Kunle Adelabu
-Commissions Sekumade road
-Says his administration committed to fourth mainland bridge, completion of other projects
It was a re-commitment to the campaign ideals of greater Lagos rising, when Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo – Olu visited Ikorodu on Friday, March 31, 2023, to commission the rehabilitated/reconstructed Oba Sekumade Road, in Ipakodo, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
The road was commissioned alongside a strategic sectional rehabilitation of TOS Benson Avenue, which connects the Oba Sekumade Road that links the Ikorodu – Lagos Road.
Gov. Sanwo – Olu attended the ceremony in the company of his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat and many members of his cabinet.
The governor said that the completion of the important road which links the Nigerian Port Authority Terminal in Ikorodu, and other important economic and social facilities, is another demonstration of his administration’s delivery of good governance to the people of Ikorodu and the state at large.
“Today, distinguished guests, is another demonstration of what purposeful governance is all about. It’s another definition of what true democracy is all about by ensuring that development touches every nook and cranny of our various locations in Lagos”, Sanwo – Olu said.
“That is why we are excited that right after collection of our certificates, we know that we still have a lot of work to do; a lot of projects to handover and a lot of things to show. It was strategic because we do not want to come here on cheap politics by coming here to commission while we are campaigning.
“Ikorodu has demonstrated and shown that with or without, they are with us and I want to thank them, and that’s why I decided to come here first to show that we are partners in progress”.
Speaking on the strategic nature of the road project handled by the Messrs Arab Contractors, the governor said:
“This road is not only strategic, but also important to the entire community of Ikorodu Kingdom. Right from the Ogolonto junction on the Lagos – Ikorodu Road, up to this junction (Oba Sekumade/NPA/Dangote roundabout), you can see the infrastructures”, he said.
“NPA has a container terminal, Dangote has a facility, and we also have a big ferry terminal. From TOS Benson to Ibeshe, we have another jetty terminal at Ibeshe. So, you can see that this is a very strategic road, that opens up Ikorodu to other parts.
“We are happy that Messrs Arab Contractors has been able to complete this first – class infrastructure within two years. This is a dual – carriage way completely reviewed with first – class drainage infrastructure with other components and it is joined with the TOS Road. It was a very difficult terrain for the Arab Contractor and they work within the timeline given to them.
“You can see that the real dividends of democracy has been enshrined here today, where people can move on journeys that usually take a lot of wasted time. We can reduce the journey time within our communities and we connect from different parts and get to our destinations within the shortest possible time”, he said.
Sanwo – Olu, who acknowledged the request of political and traditional leaders as well as residents of Ikorodu, for more projects, also highlighted all the ongoing projects that his administration is embarking upon in the division with their state of completion.
“All our leaders that have spoken have acknowledged that we are doing a lot and they want us to do a lot more and that is what we are in government for. When people ask you to do more for them, it is because they believe that you have the capacity to do so. It is because you have the intellect and the resources and the foresight to do it”, the governor said.
“It is also important to let them know where we are on various construction of roads. We are about 60% complete on Ishawo Road and we will continue to push HiTech to complete the road. We know how important that road is”, he assured residents.
“On Ewu – Elepe to Gberigbe that Arab Contractors is handling, the project is very slow. They are just about 20%. Whether I am owing you or not, you need to move back to that site and ensure that you push that road. Please, go back to Ewu – Elepe and push it for our Kabiyesis”, he directed the contractor.
“Igbogbo/Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way is about 40% and is being handled by HiTech. Adamo/Agunfoye Road is about 35% completed and it is being done by another contractor.
“The Igbogbo/Bayeku road is being handled in – house by the Public Works Corporation and it is about 27%. My Works, you have a lot of work to do because when we went there (Igbogbo), I remember Baba Basorun telling us that we need to fix and clean up entire stretch of the road.
“We are also doing a major transportation infrastructure at the Ikorodu garage roundabout and that one is about 55 to 60% completed. It is supposed to be a major traffic interchange with and will open up the bus corridor”, he said.
“You can see that I am not shying away to tell you the level of our commitments on roads and we will continue to push and ensure that we complete them and come back to commission them like this one”, he added.
The Governor charged his Deputy who is overseeing the ministry of Works and Infrastructures and other functionaries, to ensure that ongoing projects in Ikorodu are completed in good time.
“Deputy Governor, Commissioner, and Special Adviser, I am giving commitments on your behalf. Also with all the contractors, please, let us finish those roads on time for them’, he charged.
Sanwo – recalled that his administration has handed over 480 flats at the Abiodun Ogunleye Housing Estate and the Babatunde Benson Housing estate with about 650 flats which are part of the 17 housing estates his administration had completed in various parts of the state.
He also mentioned several school projects completed in Ikorodu.
While further assuring Lagosians of a rising Lagos, the governor restated his administration’s audacious plan to start and complete the fourth mainland bridge which he explained will benefit Ikorodu and change its social and economic status.
