Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said yesterday that his administration was running an inclusive infrastructure development and building rural and urban roads to meet needs.
He spoke at the inauguration of upgraded/rehabilitated network of three roads, namely Adeola Hopewell Street, Idowu Taylor and AfriBank/Church Gate Streets on Victoria Island.
The governor said Victoria Island used to be one of the cleanest and most orderly neighborhoods, but increased commercial activities and population upsurge led to environmental challenges, including flooding and gridlock.
“The failure of many of the drainages and water channels on Victoria Island has impeded the free flow of traffic, extending commuting time, causing damage to vehicles, lowpatronage for businesses and generally poorer quality of life for the people who work and live here.
“As a responsive government committed to the fulfilment of electoral promises, we knew we had to do everything necessary to address and reverse this issue of incessant flooding and all its consequences in the area,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said the reconstruction would boost commerce, interconnectivity and curb gridlock and flooding on the network of roads, which served over 200,000 people daily on the axis that housed financial institutions.
He said the inauguration was to fulfil his campaign promises of inclusive infrastructure delivery, address degeneration and the perennial flooding on the axis in line with his T.H.E.M.E.S Development Agenda.
“A major focus of our Greater Lagos Vision is the prioritisation of urban renewal and the development of road infrastructure as a means of enhancing the collective well-being of Lagosians.
“We have adopted an all-inclusive and people-centred approach that covers rural and urban areas, so that no part of Lagos State is left out,” the governor said.
He listed all divisions of the state where roads projects were ongoing, noting that four roads in Ikeja GRA axis are at advanced stages of completion and will soon be inaugurated.
Sanwo-Olu said the upgrade of Adeola Hopewell, Idowu Taylor and Afribank/Churchgate streets project, awarded in February 2020, has provided effective drainage system and network, as well as good road connectivity.
“Of the three roads being inaugurated today, Adeola Hopewell and Afribank/Churchgate streets are one-way traffic roads, while Idowu Taylor is a two-way street.
“The three roads form a ring-road like pattern that effectively discharges traffic into Sanusi Fafunwa Street and connects back to Adeyemo Alakija Street,” he said.
The Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, said prior to the reconstruction, the strategic roads were in deplorable conditions.
She said the project was part of the Phase 1 of the Urban Regeneration programme of the Sanwo-Olu government for the Victoria Island axis, while listing recently completed roads on the axis.
The Chairman, Victoria Island and Ikoyi Residents Association, Mrs. Wonu Folami, joined other notable leaders and influential politicians from the area to thank the Sanwo-Olu administration for the succour the project brought, while pledging support of the residents to the government.
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