Happy times are here again as the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday said the first phase of the state Blue Light Rail project would be completed by June this year (2013).
Fashola who spoke during an inspection of ongoing projects in the state, expressed confidence, that Lagosians would start enjoying the services of the lrail project immediately.
The first phase would run from Marina and terminated at Okokomaiko area in Ojo Local Government.
The governor, who inaugurated the track work of the blue light rail at Alaba Suru, Coker-Agunda Local Council Development Area, said the level of work on the road and those of the National Theatre and Alaba-Mile 2 rail stations, would ensure early completion
He said, “In order to finish the project, the contractor did not go on vacation during the festive period. This will ensure that the project is delivered on time for the use of Lagosians.
“The first section of this rail, which started from National Theatre, Orile-Iganmu to Mile 2 Bus Stop, would be fully completed with the tracks laid.
“Construction work will continue on the project from Orile-Iganmu to Marina, the expansion work on the road from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko will also be intensified.
“This is what we do with the loan collected by the government. We don’t use our loan to pay salaries and other recurrent expenditure, what we do with our loan is to provide capital projects that would serve the residents.
“When the project is completed, the state would be at par with other major cities of the world.”
Fashola also explained that the factors that necessitated the slow pace of work in Ago Palace Way, Okota, Isolo had been removed as owners of properties on right-of-way, who went to courts to stop the government from demolishing their properties, had agreed to an out-of-court settlement.
He assured the residents that with the owners agreeing to accept compensation from the government, the pace of road construction in the area would be faster.
He said, “The community has grown, so we have to expand the road. At Ago Palace Way, some of the properties needed to give way; everybody wants good road, but nobody wants it to pass through his house, so some of the owners took us to court. But we have settled out of court and we need to pay compensation.
“These are the things that residents do not see. I have heard complaints that the work is slow; some say the contractor has left; but the reason is that a citizen took us to court.”
He said works would be accelerated to complete the expansion of the road expected to serve as a link between Okota and Festac areas.