The Lagos State Government has assured commuters that effort to rehabilitate the bad portions of the Lagos-Badagry road has resumed following cessation of the rains.
The Government promised to keep its maintenance workers and equipment on the road until commuters and other users are relieved of the stress caused by the bad portions.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya stated this on Wednesday while addressing the situation on the road.
He said that the government has maintained the road regularly in the last three and a half years through rehabilitation even though it is a federal government road, explaining that discussions with investors willing to upgrade the road under the Private –Public Partnership deal is going on at both the state and federal levels.
“So far, the Public Works Corporation has carried out palliative works at Iyana Era, Ijanikin, Oko-afo, Magbon, Ibereko, Araromi, Iyana Isashi and Agbara”, Akinsanya said, adding that the government has mobilized other contractors to ensure full coverage of the assignment.
Emphasising the importance of the route to trade in the West African region, the Akinsanya said the plan to expand the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to a 10-lane highway, which began with the construction of the section from Eric Moore to Okokomaiko, topped discussions between Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Chinese investors on President Buhari’s recent trip to China.
He said in July, this year, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode responded to the complaints of residents over challenge posed to traffic by bumper to bumper movement by directing that the completed segment of the road with the BRT Corridor from Eric Moore to Trade Fair be opened up to ease traffic.
To further alleviate the suffering of the motoring public in the Badagry division, the Commissioner said the present administration has completed the construction of Aradagun-Iworo-Ajido road and Ajara- Agelaso- Poka/ Erekiti with bridge.
He said the government was also building the Aradagun-Imeke-Ajido-Epeme road, Samuel –Ekundayo/Toga and will soon embark on the construction of Abule Ado road.
Akinsanya assured peace loving citizens that there would be adequate security on the road to ensure smooth traffic and protect residents from danger.
Tag: LASG
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LASG orders resumption of work on Lagos-Badagry Expressway
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Maintenance Test: LASG to shut Third Mainland Bridge for four days
The Lagos State Government has said the Third Mainland Bridge will be temporarily shut for four days starting from midnight of August 23 to midnight of August 26, 2018.
The government explained that the measure was to make it easy for Investigative Maintenance Test to be carried out on the bridge.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Akinsanya, in a statement on Sunday, said the decision was taken after due consultation with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
He said, “The four-day closure will enable contractors to assess the true state of the bridge after which works would commence by the end of the year or early in 2019.”
Recall that the Federal Government had earlier announced its plan to shut the bridge in July, but shelved it after consultation with the state government and other stakeholders.
Justifying the need for the closure, the commissioner said there had not been a serious maintenance work on the bridge.
Akinsanya said, “The Third Mainland Bridge was opened about 30 years ago by the then military government and it has had haphazard maintenance and repairs in the past. The present Federal Government is committed to correcting it by carrying out proper and continuous maintenance and repairs on it.”
The state government appealed for the cooperation of all motorists and residents, advising them to minimise non-essential travel and movements during the four-day closure.
Akinsanya said all traffic management agencies had been mandated to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the alternative roads.
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Water transport: LASG to buy life-saving, quick response boats
In an effort to tackle emergencies on its waterways more efficiently, the Lagos State Government is to procure life-saving, quick response boats.
Mr Oladipo Lawanson, the state Commissioner for Transportation, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Lawanson said that the state government was committed to ensuring safety of people using waterways as a means of transport in the state.
“The state government is working on bringing ideals and best practices on water transportation, as the sub-sector requires millions dollars of investment, if we are to do it right.
“We are going to procure life-saving boats, top speed boats and quick response boats so that, at anytime there is an emergency, we will rescue promptly without recording any casualty,” he said.
According to him, the government periodically distributes free life jackets to jetties to save lives on waterways.
The commissioner said that there was at least a guard in every jetty in the state to properly kit passengers before any journey.
“We have water guards in all our jetties to ensure nobody steps into a boat without proper kitting with life jacket because safety of life and property is very important,” he said.
Lawanson added that the government would set up a security institution on water transport.
“The institution will require a lot of training because water transportation is hazardous.”
NAN reports that the state Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, on July 27, expressed his administration’s commitment to providing critical infrastructure and the enabling environment for investors to participate in the ongoing efforts to revamp the state water transport sector.
He said that the sector remained critical to tackling traffic congestion in the state.
Ambode spoke at a roundtable on water transport organised by the government.
According to him, the government was set to fully harness the potential of water transport to the benefit of the people and economic prosperity of the state.
