Stop destroying roads, public infrastructure, Fashola cautions traders

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has warned traders to avoid any activity that will degrade roads and other public infrastructure.

Fashola, who gave the warning during an inspection tour of the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki road reconstruction project, last week, called on the traders to collaborate with their market leader and Ministry of Works officials to get allocations for the new concrete stalls.

The minister frowned over the activities of some artisans in the Toyota Bus Stop via Oshodi, as well as the degradation of Liverpool end of Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway project alignment and vowed to restore law and order on highways, no matter whose ox is gored.

He charged the people to stop the abuse and damage of public infrastructures in the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki project axis and other Lagos State highways, adding that infrastructural development is the key needed for unlocking the economy, for speedy development.

“The Buhari administration has achieved advancement of the economy through infrastructure development. Infrastructure is the key that unleashes trade and productivity. And without infrastructure you can’t drive trade and commerce, so let’s be clear about that.

“The Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway is a major infrastructure asset for import and export business because it connects to the largest and busiest seaports in the country.”

Fashola, who inspected beautification projects on all sections of the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki project, disclosed that the park at Liverpool was aimed at restoration of the old recreational lifestyle in Apapa.

The government, he said, will not be deterred by cheap blackmail, be it ethnic or religious.

Earlier, the Director of Federal Highways, South West, Adedamola Kuti, and the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Umar Bakare, disclosed that the project, which begins from the Old Toll Gate and terminates in Apapa, would be completed between January and February 2023.

On his part, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, explained how the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway project affected the Lagos-Badagry Expressway project intersection under construction.