Adherence To Local Content Policy In Lagos Govt Projects Excites Engineers

Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) has expressed delight over Lagos State government’s adherence to local content policy, saying its members are included in the execution of the projects.

The first female president and current president of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Engr Margaret Aina-Oguntala stated this during the projects’ inspection exercise that saw the entire key stakeholders of the NSE taken round the 4.52-kilometre-long Opebi-Mende-Ojota link bridge and also the blue rail.

Oguntala stated that the professional body was impressed by the infrastructure development made by the state after listening to the project manager, Engr Dmytriy Denysenko and also the engineering consultant, Tomilola Olatinwo on how the continuously reinforced concrete (CRC) pavement laden-bridge which is 85 per cent complete, being constructed by Julius Berger.

She said, “The Nigerian Society of Engineers NSE is impressed with the modalities and the process of the Opebi-Mende-Ojota bridge which Julius Berger was commissioned to build. We have seen and interrogated the engineers involved and we want to commend the Lagos State government for this initiative knowing it was conceived long ago and is being implemented now.

“Also, the construction process considered the local content policy which the NSE has also championed and we are elated that one of us was recruited as consulting engineer. By the time this project is completed, it will ease congestion in this area and also improve the economic livelihood of the people. Other states can take a cue from these lofty projects.”

Engineering consultant on the project, Engr Tomilola Olatinwo who shed more light on the inspection, stated that the state envisioned the concept long ago, adding that, “the Opebi Mende-bridge is an infrastructure and transportation project conceived by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority way back in 2009. This was revised in 2012 and the project was designed to alleviate congestion on Maryland-Mende /Ojota-Ikorodu Road.

“The project created all kinds of movements, U-turn movement, to make traffic easy and different areas of Lagos easily accessible. The project when completed, latest by early next year, would change the face of traffic in the mainland and impact on the economic activities of Lagos residents.”