Residents rejoice as Lagos govt fulfils promise it made barely two years ago
By Nnamdi Inyama

IT would have been difficult to find yesterday, a resident of Okota, Isolo, Lagos or a frequent visitor to the area who did not have a smile.

A promise made to the people last year has been kept: their prayer for a link-bridge to ease vehicular movement in the area and its neighbours came true when yesterday, the

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) officially commissioned the Ago Palace Way Extension and Link Bridge.

It was a commissioning with a difference as the governor handed the bridge over to the Community Development Associations, the Landlords and Tenants Association as well as Local Government of the area to be held in trust for all Lagosians that may want to use the road.

He warned that it must not be turned into a market or park for articulated vehicles.

The governor , who spoke at Ago Palace Way , Okota added that the road has been built to let the people go safely in search of their daily bread without let or hindrance.

Said he: "This road is not a marketplace. It is a highway for transportation. This road is not a car park for trailers and tankers or a car park for articulated vehicles or trucks. This road is a community asset developed with tax payers' money from across the spectrum of the whole state.

"We have completed this road so that it can serve and allow people to commute effectively and efficiently without stress, it would enable the students get to school the workers to work, the doctors to their clinics, the lawyer, magistrate and justices to court, the farmer, the bricklayer, the market women to their various destinations", Governor Fashola emphasized.

The state governor said before now, all motorists who plied the area had become prone to armed robbery attacks due to the bad state of the road which made smooth ride impossible, adding that with the commissioning, the State Government has addressed a security concern in the area.

He promised that the State Government will maintain the road for its contracted lifespan , tasking that much also rest on the people who need to take good care of the facility so that it can outlast the contractual date.

He added that the new road is not just a road construction project but a multi dimensional investment of tax payers funds and public service human resource entrusted to the present government to deliver life changing agenda of the Action Congress (AC) to the people so as to address the problem of insecurity and change the lifestyle of the residents for the better.

The Governor explained that the project is also expected to enhance the socio economic development of the axis as it would reduce travel time , reduce man hour loss, and ensure safety of life and property, adding that the safety of the residents is also assured with the reconstruction of the walkway.

He also said the recently awarded Amuwo Odofin/Festac Link Road when completed will complement the Ago Palace Way by bringing traffic from Festac and beyond through the road and bridge to Ago Palace road to link Okota road and Ibeh street, distributing traffic to Ejigbo, Ikotun, Isolo, Oshodi, Surulere and its environs through the on- going Itire -Okota bridge.

The governor enjoined members of the public to make good use of the facility so that the taxes people pay would have been effectively utilized for their benefit .

He reminded the people that the voluntary payment of taxes will enable the government bring greater benefits to the citizenry , faster.

Earlier , the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson, an engineer said the new road is considered vital because it serves as a major link between Okota and Isolo , Egbe, Ikotun, Amuwo Odofin and Festac town and is a 2.7 3 lane carriage way.

He added that the project was executed in two phases by Messrs CCECC Nigeria Limited with phase one consisting of the earthworks, drainages and pavement while phase two consisted of the bridge works and streetlights.

The Special Adviser implored the Community Development Association and the community to assume responsibility for the road by ensuring that it is not cut for any reason whatsoever, as service ducts have been provided at intervals across the road to ensure that the drains are clean and free of refuse for free flow of storm water and also ensure that the power generating plant provided for the street lights is well maintained and protected.

The official handing over ceremony was witnessed by members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, stakeholders and residents of the area who came in large numbers to witness the event.

They thanked the governor for delivering on his electoral promise to the area

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