  • Fed Govt begins repair of roads, bridges in Lagos

    Fed Govt begins repair of roads, bridges in Lagos

    The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Godwin Eke, yesterday said major roads and bridges in Lagos State were undergoing emergency and remedial repairs.

    Eke, in an interview in Lagos, said some bad roads required urgent attention and that the Federal Government was determined to make all federal roads in Lagos and across the nation motorable.

    He said some of the roads have been completed while others were still undergoing repairs.

    He explained that remedial works on both carriageways of Apongbon Bridge undulations had since been completed, noting that, speed was achieved on the project because the contractors worked at night.

    He listed ongoing emergency repair projects to include, repairs on Ijora Causeway, Ijora Flyover (East Link), Funsho Williams Avenue, replacement of 1 N  expansion joint on Eko Bridge, Costain Roundabout to Eko Bridge Ramp and Costain to Iganmu Bridge (Orile Bound).

    Others projects are: Funsho Williams Bridge to Alaka, Carter Bridge Roundabout to LAWMA Junction (Eko Bridge Bound Carriageway), Herbert Macaulay Way (Jibowu Junction to Adekunle Junction) and Outer Marina to Ahmadu Bellow way (From Apongbon Bridge to Bonny Camp).

    Also listed were Falomo Roundabout through Kingsway Road to Osbourne Road, Apapa Road to Western Avenue (Between Iganmu Bridge Ramp and Western Avenue Bridge Ramp (Alaka Bound Carriageway), Apapa Road towards Iganmu Bridge (Orile Bound) which were receiving attention.

    Eke said Ijora Olopa to Ijora7Up (Beside Oloye Nursery and Primary School (Ijora Olopa Bound), Alaka to Apongbon through Eko Bridge (both carriageways), Onikan Junction through Independent Bridge to Apongbon Bridge (Apongbon Bound) were undergoing repairs.

    According to him, Lagos Island/General Hospital to Apongbon, Onikan/Lagos Island to Apongbon through Apongbon Bridge/CMS (CMS Bound), Eko Bridge Approach to Ijora, Ijora to Apapa Road through underneath Iganmu Flyover (Costain Bound) and National Theatre Train Station to Costain (Costain Bound) were being worked upon.

    He said government was working on concluding plans for other roads not yet captured and appealed to residents of Lagos “to be patient with government” as the repairs would soon reach other roads.

    “Due to paucity of funds government cannot repair all the roads at the same time,” he said.

    The controller said that Apapa Oshodi/Tin Can Island Road was undergoing procurement and that government was also planning permanent reconstruction of roads on the Apapa/Tin Can Island/Oshodi Road corridor  to reduce gridlock/congestion to the barest minimum.

    “We will carry out some palliatives as soon as the procurement process is concluded.

    “The high water table in Apapa requires proper design  and adoption of rigid pavement to ensure longevity of our roads,” Eke said.

  • Fed Govt begins repairs on its roads in Lagos

    The Federal Government has begun emergency and remedial repair of some major roads and bridges in Lagos State, the Federal Controller of Works for Lagos, Mr Godwin Eke, said yesterday.

    Eke told reporters in Lagos that some of the bad roads required urgent attention and that the Federal Government was determined to make its roads across the country motorable.

    He said the repairs on some roads had been completed while others were ongoing.

    The controller noted that remedial work on the carriageways of Apongbon Bridge undulations had been completed.

    According to him, the repairs were completed speedily because the contractors worked at night.

    Eke identified the emergency repair projects as those on Ijora Causeway, Ijora Flyover (East Link), Funsho Williams Avenue, replacement of 1 N (one number) expansion joint on Eko Bridge, Costain Roundabout to Eko Bridge Ramp and Costain to Iganmu Bridge (Orile Bound).

    Others are: Funsho Williams Bridge to Alaka, Carter Bridge Roundabout to LAWMA Junction (Eko Bridge Bound Carriageway), Herbert Macaulay Way (Jibowu Junction to Adekunle Junction) and Outer Marina to Ahmadu Bellow way (From Apongbon Bridge to Bonny Camp).

    Also affected are: Falomo Roundabout through Kingsway Road to Osbourne Road, Apapa Road to Western Avenue (between Iganmu Bridge ramp and Western Avenue Bridge ramp (Alaka-bound carriageway), Apapa Road towards Iganmu Bridge (Orile-bound) which were receiving attention.

    Eke said Ijora Olopa to Ijora-7Up (beside Oloye Nursery and Primary School (Ijora Olopa-bound), Alaka to Apongbon through Eko Bridge (both carriageways) and Onikan Junction through Independent Bridge to Apongbon Bridge (Apongbon-bound) were undergoing repairs.

    According to him, the following roads – Lagos Island/General Hospital to Apongbon, Onikan/Lagos Island to Apongbon through Apongbon Bridge/CMS (CMS Bound), Eko Bridge approach to Ijora, Ijora to Apapa Road through underneath Iganmu flyover (Costain-bound) and the National Theatre train station to Costain (Costain-bound) – are being worked on.

