₦airaland Forum

THE renewed Benin King Square in the Edo State capital, popularly known as Ring Road, has been demystified.
It used to be the stinky popular commercial hub of the ancient city. But today, it glitters like gold at night. Besides the intimidating illumination, the square in the city centre now has a water fountain, courtesy of the Edo State Government.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr John Mayaki, justified the renewed efforts to lift the square, which was home to questionable characters in the years past, from its squalid state.

He said: “There are no monsters hiding in there again. Our inability - even refusal - to do anything about it all these years was the monster.

Having promised to spare no efforts to enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the state, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who on inspection of the ongoing construction of the musical water fountain at the museum ground, expressed delight with the level of work so far executed. The light has been switched on to the admiration of the public.

“This is part of government's commitment to enhance the aesthetic condition of Benin City and other parts of the state. It is similar to those in Europe. It is the first of its kind in the West African sub-region. Water from the fountain rises as high as 100 metres. It is not only laden with musical sound, but would emit different colours.”

Before now, Ring Road was a paradox and a nemesis all to Benin. Although more or less a melting point that had provided over decades sundry materials for the visual arts.

The square was the place with no bedtime, and, therefore, no time for waking. It used to be one bedlam of confusion before Oshiomhole came into office. It was also characterised by filth and almost everything indecent under the earth.

Traders, motorists, pickpockets, rapists, street urchins, the homeless and other characters were always there with different missions.

It was never a question of Benin trying to accommodate Ring Road but of the all-important road accommodating Benin.

Before the present transformation, while traders hustled to sell their wares, motorists sweat profusely inside their vehicles in the usual traffic gridlock, occasioned by the lawless tuke-tuke bus drivers picking passengers in the middle of the road, the street hawkers thrust their wares at passers-by, all created a confused atmosphere.

But Oshiomhole did vindicate himself in no uncertain terms, when he began his sanitisation programme in the Ring Road area with a final and definitive stroke that left no one in doubt of his seriousness.

Firstly, to bring sanity to Ring Road and get rid of its notoriety, the demolition squad of the state government swooped on the area and at the end of the operation, kiosks, shanties and other illegal structures were knocked down. This gave the road a new lease of life.

In the place of crime-infested area, a new-look Ring Road sprang up, making many people who had sworn never to have anything to do with it eat their words.

Today, most people passing through or having to transact business on the road and at the square, either in the day time or at night, have refreshing stories to tell.

Today, while Ring Road is illuminated at night and the square flaunts its fountain, street lights dot the entire stretch of the adjoining streets, such as Oba Market Road down to Ekenwan Road, Sokponba Road and Akpakpava Road, among others.

Besides, major work is ongoing on Airport Road and Sapele Road and those transiting from Ring Road to these adjoining roads are having smooth rides.

Even as the crowd surges in different directions, in seamless motion, no one is looking at the other person with suspicion in the night again.

Mayaki added: “The state government would never have succeeded in this feat, if the ordinary people had not supported and given their voices to it.

“The first lesson to be learnt, of course, is that most people want good lives, and the majority will always stay behind a government that delivers the better life they seek.

“This public approval, therefore, provides the moral courage the leader needs to execute his plans. Without courage, of course, the evil and corrupt institutions that have held our nation bound in poverty and chaos cannot be felled.

“The second has to do with consistency, which is the major factor by which a leader acquires the trust of the led.

“The Oshiomhole-led government is merely pursuing welfare programmes, rehabilitation and reinstitution projects with as much tenacity as it pursues improvements in the landscape and structural frameworks of Benin City and that is where its greenery project comes in and the water fountain inside the Museum.”

Oshiomhole was reported to have told the large crowd of admirers who thronged the King Square to catch a glimpse of the water fountain, radiating beautiful colours, of the need to give the necessary assistance to the government in the transformation of the state.

"The infrastructure to be provided on the Eko Atlantic City comprise an international standard road network, dedicated electrical power generation plant and underground distribution, surface water drainage, water supply treatment plant and distribution mains, sewage collection mains and a modern treatment plant, network of service ducts to provide Information Technology (IT) services and post-construction maintenance and management of the facility. The development types envisaged in the proposed city include family entertainment centres, water-based entertainment and recreation centres, Marina Development and Boat Club, theme parks, upscale commercial, office, retail and residential property, office parks, shopping malls, beach and recreational park development, hotels, guest houses, club houses, resorts and conference, event and exhibition facilities."

Onlytruth:
So did any of the bolded suggest phasing in the cost? And yes I am one of those things.
Do you have information on the project, not the sketchy ones being bandied about with the Youtube videos.

Let me point you to a similar project in South Korea called the New Song Do city. I have tonnes of data for that project.
Follow the link below:

http://www.songdo.com/songdo-international-business-district/why-songdo/sustainable-city.aspx

Onlytruth:
My friend do you know the meaning of the term "redevelopment scheme"? If you don't, why are you here posting blindly?
Why are Nigerians incapable of normal reasoning? That is how we have quacks and politicians ruining our football. Anytime the NFA elections come around, all manner of quacks and thieves line up. That is how they killed our football.

Are you a professional in environmental design, planning or management?
If not, why are you here then? Why not go to other threads?

I am still waiting for actionable information on this project, hopefully from a professional.

Kobojunkie:
I think I found some source for the initial quote  . . . . 

The Projects We Are Looking Forward To. Eko Atlantic City.

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010
$3b Eko Atlantic City project targets 2015 completion date.
By Tunde Alao


[size=12pt]THE ambitious $3 billion redevelopment scheme seeking to transform the troubled Lagos beachfront into a comprehensive tourism and commercial facility - which was formally launched with fanfare last week - has been given a 2015 completion deadline.

Onlytruth:
The more laughable aspect of it is the completion time line of 2015.