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Apapa gridlock: Lagos suspends approval for development of tank farms
As part of measures to sanitize the chaotic traffic situation in Lagos especially in Apapa axis caused by indiscriminate parking of trailers and tankers, the Lagos State Government has suspended further approval for development of Tank Farms and also given Tank Farms currently operating 30 days within which to have adequate holding bay failure for which they would be sanctioned.
This was part of the resolution of a meeting between representatives of the Federal and Lagos State governments and stakeholders in the Maritime industry as well as security outfits which took place at the State House Alausa on Monday.
The stakeholders in attendance include: FG, LASG, NPA, Shippers Council, Tank Farm owners, DPR and security personnel.
The federal government delegation was led by the Managing Director of Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman while Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led the state team with the commissioner of Transport, Hon. Ladi Lawanson and Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello also in attendance.
Lawanson who read out the resolutions of the meeting to the press said a security task force has been constituted by the Federal Government, FG and Lagos state government, LASG, to work continuously for 30days to bring sanity to the roads.
Other resolutions include: that the sanctions on shipping companies for non compliance on utilization of holding bay have been extended by five days and will be reviewed thereafter while Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, is to ensure that tank farm owners comply with holding bay requirements.
“Federal ministry of public works and housing is to commence palliative measures on bad portion of access roads” and “Trailers not called upon and found trampling will be impounded and sanctioned.
“LASG is to accelerate completion of Orile Trailer park; all truck and tanker owners must be duly registered and well regulated by their unions and unions will be accountable for their adherence to extant rules and regulations.
And “NPA in collaboration with LASG will license trailer parks whereby only trucks housed in those designated parks will be granted access.”
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Lagos explosion: LASG confirms 12 dead, to prosecute truck owner, driver
The Lagos State Government on Monday confirmed twelve casualties in the June 28 petrol tanker explosion on Otedola Link Bridge.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, made this known at a news conference in Lagos.
According to him, 10 of the victims, including a minor, died at the scene of the accident, while two others died at the hospital.
Idris urged private hospitals that might have patients from the accident to provide such information to the Ministry of Health for proper collation.
According to him, of the 12 people who died, 10, including a minor, were taken from the scene of the accident completely burnt to the Yaba Mainland Hospital.
“Seven people were taken with varying degrees of burns to our various hospitals.
“First at our Accident and Emergency Centre at the Toll Gate, Trauma and Burns Centre, Gbagada General Hospital and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
“Of the seven, unfortunately, we lost one of them that had a degree greater than 80 per cent burns.
“Right now, we have only five left and they are being treated. Nobody received any money to treat them. They were treated free of charge.
“We also received report over the weekend that some cases may have been taken to some other private hospitals.
“So far, we are aware of only two of the hospitals and one of the victims has died,’’ the commissioner said.
Idris said that two patients — a 48-year-old and 42-year-old, both males — were taken to the Burns and Plastic Unit, LASUTH.
He said that one of the two males has been discharged, while the other was stable and responding to treatment.
“While commiserating with the families of the victims who lost their lives and property in the unfortunate fatal explosion, I wish to state that the state government has left no stones unturned.
“The government will continue to do the needful in addressing and managing all the issues surrounding the inferno,” he said.
Also, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Mr. Adeshina Tiamiyu, said that the state government had commissioned the ministry to conduct a DNA analysis of the remains of those burnt to death.
Tiamiyu said: “Not everybody is required to go for the samples; samples will be taken from one of the relations of the victims, including the father or the mother, child of the victims, siblings or an uncle or aunt.
“When the relations come, samples will be taken; from there, it will be cross-matched with samples taken from the victims.
“When these are matched, we will be able to determine who the bodies represent and after this, we will hand them over to the families of the victims.
“All of these are done free of charge, both the treatment and DNA test,“ he said.
Tiamiyu said that LASEMA had opened a help desk to help counsel victims’ relations.
Meanwhile the State’s Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal said the state was perfecting plans to prosecute the owner and driver of the ill-fated truck.
Already, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem had at the weekend written to the CP to advise him on the relevant provisions of the law that could guide the ongoing investigation which would lead to possible prosecution.
Confirming receipt of the letter while briefing Government House Correspondents after the Security Council Meeting chaired by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Edgal said investigations into the incident were ongoing, saying that government would not allow vehicles that pose serious danger to residents on the road.
