Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday disclosed that the groundbreaking for the much-awaited 4th Mainland Bridge will hold by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made this known while speaking at a Town Hall meeting with the people of Lagos West Senatorial District, which took place in Ikeja, just as he reeled out different developmental projects that would be ready for commissioning in 2024.
Speaking at the event, which was the first Town Hall meeting to be held by him since his inauguration for the second term and meant for him to interact and get feedbacks from citizens on the THEMES PLUS agenda, Governor Sanwo-Olu said his administration was committed to ensuring a greater Lagos as it hoped to unveil different developmental projects that would make life easier for Lagosians.
According to him, the Redline Rail project is slated for commissioning in February by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while the ground breaking for much-awaited 4th Mainland Bridge is slated for March 2024, among others.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge would begin in the first quarter of this year “by the end of March or April,” saying that the bridge would be constructed in phases while promising that landlords and tenants of structures demolished during the construction would be duly compensated.
“We have done extensive work on the bridge. But we are at the crossroads of where to get the real financing for that kind of project. We’ll need to be very very creative.
“Our commitment is that within this first quarter, meaning that by the end of March or April, we should break ground to start the construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge,” he said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said his administration had been able to improve on the state’s transportation master plan to address traffic gridlocks, build smart infrastructure, embark on health reforms, enhance education, poverty alleviation programmes, among others.
During the interactive session, participants at the meeting expressed worries at the high-level of insecurity in the country, expressing concern that Lagos, being the commercial centre of the country, could also witness an increase in insecurity as more Nigerians move into the state from states currently experiencing high levels of insecurity.
The Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers present at the event, asked Governor Sanwo-Olu for measures the state government was putting in place to curb insecurity.
The monarch also demanded to know why the Federal Government had refused to recognise the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in the state, despite the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party being in power at the centre.
A Nollywood actor, Adeoye Adewale popularly known as Elesho, in his own submission, decried the deplorable state of the Ijebu-Ode/Itokin Road, describing the road, which links Ikorodu in Lagos State to Ogun State as strategic but which had been left abandoned by the government.
Also, a Chief from Badagry, Taiwo Ogunniyi, expressed concern on overpopulation in some areas such as Lagos Island, posting that there was a need for the state government to develop rural areas along Badagry Road with a view to decongest some parts of the state.
Other areas of concern raised by participants at the occasion were youth involvement in government at the local government level and disobedience to traffic rules by some Lagosians.
In his response, Governor Sanwo-Olu assured that the state government was taking the issue of security seriously, saying that regular meetings were held with security agencies such as the police, army and navy to ensure adequate safety in the state.
Besides, the governor said other measures like meetings with traditional rulers, Community Development Associations (CDAs) and the establishment of the Neighbourhood Watch had helped to combat insecurity in the state.
In the area of bad roads, the governor said the Federal Government had awarded contracts for the construction of Ijebu-Ode/Itokin Road but noted that commencement of work on the road was hampered by funding, promising that the contractors would move to the site once the government secured funding for the project.
The governor further said several infrastructures, including the second phase of the Blue Rail Line which will run from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, among others, were being developed along the Badagry Road to open up the area.
On the request for special status for Lagos and recognition for the 37 LCDAs, Governor Sanwo-Olu said talks, lobbying and negotiations were ongoing between the state government and the National Assembly to ensure that such come to fruition.
Sanwo-Olu, however, urged Lagosians to obey traffic and environmental laws and pay their taxes to enable the government to meet up with its activities.
