Posted by By Kazeem Ugbodaga on
The Lagos State government has commenced the construction of three jetties at the cost of N8.5 billion, to enhance water transportation in the state.
The Lagos State government has commenced the construction of three jetties at the cost of N8.5 billion, to enhance water transportation in the state.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson, said the contract for the jetties had been awarded and work has started in earnest. They are expected to be completed in February 2009. The location of the jetties are Badore, Ipakodo and Osborne in Ikoyi. Meanwhile, the first phase of the project is targeted at reducing the heavy vehicular traffic on the Lekki-Third Mainland Bridge-Ikorodu corridor. 'On completion of the jetties, a journey from Badore to Ikorodu by road, which takes three to four hours at peak periods, will take just about 25 minutes by boat. 'It is expected that the volume of traffic on these routes will be reduced by, at least, six per cent when the ferry operation commences. To facilitate water transportation, these jetties have been designed to cater for high capacity passenger vessels," said Johnson.
He said the location of the jetties will be complemented by state-of-the-art terminal buildings and parking for high capacity buses, mini buses, cabs and private cars, to facilitate connectivity. Johnson added that the jetties will also have a cargo section for the movement of heavy goods, banking services, shopping areas, fast food outlets and restaurants, among others. At Ipakodo and Badore terminals, dredging and reclamation works have commenced, while piling works for the jetties and terminal buildings would commence any moment from now. The contractor for the Osborne site, according to Johnson, has moved to site and concluded the design, preparatory to commencement of physical work.
He said that during the first quarter of the year, the rehabilitation and construction of new jetties at Ojo, Marina, Ijegun Egbe, Mile 2 and Oworonshoki, were awarded to tackle other heavy traffic routes. 'It is envisaged that the construction of the jetties with complementary infrastructure, currently being financed by the state government, will eventually be handed over to the private sector for the operation of ferry services under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) strategy," he stated.