Press Releases

On-Going Projects: Fashola Says “So Far So Good”

May 25, 2008 - Barely six days to the anniversary of his one year in office, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Sunday expressed satisfaction over the pace of work on the on-going projects kick started by his administration across the State.

As part of the celebration of his one year anniversary, Fashola, yesterday began an inspection of on-going projects across the State with visits to projects on the Lagos and Victoria Islands and the Lagos Mainland.

Fielding questions from after the more than two hours tour, Fashola said from the way work was going on at the various projects visited, he was satisfied that the objectives of the Great Leap Budget of his administration would be largely met.

He, however, pointed out that the realization of the objective would also depend on the revenue adding that pace of work would be better enhanced if people showed more readiness to pay their taxes voluntarily.

“The Budget implementation has been constrained by revenue. We are still chasing people to pay their taxes. The more willing the people are to pay their taxes the better the pace of work”, the Governor said, pointing out that it costs more to collect taxes when people were unwilling to do so.

Fashola commenced the tour with a visit to the Lagos General hospital to inspect the pilot scheme of the e- health data for medical records.

Briefing the Governor on the program, Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris said from August this year, all new patients in the hospital will be taken on the new system that would ensure that information on patients could be sourced without stress.

Dr Idris informed that part of the benefits of the e-health scheme is that every information including family could be sourced by any hospital that needs such information about the patient.

Governor Fashola was also at the magistrate court multi storey complex at Igbosere to inspect the level of work and

Governor was also at the Lagos High court complex to see the level of work on the furnishing of the high court.

The Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engr Ganiyu Johnson while briefing the Governor on the level of work at the Multi storey court complex said that work at the site took time before commencing because the state government had to relocate the former occupants of the building.

The Governor charged the contractor on site to brace up to ensure the completion of the project by September this year.

At the Adeniji Adele and Lagos CBD road phase 111, Governor Fashola was assured by the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engineer Johnson that the new road will ensure the creation of an outer ring road for Lagos to connect outer Marina to inner Marina.

The Lagos State helmsman inspected the Macgregor canal at Dolphin estate and was told by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Muiz Banire that the renewal of the canal is being hampered by the structure of a place of worship (Dispensational Gospel Mission) on the canal line.

He added that the presence of the church has slowed down the dredging project.

Governor Fashola later told the religious leaders who met him at the entrance to the church that there would be no going back on the renewal project of Macgregor canal as its non-dredging has been responsible for flooding at Obalende.

He promised to ensure a win -win situation for both parties at the end of the day but told the leaders that they must be ready to make some sacrifices on the issue at hand.

Governor Fashola who also visited the Murtala Mohammed Way where expansion is on- going and the Otto end of the railway line was assured by the site engineer of the PW construction handling the Yaba Murtala Mohammed Way- Iddo road that the first phase of the project is expected to be completed by October.

Governor Fashola also took time to visit the Lagos Bar Beach to see the level of work on the second phase of the reclamation of the Bar Beach and was told by the Commissioner for Water Front Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru that the project has reached 95 percent completion stage.

The Governor charged the Hitech contracting firm to round of the project in the next two weeks so that he could come forward to commission the Bar Beach project and also flag off the Eko Atlantic City project.

Speaking specifically on the Dolphin Canal project, the Governor said, from observation, the work on the canal was being hindered by a church building which is built very close to the canal.

The Church, Dispensational Gospel Mission International, is less than three metres from the canal instead of the stipulated distance by the State’s Environmental Law.

“You can see the work on the canal has stopped and the building is the only one standing on the way so it must go. But we have to find an alternative location and reach an understanding with the church leaders”, the Governor said.

Noting that the whole of Dolphin Estate, Obalende, Dodan Barracks and adjourning areas depend on the canal to be rid of flood, Fashola said the building had to be pulled down in the larger interest of Lagos residents.

On the Yaba /Murtala Mohammed Way/Iddo Road Project, Fashola explained that the Military High Command has given its consent to the demolition of the wall barricading the Army Barracks from the road in order to give way for the extension of the road adding, however, that Government has agreed to build an inner wall before demolition would be carried out.

He particularly expressed satisfaction at the pace of work at the Lagos Bar Beach saying he was impressed that the second phase of the project was already 95 per cent completed and would be delivered in a week’s time.

The Governor said he was impressed at the pace of work on the Beautification Projects across the State, singling out the one at the Nigerian Law School for particular commendation. According to him, “You can see there is work in progress and the contractor promises to deliver it 100 per cent in the next two weeks”.

The Governor said apart from the aesthetic quality the project was bringing to bear on the entire environment of the city, the project was creating more jobs for the hitherto unemployed youths as well as creating wealth for different categories of residents who daily make brisk business through the multiplier effects of the project.

“All categories of people are doing business and creating wealth from the Beautification Project. Apart from the unemployed youths, food sellers are also making more money. Perhaps the horticulturists will tell you it has never been so good in that business”, he said

According to him, the economic boom is also enhancing security in the state.

“Security is about inflation of the economy. The more work available to people, the less crime in the society. We are all over the place giving people chance to be part of what we are doing”, he said.

On the state of the various bridges across the State, Fashola said of the 39 bridges inherited by the State from the Federal Government, six needed immediate attention while 18 were being further investigated adding that he has compiled the report and forwarded same to the Presidency through the Minister of Works.

The Governor was accompanied on the tour by his Deputy Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan and all members of the State Executive Council.