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General News of Sunday, 20 June 2021

Source: punchng.com

Adequate road infrastructure will lead to strong economy - Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has said the provision of adequate road infrastructure will generate a strong economic base for improved productivity and standard of living.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, the governor spoke during the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated Thompson Avenue, Milverton Road, McDonald Road and Lateef Jakande Road in Ikoyi, Eti Osa Constituency 2, on Friday.

The roads, which have a combined length of 3.75km, were described as being in deplorable condition, following the failure of the aligning drainage channels.

Sanwo-Olu, in February 2020, awarded the rehabilitation project to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, with the aim of resolving persistent flooding on the roads and upgrading their designs for durability.

The governor noted that the delivery of the projects, which brought relief to Ikoyi-Obalende residents, was a testament to his administration’s resolve to improve people’s living conditions through well-thought-out policies and programmes.

He said, “Our administration is cognisant of the fact that strategic investment in infrastructure is the foundation for long-term growth. We equally understand that provision of adequate road infrastructure will generate a strong economic base for improved productivity and standard of living.

“Given the economic importance of Ikoyi as the real estate hub of Lagos and to address the perennial flooding issues peculiar to the axis, we formally flagged off the regeneration work last year July, comprising the upgrading of the roads and drainage channels in the area.

“Today, it is gratifying to note that we have re-engineered and reconstructed these road networks for efficiency and improved traffic flow. We have also addressed perennial flooding in the area.”

Sanwo-Olu, at the event, approved immediate rehabilitation work on three other arterial roads in the area—Cooper Road, McPherson Road, and Queen’s Drive—to further improve traffic connectivity in Ikoyi.

He disclosed that similar regeneration projects were being carried out in other areas of the state, including Lekki-Epe, Victoria Island, Alimosho, Kosofe, Ojo, Lagos Island, Badagry, Ikorodu and Ikeja GRA, which he said was part of efforts by his government to bring development to all communities in the state.

Also, the governor’s Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs Aramide Adeyoye, said the projects were in line with the resolve of the Sanwo-Olu administration to connect more communities and residents with roads.

Adeyoye said the projects held considerable socio-economic benefits for residents living and working in Ikoyi.

An Ikoyi resident and member of the Governor’s Advisory Council, Mr Wale Edun, commended Sanwo-Olu for turning around the roads, which he said were in a “woeful state” before the rehabilitation.

Gbolahan Yishau, who represents Eti-Osa Constituency 2 in the state House of Assembly, described the projects as a “needed catalyst” to boost socio-economic activities in Ikoyi-Obalende.