Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said Wednesday that his administration is working on a comprehensive infrastructure development plan and is building rural and urban highways to satisfy demand.
On Victoria Island, he spoke at the inauguration of an upgraded/rehabilitated network of three roads: Adeola Hopewell Street, Idowu Taylor Street, and AfriBank/Church Gate Streets.
According to the governor, Victoria Island used to be one of the cleanest and orderliest areas in the city, but rising economic activity and population growth have resulted in environmental issues such as flooding and traffic.
“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.
The rehabilitation, according to Sanwo-Olu, will increase commerce, interconnectivity, and reduce traffic and floods on the network of highways, which serves over 200,000 people daily on the axis that houses financial institutions.
In keeping with his T.H.E.M.E.S Development Agenda, he claimed the inauguration was to fulfill his campaign promises of inclusive infrastructure delivery, alleviate degeneration, and address recurring flooding on the axis.
“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 of the state’s divisions where road construction were underway, saying that four roads in the Ikeja GRA axis are nearing completion and will be inaugurated soon.
The project to rehabilitate Adeola Hopewell, Idowu Taylor, and Afribank/Churchgate streets, which was awarded in February 2020, has created an excellent drainage system and network, as well as adequate road connectivity, according to Sanwo-Olu.
“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.
Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, stated that the strategic roadways were in poor condition previous to the repair.
While naming newly constructed roads on the axis, she noted the initiative was part of the Sanwo-Olu government’s Phase 1 Urban Regeneration program for the Victoria Island axis.
Mrs. Wonu Folami, Chairman of the Victoria Island and Ikoyi Residents Association, joined other important leaders and significant politicians in the area to congratulate the Sanwo-Olu administration for the assistance provided by the project, while pledging the residents’ support to the government.
