Lagos
State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday reiterated that the Blue Line of the
Light Rail Project will come on stream in December.
Governor
Ambode spoke at the 5th Lagos Corporate Assembly, a forum for public-private
sector engagement held at the Banquet Hall of Lagos House, Ikeja.
Responding
to questions from captains of commerce and members of the Organised Private
Sector (OPS), Ambode debunked claims that work had stopped on the first phase
of the project connecting Mile 2 to CMS, saying the allegation is untrue.
“The
truth is, you might not see the contractors but they are actually working on
the waters for now and by December this year, the project will start running.
So, work is seriously ongoing,” he said.
He
said government was also about concluding the channellisation of the waterways
to improve on water transportation so as to reduce the pressure on roads.
The
governor assured OPS members and would-be investors that the state is willing
to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in order to improve
the citizens’ socio-economic well-being.
He
said efforts were on to reduce traffic in Apapa and make life comfortable for
people and businesses in the axis, adding: “The idea is that when we open up
the area and construct the Ishawo-Oke-Oko creek road to connect the
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from there, we would have greatly reduced the traffic
gridlock on the expressway and then finally put a stop to the activities of
pipeline vandals so that we can begin to directly pump petroleum products from
Atlas Cove in Apapa to Mosimi, and then the tankers will have no business to
come to Lagos to lift product,” Ambode said.
He
promised to perfect the method for rates’ collection and unfold a plan to
tackle the menace of touts.
On
power, Ambode said between now and 2017, he would create clusters of
Independent Power Projects (IPPs) across the state to improve on power
generation and ensure 24 hours supply.
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