Lagos to enjoy better transportation with new projects in 2024 – Omotoso
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State, Gbenga Omotoso, has said of some of the “iconic projects” by the state government in 2024 will improve the transportation system in the state.
These include the Red Line Rail, the Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge, and 15 Ferry Jetties with 12 additional ferries.
Omotoso made this known during an interview with journalists from various media houses at his office in Alausa.
He said these projects will ease the traffic congestion and enhance the mobility of the residents and visitors of the State.
He explained that the Opebi Link Bridge will connect Opebi and Ojota, reducing the traffic on the Ikorodu Road and providing faster access to the Airport. The Red Line Rail will run from Iddo to Agbado, cutting down the travel time from three hours by road to 35 minutes by rail. The Water Transportation will be boosted with 15 new jetties and 12 more boats, adding to the existing 21 boats that the Sanwo-Olu-led government inherited and increased from seven.
He also revealed that the State Government will embark on more developmental projects this year, such as the Fourth Mainland Bridge, Massey Street Hospital, 500-Bed Mental Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre, Ketu-Ejinrin, the Lekki International Airport, Food and Logistics Hub, Omu Creek project, the Coastal Road project, Leather Hub at Mushin and General Hospitals. He said these projects will create jobs for the large population of the State and expose young engineers to practical skills.
He further disclosed that the preferred bidder for the Fourth Mainland Bridge, a consortium of construction companies and financiers, has been selected and the financial arrangements are being finalised. He added that the Red Line Rail was almost done and the last overdrive in Mushin would be commissioned soon.
He also clarified that the State Government had no role in the recent change of leadership in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State, saying that it was a Union affair and the government would respect any legitimate leadership of any Association.
He assured that the 2023 Budget cycle was completed and performed at about 90% as of November and expressed optimism that the 2024 Budget would be passed and signed into law soon and implemented immediately to benefit all the developmental pillars of the administration.
He commended the security architecture of the State, saying that Lagos State was the safest in the country and the traffic robbers who attempted to disrupt it were arrested and paraded. He said the Lagos State Security Trust Fund was strengthened at the last security stakeholders meeting and more security strategies were being devised and reviewed regularly by the operatives.