    Eke said the government was working assiduously to conclude plans for other roads not yet captured.

    The controller urged Lagos State residents to be patient with the government as the repairs would soon reach those roads not earlier captured.

    He said: “Due to paucity of funds, government cannot repair all the roads at the same time.”

    The controller said the bids for the repair of Apapa Oshodi/Tin Can Island Road was passing through the procurement process, adding that government was planning to rebuild the network of roads on the Apapa/Tin Can Island/Oshodi Road corridor to reduce congestion to the barest minimum.

    He added: “We will carry out some palliatives as soon as the procurement process is concluded.

    “The high water table at Apapa requires proper design and adoption of rigid pavement to ensure longevity of our roads.”

     

  • Fed Govt begins work on 41 roads

    Fed Govt begins work on 41 roads

    THE Federal Government has concluded plans to begin road repair interventions on 41 damaged highways across the country following flooding.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola said this yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with contractors handling Federal Government’s projects.

    Fashola said the rehabilitation will be embarked upon alongside ongoing road construction projects.

    Popular among the roads are Benue-Makurdi highway, major highways in the Southeast among other flooded projects inspected by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “I will quickly also go to the interventions we have already planned, in addition to major construction works that is going on. We also have rehabilitation works using specific contractors to improve motorability and we would be working on 41 roads across the country and trying to make some remediation for them as a result of what has happened during the rainy seasons.

    “We will be intervening across the country, including the Benue-Makurdi, South-East and places where the Vice President visited as a result of flood. So, we are just getting ready to complete our procurement processes and roll-out,” Fashola said.

    He issued a directive to the contractors to ensure completion of the projects before the Christmas season.

    Fashola said it became important, considering traffics and other difficulties commuters might face during the festive period.

    According to him, the meeting was meant to get contractors to site, as the country approaches end of the year.

    On the Federal Government’s N100 billion Sukuk bond, he said if fully subscribed, it would cover 25 major roads.

    Sukuk is one of the financial instruments used by governments and organisations to raise funds.

    However, unlike conventional bonds, which proceeds can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including recurrent expenditure, funds realised from Sukuk issuance could only be deployed to assets such as infrastructure.

    Fashola explained that the proposed 25 roads are integral parts of A1 to A4, saying: “If you look at the proposed 25 roads, they are the roads that are integral parts of A1 to A4.

    “The A1 is the Lagos to Sokoto highway, A2 is the Warri-Kastina, A3 is Port Harcourt-Potiskum, Yobe and A4 is Calabar-Maiduguri. One thing that all these roads share in common is that they originate from our ports and end in the boundary… If Sukuk is fully subscribed for, we will have 25 major roads we would have some interventions.”

    But, the contractors stated that pending projects would be completed only, if funding is made available.

    They blamed the weather for delays in project implementation, stressing that it affected progress of some federal projects.

    However, the contractors promised to resume work at the sites immediately the dry season sets in.

  • Okorocha bans Keke from Owerri roads

    Okorocha bans Keke from Owerri roads

    The Imo State government yesterday banned tricycles, popularly called Keke, from operating in Owerri, the state capital.

    The ban takes effect from September 5.

    Governor Rochas Okorocha, who announced the ban at the inauguration of the state’s taxi scheme, said only the taxis will be allowed to operate in the capital city.

    He said: “For that reason, we have shared about 2,000 Volkswagen Passat wagon cars to the Keke operators on Wednesday to enable them comply with the directive. Balloting was conducted at the Hero’s Square, for the beneficiaries.”

    Okorocha noted that “the second batch of beneficiaries will get theirs in October while the third batch will have their own in December”.

    He added: “Keke operators would no longer be expected to operate on the major roads of Douglas, Wetheral, Bank Road, Orlu Road and other designated roads.”

    Addressing the Keke operators, Okorocha said: “Few years ago when the Keke people gave me a very resounding support, I promised that I will change you from three-legged to four-legged. For that reason, today marks the beginning of the movement from tricycle to a full car.

    “Now, government has made provision for 2,000 taxis to enable all of you have one taxi each. This is done to give you comfort and make your life prosperous. I would not have been happy if I completed this tenure without fulfilling my promise.

    “For the purpose of clarity, this is government’s empowerment scheme for the masses is to reduce pains in your families and bring comfort. Keke has served us well in Imo State. I want to thank you for serving us well. But as Imo State is developing and getting better with good roads and a lot of infrastructural developments. Keke can no longer be the appropriate means of transportation within the Owerri city. This is why we are moving from Keke to car…”

  • Fed, Oyo govts to build 70 rural roads

    The Oyo State government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, will build 70 rural roads across the state.

    The state government said the roads will open up the rural areas and make life more meaningful as well as enhance transportation of farm produce to cities.

    Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi, broke the news at a stakeholders’ meeting on prioritisation of rural roads at Saki, Atiba and Ido local government areas.