“What we are concerned about is to ensure that our next four years is even bigger, better and faster than our last four years. That is our commitment, because we know the rules; what the issues are; we appreciate what the challenges are and we don’t expect to be slowed by the COVID that happened about a year and half ago”, he said.
“So, in the next four years, you would see accelerated developments all around the city, because of our commitment at ensuring that what we campaigned for is a greater Lagos that is rising, and Ikorodu is part of that.
“In the next couple of months, we are going to be doing massive groundbreaking for the fourth mainland bridge that will be coming all the way from Ajah and will be berthing in Ikorodu. The first phase of it will be landing on Ikorodu – Shagamu express road which is the first phase and that is about 27km. The phase two will be from there to the Lagos – Ibadan express road.
“That is what we are committed to and that is what we are doing. If we can get that done, which by the grace of God, we will push and complete in this our second administration, then, we will know that Ikorodu has completely opened up to the entire world’, Sanwo – Olu said.
“What it means is that from Oba Sekumade, you can hit the bridge and get on to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, Epe, Victoria Island and Ikoyi in no time. That is what it means by saying that the greater Lagos is rising. The development in Lagos knows no bounds. It could touch all the nooks and crannies development in our state, and I want to assure that that is what we are committed to.
“These are some of the things that you will be seeing in the months and years ahead for all of us”.
While commending staff of the Ministry of Works for always delivering on projects, the governor further charged them to be prepared for the work ahead.
“There still a lot of work to be done. There is still a lot more that are expected of the ministry because infrastructures continue to remain a strong deliverable of our government that we have given commitment to.
“It is about the development of our country and the development of our state. We are happy that all of the development that we are seeing in Lagos State, by the time our leader and President – elect is also sworn – in, all of these developments will begin to happen in various parts of this country. We’ll begin to replicate all of these successes in Lagos and do replicas of it in every part of the country.
“It shows that we can build a nation that will truly represent the giant of Africa; all the yearnings of the young population that we have and all the aspirations of every one of our citizens, and people need not bother again about wanting to leave the country. That is what we are doing; that is what Lagos is about and that is what we believe that we will also be doing at the federal level”, Sanwo – Olu said.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructures, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, said that the rehabilitation will stop flooding and ease traffic situations in and around Ikorodu.
“I believe that with the rehabilitation and upgrades of this road, the challenge of flooding and inadequate capacity will now become a thing of the past. This in turn will also translate into improved free flow of traffic and a much needed reduction in travel time for the business owners in the areas of the motoring public at large”, she said.
Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, who played a very important role in the government’s intervention on Sekumade road, described activities on the road since its completion as seamless, a situation he added has brought happiness to the people.
“Today, everything appears seamless because it was fixed on time. We thank you for this”, the fourth term lawmaker said.
“There’s no need to go through the importance of Sekumade road, because the importance of it has been properly initiated. We only know that this road has brought happiness to us. It has brought relief to us. It has increased values of properties in this area. It has also relieved the community of perennial flooding owing to the poor drainage system which has now been corrected and realigned”, Hon. Agunbiade stated.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Bashir Sotonwa, the Sekumade of Ipakodo, who traced the historical importance of the rehabilitated road, described the governor as man of his words.
“You are indeed a man of your word. Thank you for making the great people of Ipakodo happy”, he said.
“The history of this road can be traced to the construction of the Nigeria Port Authority here in Ipakodo in the mid – 70s. Before then, Ipakodo was the terminal for goods, passengers and traders from Ikorodu division, Ogun State, and other southwest states.
“This same road played a significant role in the economic development of Lagos State, being the only road to Lagos by sea”, Oba Sotonwa added.
He said that the resumption of activities at the port and commencement of work at the Dangote factory put pressure on the road which eventually collapsed.
“With the resumption of port activities and manufacturing by Dangote industries, which brought about massive influx of people from other parts of Lagos to Ipakodo under Ikorodu division, further put pressure on this major road, forcing it to cave in.
“In year 2020, we cried out for intervention and you responded swiftly and promised us a lasting one. Today, you fulfilled your promise to millions of people who ply this road to Ikorodu, Ijede, Ibeshe, Imota and even travelers to neighbouring Ogun State, and other parts of Nigeria.
“On this note, I declare that you and your amiable Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, have both written your names in gold in the history of Ipakodo and in Ikorodu division in general”, the royal father declared.
Sekumade also pleaded with the Governor to assist his kingdom in building a befitting palace to replace the over 40 years old palace which, according to the Kabiyesi, is weak.
Former Deputy Governor and chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, speaking, commended the governor and members of his administration for quality performance and charged him to consider requests on other projects.
Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun congratulated the governor on his re – election and pleaded to give attention to other road projects that are yet to be completed across the Ikorodu Division.
Others at the commissioning were Oba Kabir Shotobi, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, Council Chairmen among others.
