Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday paid an unscheduled visit to Ago Palace Way in Okota, Isolo where he expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of construction work on the road which he said was vital to the economy of the area.
The Governor, who was accompanied on the inspection tour by top government officials, ordered the contractor to work day and night so as to ensure the completion of the road by February 2016.
“We cannot afford to be slow on this road. It is a very strategic and important road to our people. I have directed the contractor to ensure that this road is completed within now and February next year”, the Governor said.
He also inspected the ongoing rehabilitation of Okota Road where he assured residents that the work on the road will be completed soon.
The Governor, who also inspected the newly rehabilitated Alfa Nla and Oke Koto roads in Agege, said the completion of the road was in fulfillment of the promise he made to the people during the electioneering campaign.
The Governor said: “You remember that during the campaign, I came here and I said if you vote for me, I will fix this road which is Alfa Nla-Oke Koto roads. I said I will come back to do it and I did promised that before Christmas, this road will be motorable.”
“In fulfillment of our promise, we are here today inspecting the completion of this road. What I want to tell you as part of the Christmas gift to you is that we are going to put street light on this road”.
He further directed the immediate installation of street lights on the full stretch of road from Alfa Nla to Oke-Koto, just as he assured residents that resurfacing work on the adjoining Capitol road will commence in the first week of January 2016.
General Manager of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), Engr. Ayo Sodeinde, who also accompanied the Governor on the tour, had explained that the road was fixed just within eight weeks after the Governor issued a directive to that effect.
Sodeinde said: “When we got to Alfa Nla, it was even worse than Ejigbo road. In short it was terrible and the first thing we did was to go and see their Baale, and we were told that we would not be able to fix the road because people have been dying on this road.”
“But we moved in and within eight weeks, this road has been transformed to this present state. As you can see, we are here on inspection of a better road. We did patching and some maintenance job on the Capitol road but on the stretch of road from Alfa Nla to Oke-Koto, it was full rehabilitation that we did.
A resident of the area, who simplified identified herself as Mrs. Onabanjo commended the Governor for his passion to transform Lagos, she however urged him to look into the plight of the people of Akaka-Remo in Shasha area of the state.
Earlier, at POWA Shopping Complex, Falomo, Governor Ambode frowned at the poor state of the environment and indiscriminate parking of cars on the road, describing it as an eyesore.
He directed the Commissioner for Environment to immediately ensure that the state sanitation rules are enforced in the area, just as he ordered the evacuation of vehicles parked by the roadside.