The police chief, who briefed journalists alongside heads of other security agencies in the State, specifically commiserated with those who lost their loved ones to the tragic incident, while also commending emergency responders who quickly raced to the scene to keep the causality figure low.
“As regards investigation into the matter, it is in top gear. I have just received a letter from the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice which stated very clearly charges which we are going to prefer against the driver and the owner of that tanker.
“Henceforth, we are using this opportunity to call on all tanker drivers, all lorry drivers, all owners of such articulated vehicles to please submit those vehicles for Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) test; they must go through the entire hub and get the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) Certificate of Road Worthiness. We will not allow such vehicles which obviously pose serious danger to other road users on our roads,” Edgal said.
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Tanker Explosion: LASG to enforce collection of road worthiness certificate
The Lagos State Government on Sunday gave a 30-day ultimatum to all articulated vehicles coming into the state to obtain the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) certificate of road worthiness or face sanctions.
The state government also directed fuel tanker drivers to henceforth ply the designated trailer route -Apapa/Oworonshoki expressway via Ogudu to the Lagos/Ibadan expressway.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Ladi Lawanson, gave the directive at a news conference in Alausa, Ikeja, alongside members of NUPENG and the Container Truck Association of Nigeria on development arising from the fuel tanker explosion on Thursday.
Lawanson said that 10 operational centres had been designated to process applications immediately, while new centres would be established quickly on the the Lagos/Ibadan expressway to cope with the expected demand for the service.
He said the centres include: Berger Ojodu, Odogunyan Ikorodu, Agric/Ishawo Road, Ikorodu, Worksyard, PWD, Shogunle, NCI Gbagada, VIS Yard, Oko-Afo, Badagry, VIS Yard, Ayobo in Ipaja, Test Centre in Badagry, VIS Yard, Epe and VIS Yard, Oko-Oba Abbatoir.
Lawanson said that government would embark on awareness campaign to persuade all vehicle owners to obtain MOT road worthiness certificate.
“We hereby call on motorists and the general public to join hands with us to prevent avoidable deaths due to the presence of vehicles unfit to ply the roads.
“Let us protect each other by asking our friends to save lives by obtaining their road worthiness certificates, ‘’ he said.
Lawanson said that the state government in 2017 upgraded vehicle testing operations and launched the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centres to ensure that vehicles which ply the roads and highways were road worthy.
“This measure recorded positive results. Between April 1, 2017 and May 2018, a total of 178, 267 vehicles were tested,’’ he said.
Lawanson said that investigation conducted so far by the state government indicated that the truck involved in the explosion NSR 888 YC, was registered in Kano State and had changed ownership 13 times since purchase.
“This truck was designed as a 14,959kg, approximately 15 tonnes drilling rig with low bed but was converted in Nigeria from a drilling rig to fuel carrier to carry 30 tonnes.
“From this preliminary investigation, the truck should not have been loaded to the weight of 30 tonnes, which is twice its pulling capacity,’’ he said.
Lawanson said that further investigation into the current ownership of the fuel tanker and other related details was progressing.
He said that facts obtained in the course of investigation had compelled the review of the legal, economic and social framework of the current management of traffic involving tankers loaded with fuel and other cargoes within the state.
Lawanson said that the government was also exploring alternative modes of transportation of petroleum products to separate passenger traffic from cargo movement within the metropolis in the interest of public safety.
The South West Chairman of NUPENG, Mr Tayo Aboyeji, while commiserating with the victims’ families, said that the union was in support of the government to put an end to tanker accidents in the state.
The fuel tanker explosion at the Otedola Bridge inward Ojodu Berger on Lagos-Ibadan expressway, left about 54 vehicles burnt, nine people dead and an unspecified number of people sustained various degrees of injuries.
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N264bn finished goods exported from Lekki Free Zone in three years – LASG
…Shops For Investors To Expand Road, Rail Infrastructure Along Corridor
The Lagos State Government on Monday said over $735.8million (about N264billion) worth of finished goods have so far been exported from the Lekki Free Zone project in the last three years.
Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye who disclosed this at the annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said the government was totally committed to the development of businesses in the Zone, adding that measures were taken to ensure that the goods meet international standard before they are exported out of the country.
She said the Nigeria Customs, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and other supporting agencies coordinated the exporting process of the goods in conjunction with the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), saying that it was a testament to the fact that the Zone was living up to expectation.
