Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode says the state government will formally sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, with investors for the construction of the proposed 4th Mainland Bridge before the end of next month.
The 4th Mainland Bridge had been in the pipeline for the past 12 years but nothing significant had been achieved. The construction of the bridge is expected to cost over N240 billion. The 4th Mainland bridge construction would take off from Ajah through Langbasa to Ikorodu.
At a time many people thought the 4th Mainland Bridge had been abandoned, Ambode offered hope when he said the MOU for the bridge construction would be signed before the end of May, 2016.
Speaking at the Third Quarterly Town Hall meeting held in Ikorodu today, the governor said once the MOU was signed next month, works would begin on the 4th Mainland Bridge which would boost the economy of Lagos East Senatorial District.
“Many investors have shown interest in the actualization of our dream for the 4th Mainland Bridge which will run from Ajah to Ikorodu to Isawo and berth at Ojodu, Ikeja back to the Ibadan expressway,” he said.
On security, the governor said the state had achieved major breakthrough, saying that since the launch of the N4.78 billion security equipment, the state had won several battles against crime.
Ambode said the quick response in the rescue of the kidnapped girls in Ikorodu and the quelling of the Mile 12 riot were testimonies of the effectiveness of the security system in Lagos.
The governor added that many criminals had so far been arrested since the launch of the security equipment, saying that he was ready to pay for information given that would lead to the arrest of hardened criminals.
“I am ready to pay monetary compensation for information on hardened criminals as we proceed to make Lagos crime-free. We are happy to report that crime rate has also reduced in the last Three months,” he said.
On Okada riders on Ikorodu Road, the governor ordered the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to enforce the law on the route and ensured that okada riders did not carry passengers from Mile 12 to Ikorodu on the expressway.
“As much as okada is dangerous to our safety and security, we as government must create alternative, but I am happy that all our leaders and traditional leaders are here; with what we have provided on the Mile 12 axis, I don’t think anybody will want to ride okada again, it will fizzle out before I take my final action.
“The truth is about safety. We have banned okada on that axis, the CP, RRS and others should enforce the law. Anyone you take, you send them out of business. You have to confiscate the okada and prosecute the people,” he said.
Ambode re-emphasised that from now on, okada riders would not be tolerated between Mile and Ikorodu again, as government would take drastic action to nip the menace in the bud for the safety of lives.
Also, the governor said his administration had recorded success in its Light Up Lagos Project as 68 rural communities were recently connected to the national grid while massive street and road lightings were ongoing across Lagos State, saying that places like Ile-Zik down to Tollgate on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway had been lit up.
Ambode revealed that the Light Blue Rail project was now about 85 percent completed, adding that he had also paid N561 million as West African Examination Council, WAEC, fees of 46,000 public school students in the state for this year’s Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
The governor had also ordered the taskforce to serve evacuation notice all occupants of shanties at Ajelogo-Akanimodo axis, after which demolition of all shanties in the area should commence in earnest as such places harboured criminals.
Ambode further hinted on plans to convert the Ikorodu-Imota-Itoikin-Agbowa Road to an eight-lane road under the Build-Own-Transfer, BOT, scheme.
Noting that the government did not have fund for the reconstruction of the road, Ambode said some investors had shown interest in the construction of the road.
“We don’t have the money, but we have investors who have shown interest, we are turning it to 8-lane road, it is the only place not touched, we will do it,” he said.
Ambode said the road would be built under the Public-Private Partnership, PPP programme. “It will be a PPP Project; there will be three lanes on both side,” he said, adding that, in remaining two lanes in the middle would be reserved for rail development in the future when the government had fund for the project.
