Fashola inspects Ilubirin Estate, Badia project, others

SOME 42 days to the end of his eight-year (two-term) administration, governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday inspected some ongoing projects in the state. Fashola, in company of State Executive Council members, visited the Ilubirin Foreshore Housing Estate at Ilubirin, Eti-Osa; Ijora-Badia Homes project, new-built Apapa amusement park and Alausa housing project.
 
The governor, who showed his fitness level, walked the entire length and breath of the project sites, paying attention to details and demanding explanations from on-site contractors. He told reporters that the he was elected to work till May 29, and not ready to slow down just yet.
 
At the 15.1 hectare-land Ilubirin Foreshore Housing Estate, where the inspection tour began, the inspecting team heard that the first phase of 20 blocks was nearing the roof level, ahead of the second phase due to begin soon. Fashola told reporters that the ongoing work, first-phase of about 1,200 housing units, was satisfactory, though slightly delayed due to funding issues. 
   
At Badia, Prof. Olusanya of the Building Department, University of Lagos, showcased the prefabricated pilot project, describing it as the product of his three-year experiment.
 
Olusanya said the project, with 85 per cent local content value, was about industrialization; to produce en masse with significant value added. The first block of five-storey, 48 apartment building is a test-run, and due for roofing later this month. 
 
Fashola said: “The projects show our commitment; when we promise, we keep our promise. What is defining about Badia is its system of building. The model of prefabrication here keeps money in the country; using some Chinese machine, local technology and material, the economy is getting to work just from the housing initiative. This place used to be a refuse dump, but now it is a matter of how soon people will be coming to live here.”