Lagos State Government yesterday lamented Federal Government’s non- refund of the sum of N59 billion it expended on repairs of federal roads in the state.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who disclosed this at the annual ministerial press briefing in Lagos, lamented that non- payment of the money had hampered road development in the state.
He said the money was needed? for the rehabilitation of other roads that need attention in the state.
Hamzat said the roads rehabilitated are in Agege, Apapa and Yaba and other areas of Lagos State.
The commissioner explained that the state had completed construction of expansion joint on Ogudu-Alapare, adding that approval had been given for repairs of expansion joints on seven bridges in Lagos.
According to him, “They are Carter Bridge, Eko Bridge, Oke Afa/Egbe Bridge, Dopemu Bridge, Iyana-Ipaja Bridge, Alhaji Masha road Bridge and Itowolo bridge”.? He? added that contracts had? been awarded to construct seven pedestrian bridges; three in Yaba and four along the Lagos/Ibadan Express way.
He explained that government was constrained to construct a pedestrian bridge over the express road at Ojodu-Berger axis as a result of ongoing design of the road by Bicourtney, adding that government would have to see the design first so as not to construct a bridge that would be pulled down later.
Hamzat said the state had initiated a total of 183 projects estimated at about 130.88 kilometres adding that about 193 projects of about? 203.36 kilometres are ongoing.
He said the state government was also considering building another secretariat in order to keep all its ministries and parastals scattered across the state in one location.
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