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Has it been seen, heard or recorded that a Governor or President, within the Africa’s context, commissioned 21 Roads plus 2 Bridges around the same vicinity or locality within a day? This is indeed unique and uncommon. In fact, to put it squarely, saliently and succinctly, without mincing words, especially in these days of dipping and diminishing revenue accrual that is the sing-song while crisscrossing the Nigeria’s landscape, it is indeed a record breaking feat in governance in Nigeria’s annals of history.
It is now part of history that the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Easter Monday (2nd April 2018), commissioned a total of 21 roads and two bridges, altogether spanning 27.4 kilometers stretch within Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA)-the largest LGA in Lagos State. During the commissioning, the helmsman at the Centre of Excellence went down on memory lane pouring encomiums on his progressive predecessors in office, firstly, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was the architect with the blueprint of a model and modern megacity, and his successor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN. According to the Governor, it was Asiwaju Tinubu who as the architect of transformation in Alimosho with the construction of LASU-Iba Road while the erstwhile Governor Fashola took it farther to Ipaja. The present administration in the State of Aquatic Splendour has taken the opening up of Alimosho from Ipaja to Ayobo, Command Secondary School, Gate, Abesan, Aboru Bridge and many other roads within the Alimosho axis.
The writer as a scholar and also a practitioner of Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E), was involved with others officials of the Lagos State Government in the monitoring of the project spanning a period of one year. It would be recalled that the hardworking, energetic and innovative Governor Ambode directed the commencement of the construction of the 21 Roads and 2 Bridges last year March simultaneously as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on his 65th birthday, was commissioning the Aboru-Abesan Link Bridge and other inner roads, namely Church Street, Giwa Street, Victor Fagbemi Road, Ogunfayo Road, Ogundare Street, Salami Kazeem, altogether totaling 5.5km with covered drains, walkways and street lights within the same Alimosho axis.
There and then, describing and depicting the situation as it was, the sagacious and strategic Asiwaju Tinubu stated inter alia:
“When you (Ambode) took over, I know you inherited a burden of debt. The debt profile of Lagos was high, I was wondering how you will re-engineer and face the challenges to make progress. Today, I can see your report card, you have scored well, and you have been prudent in the judicious use of resources of the State. You didn’t disappoint us. Ambode is silently achieving, meticulously planning, religiously executing and brilliantly giving results for Lagos State.”
That Ambode, as the man in the saddle, is strategically thinking and simultaneously innovative as well as creative in the face of daunting and dwindling resources is to be commended then and now. Moreover, periscoping the expanse and entirety of the Lagos State landmass, one cannot but visualize the handiwork of the innovative leader-Ambode-spanning Ikeja, Badagary, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe (IBILE in Lagos common parlance).
It is remarkable to highlight that the fervency and frenetic speed heralding the delivery of the project is unique despite the gory and gloomy financial outlook in the economy of Nigeria. Kudos should be accorded the indigenous contractor, Visible Construction Company Ltd. In the author’s interaction with the company’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr Olalekan Adebiyi, he revealed that to achieve the feat, his dutiful and dedicated workers was at a particular period working for 24 hours in order to meet the deadline for delivery! It was done and dusted!!
The innovative Governor stated that the roads were alternative routes to resolve traffic logjam while traversing the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway as the roads and bridges could be exploited to access Ipaja and going forward from there to Badagary while possibly jettisoning the expressway. Moreover, the Governor commended the people for positively responding in paying their taxes, and encourage them to do more so as to enjoy more dividends of democracy. Furthermore, even though the people were not acting Oliver Twist, however, the magnanimous helmsman promised to dredge Ilo River, rehabilitate Adekoya Road, Makinde Road, Suberu Oje Road, Old Ota Road and Ishefun-Ijan Road. Moreover, in executing his intermodal transportation policy, the innovative leader intends connecting these roads to a jetty thus ensuring movement of people on water through ferry ensuring movement from Alimosho to Marina in Lagos Island within 20 minutes.
Socio-economic Significance
In concluding this piece, it is worth mentioning the details of 21 Roads and 2 Bridges in order for independent assessors, Civil Society Organizations (CSO) and M & E experts to conduct bias free inspection to corroborate or controvert the claim of Lagos State Government. These are details:
Ikola Road with Bridge (7.2km), Aiyetoro Road with Bridge (1.280km), Dualization of Raypower Road (2.7km), Amikanle Road (3.340km), Oko Filling Road (1.660km), Ogunseye Road (1.870km), Osenatu Ilo Road (0.700km), Aina Aladi Road (1.109km), Oluwasanya Road (0.636km), Igbehinadun Road (0.360km) and Community Road (0.750km). Others are Isoto Road (0.730km), Palace Road (0.660km), Timothy Afolabi (0.745km), Peak Thomas Bright Crescent (0.490km), Baale Street (0.710km), Joe Ikebudu (0.460km), Bishop Oderinde (0.270km), Alhaji Ganiyu Salami (0.520km), Kadiri Adebambo Street (0.533km) and Church Street (0.710km).
In Result-based Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E), there is a term referred to as the Outcome. This in simple terms is the immediate positive effect on the citizenry of any governmental intervention-programme/
Cognitively, one may ask: what are the immediate Outcomes of this laudable project? Firstly, travel time has greatly reduced making socio-economic activities to receive a boost. Secondly, the Alimosho axis has been further opened up for more businesses resulting in increased income of the people. Thirdly, more jobs are generated by new business coming on board. Fourthly, landed properties appreciate in value. It is significant to point out that before the project initiation and close out (completion), prices of parcels of land have multiplied as much as 300%. Fifthly, within the next few years, it is expected that more housing projects will spring up in Alimosho thus positively altering the landscape.
In essence, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has innovatively taking governance far in achieving this feat especially when one takes cognizance of the fact that virtually every Local Government Area/Local Council Development Area (LGA/LCDA) in Lagos boasts of projects initiated and completed by the Ambode’s administration. In this vein, myriads of gargantuan projects such as the 10 lane Airport Road Project, Epe Arterial/Network of Roads, Oshodi Bus Terminus, Oshodi-Abule-Egba
Dr. Ekundayo is Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Lagos State
