Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos on Wednesday pledged the state government’s commitment to constructing a permanent bridge to replace the Egan wooden bridge in Igando, Alimosho LGA.
Sanwo-Olu also promised that the state Ministry of the Environment would tackle overflow of dumpsites in Igando, which caused gridlock.
The governor made the promise while inaugurating the Igando Gardens Estate, a 492-unit estate renamed after Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the first civilian Governor of Lagos State.
The event was part of activities to mark the governor’s 100 days in office.
The governor hailed the lawmaker representing Alimosho in the state Assembly, Mr Kehinde Joseph, for informing him of the infrastructure needs of the community.
Joseph had informed the governor of the suffering of the community members, who use Egan wooden link bridge.
He also told the governor that dumpsites and lack of access roads caused gridlock in Alimosho.
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The governor said that the state government would construct the bridge to open up Igando and improve access to other parts of the state.
Sanwo-Olu said: “We shall in the very near future go back to site and see how we are going to push that construction to alleviate the suffering of the people of this area.
“I know that if we are able to do the bridge, we are going to be connecting several communities together, and people will have access from all parts of Igando, Alimosho to other parts of the state, ” he said.
The governor directed the state commissioner for the environment to tackle overflow of dumpsites compounding traffic on the axis.
On the estate being inaugurated, the governor said that he visited the construction site three times to ensure speedy completion.
Sanwo-Olu hailed Jakande’s infrastructure drive which, he said, set a blueprint for development and bridged a huge housing gap.
‘’The challenge of housing deficiency in Lagos is real. There is a compelling need for us to develop and adopt a housing delivery model that takes into account our population and limited space.’’
He said that the state government was exploring innovative alternative sources of funding for mass housing delivery, and called on private investors to buy into the initiative.
He listed various existing funding arrangements for mass housing and promised that the state government would be persistent in its drive for planning and delivery of decent houses.
“We want Lagosians to be assured that, in the delivery of these houses, we shall be consistent.
“We shall embrace rigorous planning and financial discipline in ensuring that ongoing housing projects located in various parts of the state are delivered on schedule.
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“Our expectation is that within the next six months, over 1,248 homes shall be delivered in different parts of the state’’ Sanwo-Olu said.
The state Commissioner for Housing, Mr Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, said that shelter was a basic need and home ownership an achievement in our clime.
He commended the Sanwo-Olu administration for inaugurating the mixed development estate, comprising 41 blocks of one, two and three bedroom apartments of 492 home units.
He called on private investors to key into the housing sector which, he said, had the potential to create jobs, and businesses in the construction value chain.
Akinderu-Fatai congratulated beneficiaries of the 492 home units in the estate, and advised them to partner with the facility managers to have a good environment. (NAN)
