Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has assured residents that the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and the light rail project would be completed.
The governor who spoke at a programme to commemorate 2,800 days of his administration in office at the Lagos Television, Blue Roof, Ikeja, said his administration had put in place structures to ensure the completion of the two projects by the next government.
Fashola however, said it was imperative for residents to support the expeditious delivery of the projects by ensuring that another All Progressives Congress government took over from his administration on May 29.
He said that the party’s governorship candidate, Akinwunmi Ambode, had been part of the projects from conception, assuring that his assumption of office in May this year, if elected in the February poll, would make the completion of the project more realistic.
“A lot of people have asked me if I would be able to complete the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and the Light Rail Project and what I tell them is that it is not everything that a government starts that it finishes.
“If an administration thinks only about the project to be completed alone in the course of that government, it means, nothing really would be done.
“For instance, in South Africa, it was the late Nelson Mandela that fought for the hosting of the World Cup and the various infrastructure that ensured that the event held successfully was initiated by Thabo Mbeki but the project was completed by the current president, Jacob Zuma.
“In our case, we have put in place a lot of structures to ensure the completion of the projects by the next government.
“I am happy that the APC gubernatorial candidate knows everything about the projects as he was the state Accountant-General when they were conceived. I urge Lagosians to support the delivery of these projects by voting Ambode. He understands the project inside out and I am sure he will deliver them if given the mandate.”
The governor said the two were some of the projects being financed by the various tranches of the state’s debt issuance programmes.
Fashola said four out of the 11 terminuses in the light rail project planned for the 25km first phase of the rail system had been completed, listing the four completed terminuses were in Alaba, Mile 2, Orile and Costain area of Surulere.
Fashola said some of the rail tracks had been laid and some dedicated rail bridges completed, adding that that the bridge linking Costain to Marina would soon be completed.
The governor lamented lack of Federal Government support for the project, adding that the support would have accelerated delivery of the rail project.
He noted that Nigeria was the only country where rail projects embarked upon by state governments were not supported by the central government, saying similar projects in Mumbai and South Africa had federal support.
The governor said his government was committed to the delivery of projects that would impact on the lives of residents.
He said the delivery of the Mainland Independent Power Plant, Court Houses in Epe and Badagry and the new Area C Police Headquarters in Surulere in the last 100 days was aimed at improving the lots of residents.
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