By Lateef Odegbenle
Sanwo-Olu commissioned the upgraded and dualised 2.8km-long Chief Yesufu Abiodun Oniru Road and Akiogun Road — both of which serve as crucial alternative routes that will significantly reduce gridlock around Victoria Island and Admiralty Circle Plaza. Just he also inaugurated the newly constructed 550-metre Abudu Street in Victoria Island, opening a new route to connect the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
The road projects, which reduce journey time by 40 minutes, are completed with improved drainage to solve perennial flooding problems hitherto experienced along the corridor. They serve as bypasses to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road being constructed in the corridor.
Sanwo-Olu said the development represented a significant step taken by his administration in addressing challenges facing commuters on the axis, saying the road was not only a pathway but would serve as a lifeline that would bring relief to commuters, boost economic activities, and enhance the quality of life for residents.
The Governor said: “This network of roads is a key component of the Transportation and Traffic Management Pillar under our administration’s THEMES Agenda. The strategic needs of the projects underscore our commitment to creating a smarter and more efficient transportation system that supports sustainable development and improves the ease of doing business in Lagos.
“The upgrade and expansion of the roads reflect our belief that investing in infrastructure is investing in the future of Lagos. By reducing traffic gridlock, these projects will not only make life easier for commuters but also attract more businesses to the Lekki-Victoria Island axis, reinforcing its status as the premier business and real estate corridor in the country.”
The opening of the three roads made it the 29th newly built infrastructure project the Governor would be commissioning over the last two or three months.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that there were additional 17 road projects at different stages of completion and would be commissioned before the end of the year’s first quarter.
The governor noted that the construction of the Green Line rail project, which will cut across Eti Osa, would commence this year, pointing out that the State Government had already started the expansion of the Lekki-Epe Expressway to create the right-of-way for the rail project.
“We are working with the Federal Ministry of Finance incorporated and our contractors to start the Green Line this year. The project, which will start from Victoria Island and terminate in Ibeju Lekki, will be a game changer in transportation on the Eti Osa corridor,” Sanwo-Olu.
He charged residents in the beneficiary communities and stakeholders to take ownership of the infrastructure, stressing that the facilities must be protected from vandalism.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Engr. Olufemi Daramola said the projects were conceived to provide alternative routes to decongest traffic from the Lekki-Epe Expressway, adding that the infrastructure aligned with the State Government’s infrastructural regeneration efforts within Victoria Island.
Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Oba Gbolahan Lawal, thanked the Governor for alleviating the suffering motorists suffered while plying the roads.
The upgraded roads, the monarch said, will further catalyse economic growth and raise property values in the axis.
“These roads will improve economic life for people in the Iru Kingdom and bring more prosperity in terms of increased productivity. By this gesture, we will continue to show our loyalty to the leadership of the State,” Oba Lawal said
