The Lagos State Governor,? Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday assured residents of the state of the preparedness of his administration to rehabilitate existing roads and construct new ones in 2012 fiscal year.
Fashola said this at a ceremony to mark his 1,700 days in office held at the Lagos Television Ground, Ikeja. He allayed the fears of Lagosians over the increasing spate of bombings in the country, saying the state government had devised a strategy of preempting the criminals.
The governor who said the bad roads across the metropolis would soon be a thing of the past, added that the government had identified 217 inner roads and some others that would be constructed this year.
According to him, “Critical areas of activities for us will be the construction and rehabilitation of inner city roads. Work has commenced in some parts of Ogudu, Surulere, Mushin, Ajegunle, Ifako Ijaiye, Alimosho and Ikorodu.
“This year, we plan to implement the construction, rehabilitation and rebuilding of 152 inner roads across all local governments in Lagos State. In all, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has identified 396 roads across the state as being of high priority”.
Fashola said due to budgetary constraints, the government would start with 152 most critical roads, adding that the prompt delivery of the road projects was subject to further review in the light of price index changes triggered by the increase in the pump price of petrol.
“I have been advised by the Ministry of Works that in addition to those 152 roads, there are 65 roads upon which work commenced in the last 12 to 18 months, bringing the total number of roads that we hope to deliver at the end of this budget cycle to 217.”
He said the government was committed to the modernization of? Mile 12-Ikorodu Road, adding that work would commence in no distance time.
“The design of the road is ready and we are working with the Federal Government and the World Bank to conclude financing on the project, which will cost N30 billion.
“We appeal for understanding as we are mindful of the present discomfort that commuters in that area face, but we assure Lagosians that relief will come soon,” he added.
Fashola disclosed that in the last 100 days, the Public Works Corporation, PWC, has resurfaced 230 roads across all the local governments of the state.
He hinted that the state would formally launch the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme( HOMS) designed to make home? ownership a reality by providing the opportunity for the citizens to access affordable mortgage finance.