    Oyewole, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Victor Atilola, said the roads, with over 700 kilometres, would be built in 28 agrarian local government areas based on priority and recommendation of community leaders under the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP III).

    The commissioner said the roads would further promote agricultural practices in the identified areas and other parts of the state.

    He urged residents of the beneficiary communities to support the contractor to do a good job.

    The National Project Coordinator of Rural Access and Mobility Project, Ubaldoma Ularamu, said $60 million would be given to Oyo State for its rural roads and river crossing the beneficiary communities.

    He said the government would pay compensation to families or individuals who may suffer damage or loss in the course of building the roads.

    The State Project Coordinator of RAMP III, Dr Yode Ayanlowo said the project was designed to ensure that farmers in rural areas have access to good roads to convey their farm produce to the markets with ease.

  • Lagos to fix 43 roads, others

    he Lagos State Government yesterday unveiled its plan for rehabilitating some roads and clearing drains to avert flooding between now and December.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Works and Drainages Temidayo Erinle, at a press briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said the Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) would rehabilitate 43 major link roads and other deplorable highways and arterial roads.

    Besides, the corporation’s engineers have been sent out to identify other failed roads.

    Some of the 43 roads are Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi; Ojota Interchange transiting the ramps on both directions, Sina Ogunbanwo Street, Agric Road Oko-Oba, Ifako Ijaiye; Club Road off Osborne Road, Ikoyi; Oroke Drive, Ikoyi, Eti-Osa LGA; Central Avenue, Apapa; North Avenue, Apapa; Maybin road, Apapa; Lateef Jakande road, Ikeja; Gberibe road, Ikorodu; TOS Benson road, Ikorodu; Oke Sabo along Imota; Itamaga, Itoikin; Oba Sekumaderd, Ogolonto, Ikorodu; Adeniran Ogunsanya road Ikorodu; Admiralty way, Lekki Eti-Osa; Topo inward Ajido, Badagry; Hospital road, Badagry and Ijesha road network, Surulere.

    Other roads include Liverpool Apapa; 1st Avenue Festac Amuwo- Odofin; Kirikiri road, Ajeromi Ifelodun; Ojo road, Ojo; College road, Agric, Ojo; Baale road, Ojo LGA; Okun-Owa street, Ajegunle, Ajeromi Ifelodun; Crowther Crescent, Apapa LG; Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja; Shasha road Akowonjo; Bonny Camp Victoria Island; Musa Yar Adua street, off Ozumba Mbadiwe; Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikeja; Old Abeokuta motor road; Pen Cinema to Abule Egba; Iju road, Ifako Ijaiye LGA; Akowonjo road, Alimosho; Itire road, Babalola bus stop axis, Mushin LGA; Diya street, Gbagada Kosofe; Chivita road, Ajao Estate; Asa Afariogun street, Ajao Estate; Herbert Macaulay road, Yaba; Ahmadu Bello way, Victoria Island; Lekki Epe Expressway to Ibeju Lekki Axis.

    The government, Erinle said, was not oblivious of commuters’ challenges, adding that the corporation has been repositioned to address issues relating to potholes and drainage.

    He said: “We want to take advantage of some dry days to carry out repair works on Lekki-Epe Expressway between Adetokunbo Ademola to Samuel, section of Ikorodu Road between the new and old pedestrian bridges inward Maryland, Ikorodu Road, Ketu Bus Stop and Ikuomola Street, Idimu Alimosho Local Government Area.”

    Erinle said work had begun to de-flood the state because of the torrential rainfall which led to high intensity of about 465mm of water within five days.

    The state, he said, had been divided into five zones – Alimosho, Ikeja, Mushin, Kosofe, Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye, Oshodi-Isolo and Somolu (Zone 1); Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Amuwo Odofin, Ojo and Badagry (Zone 2); Ikorodu (Zone 3); Apapa, Surulere, Lagos Island, Mainland and Eti-Osa (Zone 4); and Ibeju Lekki and Epe (Zone 5).

    Erinle said, dredging of primary channels and outfalls; clearing/cleaning of collector and tertiary (street) drains have been carried out in all the zones. A drainage master plan covering the state has been developed to improve on the earlier four master plans, he added.

    Under the new comprehensive master plan, Erinle said 169 primary channels/outfalls have been identified.

  • Edo govt bans use of schools, roads for social events

    The Edo State government has banned the use of the premises of public schools, roads and other public places for social events.

    The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr Paul Ohonbamu made the announcement on Wednesday in Benin in a statement issued to newsmen.

    He warned that violation of the ban would be dealt with in accordance with extant laws.

    He said that henceforth, the government would not condone those who flout the ban.

    The commissioner directed government agencies to ensure the ban is complied with.

    “By our ancestry as Edo people, we have always shown the example of public order and decency which others have emulated over the years.

    “This administration is determined to make Edo a model of magnificence and beauty once again,“ Ohonbamu said.