Francesca Odimgbe
Key legacy projects of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration will be inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his first official visit to Lagos State.
Among the iconic projects that will be commissioned by Tinubu in the two-day visit to his home state include the newly constructed Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge, Lagos State Geographic Information Service (LAGIS) building, and Lagos Multi-Agency Building in Alausa.
Other notable projects are Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Abijo, Ajah, Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle and Maracana Stadium, comprising 19 mini-football pitches built side by side in Ajegunle.
The details of the presidential visit were revealed during a press briefing held by the State Government on Monday in Alausa, where Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, said Tinubu was expected to inaugurate the listed projects on Wednesday and Thursday.
These projects, Omotoso said, reflected the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to Lagos development and improved living standards of the residents, stressing that the infrastructure was carefully conceived and executed to address the growing needs of our population, ease mobility, stimulate economic activities, and enhance social welfare.
The Commissioner said the projects testified to the administration’s unwavering commitment to building a Greater Lagos that is inclusive, sustainable and globally competitive. He added that development highlighted the importance of continuity in governance and the value of visionary leadership in driving development.
He said: “The presence of Mr. President in Lagos at this auspicious occasion further reinforces the strong partnership between the Federal Government and Lagos State. The planned project unveiling ceremony highlights the importance of continuity in governance and the value of visionary leadership in driving development.
“We are confident that these projects will not only serve the immediate needs of our people but also stand as enduring legacies for generations to come. All the iconic projects represent progress in action and hope for a better future.
“As we prepare for this historic visit, we assure residents of Lagos that all arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth, secure, and successful event. We urge the public to cooperate with the authorities, especially in areas where there may be temporary traffic adjustments or security protocols.”
Speaking to the impacts of the projects, Omotoso said the Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge was initiated to address traffic challenges within the Ojota, Maryland, Mende, Opebi, and Allen axes, noting that the corridor served as a major route for commuters moving between the mainland and key commercial districts.
The newly constructed Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge, the Commissioner said, has created a direct and efficient linkage between Central Business District of Ikeja and residential areas in Ojota, which hitherto had limited and indirect road connections.
“The Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge project was originally conceived over 20 years ago, during the administration of former Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu. It was revived and officially flagged off in January 2022 by Governor Sanwo-Olu, making the infrastructure both a legacy project and a continuation of long-term urban planning in Lagos,” Omotoso said.
The regenerated Tolu Schools, established in 1981, is a cluster of schools comprising 16 Senior Secondary Schools, 15 Junior Secondary Schools and 5 Primary Schools, where some 20,000 pupils in the densely populated Ajegunle in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Areas learn.
Before Sanwo-Olu’s intervention which led to the upgrade of the schools, Omotoso said buildings in the schools were in different stages of dilapidation. The Commissioner said the Governor
directed full regeneration of the school complex with the addition of 13 new classrooms to the existing buildings and a vocational training centre.
He said: “The Tolu Schools complex is now an all-inclusive school where no child will be left behind, with the two newly constructed buildings for People Living with Disability (PLD), which consist of vertical lift facilities to aid movement from the ground floor to the last floor.
“The regenerated schools will bring learning closer to pupils. Proximity in education is not a minor consideration; it is fundamental. When schools are accessible, attendance improves. When attendance improves, learning outcomes improve. And when learning outcomes improve, opportunities expand.”
Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA) will take charge of the maintenance of the school building to avert deterioration, it was learnt.
Omotoso said the newly completed Multi Agency Building would bring different government agencies into a single, integrated environment, reducing physical and administrative distance between decision points.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola Olusanya, said the Lagos Fresh Food Hub in Abijo would create a sustainable food distribution network in Ajah, ramping up the supply of fresh produce to residents of communities within Eti Osa corridor, while decentralizing food access beyond traditional markets.
Special Adviser on e-GIS to the Governor, Mr. Olajide Babatunde, said the 5-floor purpose-built LAGIS Building was initiated by the Sanwo-Olu administration to provide one-stop access for all services relating to geospatial mapping, urban planning and land administration.
Omotoso said security, logistics, and traffic management plans had been designed for traffic coordination and ease of presidential movement in the metropolis. He said the State Government was working towards minimal disruptions of daily commuters’ activities, ensuring their safety and comfort.
The General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) disclosed that over 500 personnel would be deployed to adequately manage and control traffic during the President’s visit.