By Femi Akinola
Commissioner for Information in Lagos State, Mr. Gbenga Omotosho, has disclosed that the money needed for construction of the 37km Fourth Mainland Bridge which has been on the drawing board of the State Government for some years is ready.
Although what the bridge project will cost the state was not disclosed, the project groundbreaking is scheduled for April and its construction will transverse five Local Government Areas namely Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Kosofe and Owode Obafemi Local Government Area in neighbouring Ogun State.
Omotosho said Babajide Sanwo-Olu is ready for the project and that this was the reason the governor emphasised government’s readiness to start the project at a recent Lagos West Town Hall meeting with Lagosians.
Speaking during an interview programme aired on City FM 105.1FM Radio Station in Lagos on Mpnday, Omotosho explained that contractors that will handle the project have been selected and the finances are in place. ”So, if we are talking about groundbreaking, that means we have done almost everything required to start the project,” he said.
The Commissioner reiterated Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to the bridge project in addition to achieve a Greater Lagos through the THEME Plus Agenda. ”For Mr. Governor to have gone to the Lagos West Town Hall meeting to talk about the 4th Mainland Bridge project, means that he is confident that everything about the project is on course and will soon commence,” he said.
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Omotosho assured people of Lagos that come April, the groundbreaking of the 4th Mainlabd Bridge would take place.
He however added, ”We operate in human environment and if there is a need for us to shift the goalpost, Lagosian will know the reasons. For now, there is no reason to believe that the goal post can be shifted. The contractors have been selected and finances are in place . So, if we are talking about ground breaking, that means we have done everything required to start the project.”
On the contractor that will handle construction of the bridge, Omotosho explained that a project of such magnitude should not be awarded to incompetent contractors but a contractor with past experiences and one that has handle similar project in the past.
As a result of this, Omotosho disclosed that the bridge project was awarded to CCECC, a Chinese Construction Company. The commissioner affirmed the Chinese company is competent and can handle the project.
On the likely social and economic impact of te project, the Commissioner explained that the 4th Mainland Bridge is going to be a relief for other bridges by decongesting them and the load they carry.
He went further saying, ”the price of preoperties in the areas whuch the bridge will pass through will definitely increase because roads and bridges exposes little known communities to the larger public.
The bridge will create employment and about 1,500 people are expected to work on site when construction of the bridge takes place.
