Minister of works and housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola has warned traders to avoid any activity that will degrade roads and other public infrastructure.
Fashola gave the warning yesterday during an inspection tour of the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki road reconstruction project.
The minister, who was accompanied by the special adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on works and infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, called on the traders to collaborate with their market leader and Ministry of Works officials to get allocations for the new concrete stalls.
He frowned at the activities of some artisans in the Toyota Bus Stop via Oshodi, as well as the degradation of Liverpool end of Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway project alignment and vowed to restore law and order on the highways, no matter whose ox is gored.
Fashola charged the people to stop the abuse and damage of public infrastructures in the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki project axis and other Lagos State highways, adding that infrastructural development is the key needed for unlocking the economy and speedy development.
According to him, “The Buhari administration has achieved advancement of the economy through infrastructure development. For instance, the creation of employment and market for small and medium enterprises at construction sites.
“Infrastructure is the key that unleashes trade and productivity. And without infrastructure you can’t drive trade and commerce, so let’s be clear about that.
“The Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway is a major infrastructure asset for import and export business because it connects to the largest and busiest seaports in the country.”
Fashola, who inspected beautification projects on all sections of the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki project, disclosed that the park at Liverpool was aimed at restoration of the old recreational lifestyle in Apapa.
The government, he said, will not be deterred by cheap blackmail, be it ethnic or religious.
Earlier, the director of Federal Highways, South West, Adedamola Kuti, and the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Umar Bakare, disclosed that the project, which begins from the Old Toll Gate and terminates in Apapa, would be completed between January and February 2023.
On his part, the special adviser to Lagos State governor on works and infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, discussed how the Apapa-Oshodi-Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway project affected the Lagos-Badagry Expressway project intersection under construction.