She said the Lekki Free Zone, among other things, was conceptualized to develop an offshore economic growth zone, attract foreign investments, promote export, create job opportunities, transfer technology, minimise capital flight and establish a one stop business haven and currently has 22 Free Zone Enterprises (FZEs) and 18 manufacturing enterprises in operation.
Oladunjoye also disclosed that to date, the Joint Venture with the Chinese Consortium has a total equity investment of $180.4million and has received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) totalling $140.2million out of the $200million FDI expected from the Consortium.
Besides, she said 125 investors have registered, while 59 investors have their Lease Agreements, adding that 726 Nigerians have been employed by the FZEs and N376.5million spent on executing 14 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects for host communities.
She listed other achievements in the Lekki Free Zone to include $500million FDI from FZEs in operation, while a Customs Processing Centre (CPC) for Nigeria Customs Service was established to improve the ease of doing business and eliminate bottlenecks.
The Commissioner said the Government has opened its doors to investors willing to partner the State in the provision of inter-modal transportation infrastructure within the Lekki Free Zone axis, with emphasis on road and rail system to accommodate the massive investments coming into the corridor and solve the attendant traffic challenges.
She said with the emerging industrial revolution within the Epe-Ibeju-Lekki corridor of the State especially the Lekki Free Zone, the Lekki Deep Seaport, the Dangote Refinery and Fertilizer Plants, Lagos was fast becoming the preferred investment destination across the globe.
But she said the State Government was not unmindful of the fact that an integrated transportation system was critical to the success of the emerging business activities zone when all the ongoing businesses come on stream.
“However we are not unmindful of the fact that one of the critical success factors, that is, an integrated transportation infrastructure, must be catered for along with these various investors’ endeavours within the corridor for us to harness the full values that these projects will bring on board when they all fully come on stream,” she said.
She said plans are already in top gear to provide a holistic inter-modal transportation network comprising rail, road and water transportation systems so as to mitigate future challenges especially traffic congestion in view of the envisaged estimated 6,650 daily trucks movement within the corridor when all the ongoing businesses take off fully.
“I said in my report that we do not want to have another Apapa on our hands. This government is responsive and it’s a government that is futuristic.
“In realization of the enormity of the required funding vis-à-vis the compelling need for transportation infrastructure, notably road and rail within the Lekki Free Zone corridor, the State Government has encouraged investors to express interest in of the planned axial roads that would take vehicular traffic away from the adjoining towns of the area and to Ogun State and there are other roads that we are working on,” Oladunjoye said.
The Commissioner assured that the State Government would do everything possible to fast-track the necessary procurement process for the selection of the concessionaire to enable construction work begin on the road before the end of the year.
On the Lekki Deep Sea Port, the Commissioner said that work has already commenced after the ground breaking ceremony performed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, revealing that the Port which would be the deepest seaport in Sub-Saharan Africa will create over 170,000 direct jobs in the State while the first ship is expected to berth before the end of the first quarter in 2020 when the construction would be completed.
Speaking further, Oladunjoye said the State Government has concluded plans to activate the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Kano State Government after the Lagos-Kano Summit to set up a leather hub in Lagos.
“Recently I was at the Leather Fair and I saw the extent of the value chain of leather and was really impressed. Part of the fall out of the Lagos-Kano Summit is for us to leverage on our strengths and comparative advantage. Kano is the hub for Leather and our plan is to have a leather hub, a shoe factory here in Lagos,” she said.
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Imota Rice Mill to start production 2019 – LASG
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said rice production would start at the Imota Rice Mill in Ikorodu by February 2019, with a production capacity of 32,000 tonnes per hour.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Ade Akinsanya, disclosed this during an inspection tour of the mill alongside other members of the State Executive Council.
Akinsanya said that the entire area, covering 8,000 square metres, with a light industrial park, would create jobs for 250,000 people.
He said the mill would also have a warehouse to accommodate 20,000 metric tonnes of rice.
According to him, rice, in large quantity, will be available to residents of the state and other South-West states early next year, as the state government is stepping up work at the mill.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team also inspected the ongoing project at the regional food market in Imota, where the Mile 12 Market and other markets in the environs would be relocated.
Akinsanya said that the market would accommodate 5,000 stalls, 1000 capacity trucks and trailer park, with the first phase at 75 per cent completion.
He said that the entire project was slated for delivery in September this year.
NAN reports that the executive embers also inspected ongoing work at the 2.7km Agbowa-Timberville road and the Timberville, where the saw millers at Oko-Baba, Ebute-Metta, are to be relocated in October.
