By Olawale Andul-Fatah
After much deliberation, the Lagos House of Assembly has approved the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s N250 billion loan request.
The House, whoever, ordered Lagos Public Works Corporation, LSPWC and contractors across the state to fast-track maintenance works on roads in order to reduce traffic congestion in the state.
Sanwo-Olu had written to the lawmakers, seeking approval for issuance of N100 billion Bond and N150 billion loan facilities.
Announcing the House decision on Friday, the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, said the state government should direct the Commissioner for Transport to engage those working on rail construction to regulate construction hours.
“We appreciate the police for being proactive but we don’t want them to block roads when checking vehicle papers. The Chairman, Task Force, Lagos State should join hands with LASTMA to address this issues,” he added.
Earlier during plenary, the lawmakers also urged the police to reduce checkpoints within the state while directing the state government to implement the effective use of water transportation.
The House gave the order and expressed worries over the neck-breaking traffic being expressed in the state in a motion moved by Temitope Adewale.
While moving the motion, Adewale said Lagosians are groaning under heavy traffic, and as such, all government agencies must work to ensure traffic-free Lagos.
” Lately, the traffic in Lagos is unbearable. I spent three hours to get to my house. I will urge the Public Works Commission, PWC, to schedule construction works on weekends and work fewer hours during the weekdays especially rush hours. They can work between 11pm and 5 am and have security agents work with them for security reasons.
Contractors handling railway construction especially the Ikeja railway crossing, should schedule their works so it won’t affect road users.”
Supporting the motion, Desmond Elliot appealed to Lagosians to bear with the state government with the ongoing construction works in the state but urged the contractors to ensure quality works are carried out in the road repairs.
” I will like to commend the government for being proactive. Lagos is synonymous with traffic bottlenecks as a result of influx of people into the state. We should know most of the roads are bad and under construction but Lagosians should have patience and endurance. In the end, we will be better for it.”
