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Lagos Road Project Delay Caused By Right Of Way Is Worrisome ― Assembly
The Lagos State House of Assembly has frowned at the delay of projects caused by the problems associated with the Right of Way.
Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe Constituency 1, who made the assertion then said that a solution must be found to issues associated with Right Of Way so that road projects could be delivered in time.
The lawmaker spoke to journalists after a session with some contractors handling various road projects. He said that something should be done probably through a law or a legal framework. This was so that the issue could be put to stop. Right Of Way
“We discovered that when contracts are given out, the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure processes the approval and releases money to contractors. But the contractors would not be able to deliver the project in time due to issues relating to Right Of Way.
“The contractors would tell you that they didn’t have the Right of Way. This is why the job is not moving.
“I would want a situation, where the issue of Right of Way is resolved before jobs are given to contractors. Not that, when money has been released to contractors they would be talking about Right of Way.
“You can see what happened in Ikoyi, where they said they should not cut a tree, which is why they could not construct a road for four months. This is not fair to the government as money has been released to the contractors. So, the issue of Right of Way must be resolved and it is compelling that the ministries must work together,” he said. Right Of Way
obun added that the Ministry of Physical Planning should deliver the Right of Way and that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure must involve the Ministry of Physical Planning at the conceptualization stage.
He stated that the Ministry must work on the Right of Way before money is released to contractors. The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure must also work with the Ministry of the Environment. They would tell them the drainage alignment before work would begin.
“We are appropriating funds to them. We must ensure that the funds appropriated to them are judiciously utilised to serve members of the public. Right Of Way
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Mr Aramide Adeyoye revealed that her ministry inherited some projects from the last administration and that they also started new ones.
Adeyoye said that, when a contract is given out, the contractor must meet some criteria. This should be a prerequisite for money to be released for the project.
She stated that the ministry ensures that things are done well. This was so that tax payers’ money could be judiciously utilised. Meanwhile infrastructure provision would be guaranteed. Right Of Way
“We met 105 projects, while we had N100 billion funds for projects and we had 36 additional projects making 141.
“Also, we completed projects in Ojokoro, Shomolu and other places. We have completed several projects so far.
“We have done some others in the last three months. So very soon three out of four projecrs in Ikoyi would be ready.
“We completed the Pen Cinema Bridge, we have the Lagos-Ikorodu Expressway, which is going on well.