They also inspected the Odo Onosa/Ayandelu Housing Scheme.
The traditional ruler of Ikosi-Ejinrin, Oba Aderibigbe Asunmo, commended the efforts of the state government on the Odo Onosa/Ayandelu Housing Scheme.
NAN
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Dirty Lagos: Tinubu intervenes in waste managers, LASG rift
National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu, says the lingering issue of waste management in Lagos State will soon be resolved.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Friday in Lagos during a meeting with the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAM), otherwise known as PSP.
He said that there was the need to resolve the issue because of the immense contributions of the PSP operators to waste management in the state.
Tinubu assured that he would reconcille all the stakeholders in his capacity as Grand Patron of AWAM to promote the business interests of waste managers and wellbeing of Lagosians.
”It is disappointing and sad that at this stage of our development, the matter should result into petition. It should have been continuity and progress.
”Whatever is the shortcoming, we will correct it. This will get to the governor latest by Monday, April 30.
”It is sad to see Olusosun dumpsite in dangerous smoke. As a grand patron of AWAM, I am concerned driving around Lagos and seeing built up refuse.
”I must say it is a challenge that is coming back and we will not allow that to happen.
”The government and governor is trying and responsive but the complexity of Lagos is compounding by the day,” he said.
The former governor of Lagos State noted that AWAM members travelled abroad to learn international best practices in waste management and applied such in the state.
He assured that Ambode’s government would evolve the best solution that would work for the larger population.
”I challenge you to go and be ready in your various communities and lines and get ready to work. I appeal to you to maintain peace.
”The House of Assembly, the Government and the party will work together to promote your business interests.
”The only thing we can do is to encourage this kind of small scale business to grow. The governor might have been experimenting and it is not a shame to reverse to the former,” Tinubu said.
Earlier, the Chairman of AWAM, Mr Ola Egbeyemi, said that the waste crisis had become unprecedented, with increased volume of waste on Lagos streets, roads, highways and medians.
Egbeyemi, who was represented AWAM spokesman, Gbenga Adebola, said that the situation had taken Lagos back to pre-1999, when waste was competing with vehicular and pedestrian movements.
He appealed to the APC national leader to ensure that the PSP operators continued with the collection and transportation of both domestic and commercial waste.
According to him, the disposal facilities currently badly managed can be put into uptimal use, where waste are sorted out in different waste components for recycling, composting and waste-to-energy activities.
”The government should provide enabling environment for us and any other investor by providing more waste infrastructure.
“These include Material Recovery Facilities, Recycling, Waste treatment facilities, Marine Waste management, Landfill management and other value chain, among others.
”Government should provide enforcement of environmental sanitation practices and ensure that the payment for services rendered by the PSP operators are promptly paid, adopting the current franchise system.
”Government should provide guarantees and other incentives to us to enable us invest more into the industry.
”Sir, you have done this before and we believe you can do this again.
”It was your love and belief in us, that made you invest in the Private Sector Participant (PSP) programme, adopting Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development model,” he said.
He described that the SME model as a poverty eradication tool to overcome the once insurmountable challenge of waste.
”The State has received several accolades and awards both locally and internationally and a clean Lagos had been a major electoral campaign achievements for past administrations.
”Since your Excellency established the PSP programme and after several reform programmes, so many achievements have been recorded, albeit there is still room for continuous improvement,” he said.
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LASG urges pilgrims to complete Hajj payments April 30
Intending pilgrims from Lagos State have been directed to complete payment for the 2018 Hajj by April 30 to facilitate their participation in the exercise.
Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, gave the directive during a stakeholders meeting on Friday in Lagos.
AbduLateef was represented at the occasion by the Chairman, Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dr Tajudeen Yusuf.
The commissioner said the deadline was extended from March 31 to April 30 to give room for many pilgrims to undertake the exercise.
“We urge intending pilgrims to pay in full before the deadline of April 30 lapses.
“I urge them take advantage of the new date so as not to miss out,” he said.
The commissioner explained that the deadline was a joint decision of the Saudi authorities and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
“As you are all aware, this is a joint decision by the Saudi authorities and NAHCON, Lagos state has no powers to influence it.
“Intending pilgrims from Lagos need to take it seriously so as not to miss the opportunity of performing the 2018 Hajj,” he said.
He said that the weekend enlightenment lectures, which began on April 21, would continue in all the 18 designated local government centres in the state.
He called for peaceful co-existence among various religious groups as the state government was determined to improve basic infrastructures in the state.