In a recent interview, Gbenga Omotoso, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Strategy, unveiled a comprehensive plan to revolutionize commuting in Lagos State in the year 2024.
Prominent among the projects listed are the eagerly anticipated Red Line Rail, the game-changing Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge, and the finalization of 15 Ferry Jetties. Additionally, the deployment of 12 new ferries will enhance the existing fleet, significantly easing transportation across the state.
Addressing journalists at his office in the Alausa Secretariat, Omotoso highlighted the Opebi Link Bridge as a solution to alleviate traffic congestion on the Ikorodu Road, providing smoother access from Ojota to the Airport.
The Commissioner emphasized that the Red Line Rail project is expected to drastically reduce the three-hour travel time by road from Iddo to Agbado to a mere 35 minutes. Furthermore, water transportation will witness a substantial boost with the completion of 15 new jetties and the addition of 12 boats to the existing 21.
Omotoso also shed light on other significant projects, including the Fourth Mainland Bridge, Massey Street Hospital, 500-Bed Mental Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre at Ketu-Ejinrin, the Lekki International Airport, Food and Logistics Hub, Omu Creek project, Coastal Road project, Leather Hub at Mushin, and General Hospitals. These projects, he noted, are aimed at creating job opportunities for the state’s growing population.
Speaking specifically about the Fourth Mainland Bridge and Red Line projects, the Commissioner disclosed that a consortium of construction companies and financiers has been selected as the preferred bidder for the bridge.
The financial details are being finalized, and physical construction is expected to commence shortly. On the other hand, the Red Line is nearing completion, with about 90% of the project finished, and the remaining overdrive section in Mushin set to be commissioned soon.
Responding to questions regarding the recent leadership change in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Lagos State, Omotoso clarified that it was purely a union matter, and the government would recognize and engage with any legitimate leadership that emerges.
Regarding the budget cycle, he announced that the 2023 Budget cycle had performed at about 90% as of November. Expressing optimism, he added that once the 2024 Budget is passed and signed into law, implementation would commence promptly, positively impacting all developmental pillars of the administration.
Addressing concerns about security, Omotoso assured the public, stating, “The security architecture of the State is top-notch. Lagos State is the safest in the country,” emphasizing that security strategies are continually being reviewed and strengthened to maintain the state’s status as a secure environment.
