Lagos picks contractors for new overhead bridge, computer village

APPARENTLY to reduce the perennial gridlock that characterises traffic in Ajah along the Lekki -Epe corridor, the Lagos State government has appointed a building and civil engineering firm, Messrs Hi-Tech Construction Limited for the construction of a four-lane overhead bridge and two roads in the area.

Similarly, the state has also selected four contractors to drive the relocation of Ikeja Computer Village to Katangowa, Agbado Oke-Odo in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA); almost a decade after the idea was mooted. In the new initiative, the state is planning an Internet City and Business Park.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Wasiu Anifowoshe, a town planner told The Guardian that “The new concept is to make Computer village a satellite town; a city within the city, where there would be housing units, restaurant and other facilities that would make it the best place to transact business.”

The Commissioner disclosed that a letter has been written to the Ministry of Budget and Planning to fund the commencement of road infrastructure. He said the concept is in line with the agreement reached by stakeholders in the ICT sector, financial institutions, including Africa Development Bank and Ikeja Computer Village Traders Association in November 2014.

Another new development was that developers of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, LCDA who built the existing shops were settled “out-of- court” thus, paving way for the smooth operation of the resettlement activities.

It would be recalled that plan to relocate the 3,000 to 3,500 traders to a new location was conceptualised during a meeting of government officials and Bridgeways, the company contracted by Lagos State to handle the new market building project and members of Computer and Allied Products Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), the umbrella body of the Computer Village traders.

At that time, CAPDAN President, Mr., Tunji Balogun, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brian Integrated Systems, expressed gratitude over the state government’s readiness to assist the traders in relocating the market, but expressed fears that the government may end up creating division among the traders, if the state government does not involve the traders in the relocation plan.

However, Anifowoshe told The Guardian that all the grey areas have been ironed out and that the project is being carried out with the collaboration of the traders.

“We are carrying the traders along with our plans and they are very cooperative. Computer Village market is the largest concentration of traders across West Africa, trading in computers, mobile phones and other accessories; and such a vast market need modern facilities, functioned infrastructure and full security. All these will be put in place to ensure that the relocation exercise is completed on time.”

Under the bridge project, the scope has been subdivided into three phases, namely, the four-lane bridge, road construction, the bridge and ramp inward Epe while the third phase is the bridge and the ramp inward Lekki axis.

Scheduled to be completed in 16 months, the scope of work includes soil test, site clearance, relocation of services, earthworks, fly over structures, asphalt concrete pavement and provision of the streetlight, and service duct.

Addressing residents at the stakeholders’ meeting held in Eti-Osa last week, the State Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, an engineer, said access roads are being opened to relive the road users, and promised to maintain other roads, particularly, the 2.1 kilometres’ Admiralty alternative road and 2.7kilometres’ Freedom road, within the area.

He urged residents and other stakeholders to exercise patience during the construction. “The pains that may be experienced in the course of construction would be eased if the project is allowed to be completed without hindrance,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bade Adebowale, an engineer, said the Ajah fly over the bridge would have a solar powered signalized intersection in order to improve traffic while the upgrade of freedom round is expected to ease traffic considerably for vehicles using the Third Round about to connect Lekki through Admiralty way.