Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday reiterated that the Blue Line of the Light Rail Project will come on stream in December.
Governor Ambode spoke at the 5th Lagos Corporate Assembly, a forum for public-private sector engagement held at the Banquet Hall of Lagos House, Ikeja.
Responding to questions from captains of commerce and members of the Organised Private Sector (OPS), Ambode debunked claims that work had stopped on the first phase of the project connecting Mile 2 to CMS, saying the allegation is untrue.
“The truth is, you might not see the contractors but they are actually working on the waters for now and by December this year, the project will start running. So, work is seriously ongoing,” he said.
He said government was also about concluding the channellisation of the waterways to improve on water transportation so as to reduce the pressure on roads.
The governor assured OPS members and would-be investors that the state is willing to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive in order to improve the citizens’ socio-economic well-being.
He said efforts were on to reduce traffic in Apapa and make life comfortable for people and businesses in the axis, adding: “The idea is that when we open up the area and construct the Ishawo-Oke-Oko creek road to connect the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from there, we would have greatly reduced the traffic gridlock on the expressway and then finally put a stop to the activities of pipeline vandals so that we can begin to directly pump petroleum products from Atlas Cove in Apapa to Mosimi, and then the tankers will have no business to come to Lagos to lift product,” Ambode said.
He promised to perfect the method for rates’ collection and unfold a plan to tackle the menace of touts.
On power, Ambode said between now and 2017, he would create clusters of Independent Power Projects (IPPs) across the state to improve on power generation and ensure 24 hours supply.
