AMAECHI VISITS AMBODE, SAYS APAPA PORTS PHASE OF LAGOS-IBADAN RAIL PROJECT TAKES OFF NEXT WEEK

...Movement of Cargo By Rail Will Reduce Traffic Congestion- Gov

...Commends FG’s Approval For Reconstruction Of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway

AgegePulse Magazine

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi on Thursday visited the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, revealing that work on the Apapa corridor of the Lagos-Ibadan Rail project would commence next week.



Amaechi, who spoke to journalists after a strategic meeting with the Governor and his team at the Lagos House in Alausa, Ikeja, said it was gratifying to report that contractors would move to site to continue the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project from Apapa as part of efforts to bring about permanent solution to the perennial traffic gridlock in the axis.

He said: ‘You would recall that the Federal Government had commenced construction of the Lagos-Ibadan railway and the focus was more on the Ibadan and Abeokuta axis because we had challenges in Lagos which included utilities and not much with the communities and I think I have to commend the communities that allow us use their land though we would pay compensation but not much. So, we are grateful to all the communities from Lagos to Ibadan.



“However, we have utility challenges both gas pipes and water and beyond the gas pipes, we also have challenges with bridges to either build or demolish. I remember when we said we wanted to demolish the Costain Bridge, everybody screamed and we had to invite the Lagos Governor to assist us; he took us there and promised that he would pay the compensation.



“I like the fact that the Lagos State Government are also contributing to this whole efforts and so what we have come here to do is to ensure that there is a win-win situation and the Lagos Governor has been very cooperative. He cooperated all the way from the beginning till now and what we have decided is that CCECC should therefore move back to Lagos for construction to commence immediately in Lagos because we are insisting that by December, we should complete the Lagos-Ibadan Railway,” Amaechi said.



He said in addition to the rail projects, the Federal Government was also working on the roads, saying that the combination of the projects would facilitate seamless movement of cargos from Apapa.



“What we are trying to do there is to get a good road to evacuate cargos but it would be faster with the rail. So, while we are working hard to ensure that the rail is delivered by this year ending, the Federal Government has also awarded the contract to deal with the road from Apapa and Tin Can to enable us to evacuate cargos freely which is an addition to the rail,” Amaechi said.



Responding, Governor Ambode lauded the action of the Federal Government to commence work on the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Project from the Apapa axis, expressing optimism that the development would go a long way to enhance movement of cargos from Lagos to other parts of the country. 



“Lagosians would recollect that in the last three weeks, we have had issues with the Apapa gridlock and two times, Mr Vice President had actually visited Lagos and promised that a lot of remedies would take place.



“We want to use this platform to say a big thank you to Mr President and the Federal Executive Council for approving the reconstruction of the Tin Can-Apapa-Oshodi Expressway up to the Toll Gate which was done yesterday. This is in continuation of our efforts at finding permanent solutions to what has been happening in the Apapa axis.



“We also want to say a big thank you to the Minister of Transport and Minister of Works because the rail construction that is coming up and will commence in Lagos from next week is actually from the Apapa Ports up to the Ibadan axis which means that we are having a two-pronged approach to be able to cart away cargos from Lagos to other parts of the country,” Governor Ambode said.



The Governor also commended the Federal Government for approving the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as part of efforts to finding lasting solution to the perennial traffic gridlock around the axis.



He specially thanked President Muhammadu Buhari; Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, and indeed the entire members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), saying the State Government was grateful for their commitment to end the sufferings of the people in the State.



He said as a follow-up to the initiatives of the Federal Government, there would be a lot of additional construction works across the State especially from the Apapa axis including 10 over-passes to further reduce the sufferings of the people.



Besides, Governor Ambode reiterated the commitment of the State Government to collaborate with the Federal Government to implement impactful projects that would make life comfortable for the people.



“We just want to say that we reiterate the commitment to collaborate with the Federal Government as a State Government to ensure that we reduce the sufferings of Lagosians and I am happy that we have come out from this meeting stronger together with the Federal Ministry of Transport to make sure that this particular rail project is delivered within the next six to twelve months,” Governor Ambode said.

     

It would be recalled that the Federal Government, at the end of Wednesday’s FEC meeting, had approved N72.9billion for the reconstruction of the road from Apapa to the Toll Gate on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Ambode launches new access road to LASUTH

... Orders contractors to complete Ayinke House in six months

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday launched the new access road connecting the premises of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja from Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way.

Speaking at the launching, Governor Ambode expressed delight at the completion of the project, saying it was designed to facilitate faster access to medical care, thereby saving lives.

He said it was a thing of joy that after about three to four decades, another access road had been created to LASUTH.

In his words: We are delighted to be here. We believe strongly that the major cornerstone for the growth of the economy of Lagos actually lies in the hands of all of you here because if we don't have a healthy state, we cannot have a productive economy and that was why we decided that we would pay greater attention to the health sector.

While commending the management of the institution, Ambode assured that his administration would not relent in implementing policies and project to scale up the health sector.

The Governor, who also used the opportunity to inspect the progress of work on the LASUTH Maternity Hospital popularly known as Ayinke House, ordered contractors handling the project to ensure completion of the project within the next six months.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of LASUTH, ProfessorAdewale David Oke commended Governor Ambode for his commitment to the health sector, saying several projects had been executed in the institution since the inception of the present administration.

Speaking on the launched  road, Oke said: This is a dream come true. For many years, we have had a problem with movement of patients into the hospital. Sometimes, they are in the ambulance for fifteen or twenty minutes before they can get in but this road has solved that problem.

Also speaking, Professor Babatunde Sholagbero, Provost of Lagos State University College of Medicine, said the completion of the road was a proof of a promise made and kept by the state government.

He also thanked Governor Ambode for facilitating the accreditation of Dentistry for the Institution, thereby making Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH / LASUCOM) the only state university in Nigeria that has a Bachelor of Dentistry degree.

He added: By the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, the accepted dentist to the patient population in the United States is 1 to 2000, but for Africa, is 1 to 150,000. So, for every dentist we produce, we will now have 150,000 Lagosians being catered for.

Aside from that, there are many other projects that the present administration has implemented in our institution and we are now a toast among other medical colleges, Solagbero said.