Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos on Friday said that 89 indigenous contractors reconstructed some of the 114 inner roads being inaugurated by the State Government.

Ambode, represented by his Deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule, said that the aim was to encourage local construction companies.

The governor made this known at the inauguration of the reconstructed Ketu Adaloko Road at Ijanikin in Ato-Awori Local Council Development Area.

He said that a bidding process was established in line with international best practices to ensure transparency and accountability.

He said, “I want to thank our local contractors for delivering on these projects and demonstrating the capacity of the construction industry in Lagos.

“I urge communities to take ownership of these roads so that additional projects can come to them.

“Our concept of inclusive governance is a system in which policies, projects and programmes are being driven by the needs of the communities.

“A system in which the greatest good shall reach the greater majority of our people with streetlights and enhanced security of our neighbourhood.”

Ambode urged traditional rulers, community and market leaders and other stakeholders to address the menace of cultism, kidnapping and vandalism in their areas by providing timely information to security agencies.

In his remarks, Mr Kola Abiola, the Sole Administrator, Oto-Awori LCDA, assured the government that the community would take possession of the road.

He said, “We shall also effectively monitor, maintain and continue to manage the road.

“This will be achieved through involvement of the various community leaders and residents so that they can become durable and useful for the benefit of all.”

Meanwhile, the secretary to the state government, Mr Tunji Bello, has said that the government would not consider, for the next phase, any local contractors who did shoddy jobs.

Bello spoke with newsmen at the inauguration of Borno Way, Ebute-Metta in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area.

He said, “If they have not done very well, it means they have failed; it means that we have to look for those who are better to do better work.”

He assured the state residents that the roads being considered for reconstruction in the next phase would be properly monitored.

He said, “There are almost about 500 of them that the state is planning for.

“I can assure you that within the next few months, you will start seeing work being done, and some of these things will be corrected by the time we are moving to the next stage.”

Bello advised local contractors engaged in the project to see it as an avenue to come up with new innovations so as to compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.

Oloto Street was also inaugurated in the council area.

The Sole Administrator of the Council, Mr Adedoyin Rolaye, thanked the state government for the project, and assured residents of the area that more streets had been identified for reconstruction in the next phase.

Rolaye urged the residents to desist from dumping refuse on drainage.

He also urged them to avoid street trading, saying that a permanent enforcement team would be put in place to stop the act.

Chief Olusegun Adegbesan, the Baale of Araromi/Oyingbo/Ebute-Meta, commended the government for reconstructing the roads, but noted that more streets were in deplorable condition.

“We want government to come to our aid because accessibility to this area is a major challenge as well as flooding.”

 

Source: Thisdaylive.com

Comments

comments