IT started out as a really tall dream: to carve out an alternative route for motorists from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Road to easy traffic on the axis, four years on, the project by the Lagos Government remains a pipe dream.Unfortunately, however, it was a dream not shared by one of the neigbours - Federal Airport Authority Nigeria (FAAN) that rose against the proposed development, leading to the abandonment of the project site by the contractor, Moreno Group.The situation is already raising concerns among the residents of the area, who are calling on the state government to expedite action on the project in order to salvage the entire suburb from flood, which they have been battling with since the project took off.A source revealed to The Guardian that Federal Airport Authority Nigeria (FAAN), and Lagos state government are already in talks over the ownership rights on the road, which passes through land originally owned by FAAN. Major dispute rests on the effect of the on-going road project on the internal revenue of the authority, especially toll fares from vehicles.On the site, there are signs of abandonment, as some of the construction materials are already corroding. The Guardian visit to the site revealed that only skeletal sections of the proposed bridge has been began while construction of reinforced concrete line drains were halted in the heat of the dispute.Specifically, the road, which is to start from Adisa Ajibulu road, and terminate at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) junction, is to come with all standard features of roads in the state like paved sidewalks, streetlights, concrete walkway, provision of 50mm Asphaltic concrete binder course, and 25mm Asphaltic concrete wearing course and a 150-metre bridge. It was originally planned for delivery within 12 months, which had since elapsed.The Guardian gathered that the construction of the Adisa Ajibulu road with a 150-metre bridge at the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government was awarded in June 13, 2008 at the cost of N1.8 billion to Moreno Marinas Lagoon Plc and was to be completed within 12 months.The Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, explained that the contract was awarded to serve as a critical bypass along the axis and to also answer the perennial flooding problem along the road to Messers Moreno Limited.'The total length is 1.35 km of 9m width. The bridge component is 150metres length (Deck on pile). Its width is 14.5m (including 1.2 metres walkway on both sides. The contract involves relocation of various NITEL/PHCN facilities, site clearance, demolition and construction of culverts; construction of reinforced concrete line drains.'The construction is on-going and by our estimation has reached about 50per cent completion. Currently the contractors are working on precast aspects of the bridge. This is being done off site. The project ordinarily has 18 months completion period. We can assure you that it will soon be completed.' Said Director of Information, Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Bola Fagunwa.Efforts to get comments from the contractors handling the project proved abortive as officials of the company could not to respond to questions posed by this reporter.The idea of linking the Murtala Muhammed International Airport according to government is to make it accessible from alternative routes and also to distribute traffic on Oshodi axis and free the airport road from congestion.The Project Manager of Moreno Marinas Lagoon Plc, Mr. Massimo Angus, in an earlier chat with newsmen in 2009, said the project would have been delivered earlier but for the fact that the firm needed to sort out new alignments with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to identify pipelines.According to information gathered from the Lagos State tenders Board, contract for the construction of Adisa Ajibulu Road with Bridge in Oshodi Isolo Local Government Area Office of Infrastructure, was awarded to Moreno - Marinas Lagoon Plc on the 13 of June 2008 and was given a 12 Months completion date.Last years rain and flood at Oshodi left residents of Adisa Ajibulu Street, not far from Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), in tears as the stalled road-rehabilitation contract at that area seemed to have taken its toll on residents in that area as flood from where the work stopped invaded houses on Ajibulu Street and the surrounding area.The Guardian reported that what the gutters could have evacuated at that area was hampered by a building located towards the end of the street and right on the channel proper. Valuable items and property worth millions were including a section of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) perimeter fence was also pulled down.
Click here to read full news..
