Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday
commissioned the remodeled Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road, the
world class Oshodi Transport Interchange and the 820 high and medium capacity
buses for public transportation, stating emphatically that State Governor, Mr.
Akinwunmi Ambode performed satisfactorily.
Buhari, who commissioned the three impactful projects at a
well-attended ceremony, said he was delighted to unveil the projects as they
aptly reflected the drive and success of government in pursuing policies and
programmes that will positively impact on its citizen.
“Earlier this morning, I commissioned the Ayinke House of
the Institute of Maternal and Child Health and also the Lagos Theatre in
Oregun.
“Your Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has performed
satisfactorily and we should all commend him for his contribution to the growth
and development of Lagos State,” the President said.
President Buhari said the coming on board of the projects
had clearly demonstrated the need to continue to provide high impact projects
for the development of infrastructure and opportunities for job creation at all
levels, just as he said that the development was in sync with the efforts of
the Federal Government to improve infrastructure especially in the transport
sector.
“To complement Oshodi Transport Interchange, the Federal
Government has recently approved the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi
Expressway up to Oworonshoki and Old Toll Gate which was last attended to 40
years ago.
“We have recently commissioned the new International Airport
Terminals in Port Harcourt and Abuja, as well as the rail lines from Abuja to
Kaduna. The Lagos to Ibadan Rail Line is under construction. Our government
will continue to prioritize high impact infrastructure which will vastly
improve the lives of our people,” he said.
The President also seized the occasion to thank Lagosians
for their support at the 2019 general election, recalling that it was his
second working visit to Lagos in the last one year.
In his remarks, Governor Ambode thanked the President for
his direct influence and support towards the projects which made it a reality,
saying that it was on record that the State has never enjoyed such measure of
support from the Federal Government as it had done in the last four years.
He said the Murtala Mohammed Airport Road and the U-Turn
Flyover would be open for public use immediately, while the two flyovers would
be open for use from May 10 after the quality assurance work is completed.
Governor Ambode said the Terminal 3 of the Oshodi Transport
Interchange will become fully operational on May 1, while Terminals 1 and 2
would become operational by the end of May.
He said that the projects were part of his administration’s
promise to deliver people-oriented programmes and projects, saying that the development plan of the State has been positively affected through the
projects, including the Maternal and Child Health Centre, popularly called
Ayinke House, which the President commissioned earlier in the day.
“In our promise to deliver people-oriented projects and
programmes, a closer look at all the projects indicate that nearly all the
different pillars of our development plan as a State have been affected
positively through these projects. The Institute Of Maternal and Child Health
at LASUTH contributes to our health and education sectors simultaneously.
“The Lagos Theatre, Ikeja is about our Social Development
Sector while the Oshodi Transport Interchange and Buses come under our
Transport, Infrastructure and Commerce sectors. The Murtala Mohammed
International Airport Road is an Infrastructural Development project.
“All these projects together form the thrust of our vision
as a government and the end result is to make life better for all our people,
irrespective of gender, tribe or political leanings,” he said.
He said his administration invested the second tranche of
the Paris Club refund, in addition to the refund by the Federal Government on
Federal road projects executed by States to the construction of the Murtala Mohammed
International Airport Road and the Oshodi Transport Interchange, the first of
its kind in Africa, while the first tranche of the Paris Club refund to States
approved by the President was utilized to pay the 40 per cent down-payment for
the 820 buses.
“This is our report card, Mr. President. We have used your
approval and releases judiciously because we believe strongly in you, in your
leadership and in your vision for our country. This is our modest contribution
to the growth and development of our State and to the country in general.
“Mr. President, we believe strongly that the projects being
commissioned today are our own modest contributions to the national development
of Nigeria. As I said earlier, these projects would not have been possible without
Mr. President’s quiet but impactful decision to approve and release the
payments of the Paris Club refund and the refund on Federal Road projects
incurred by the States,” he said.
Governor Ambode said he was fully optimistic that with the
coming on board of the projects, the future prosperity of the State is secured,
saying that the level of investment in the last four years in strengthening the
social and physical infrastructure base of the State were becoming evident in
all sectors of the economy.
“With the completion of these projects and given the level
of commitment of the next administration as well as the continuous support of
the Federal Government, I am assured that the immediate and future prospects of
our State is very bright.
“Mr. President, Lagos State will continue to support your
aspirations to move Nigeria to the Next Level. The business community in the
State is desirous of partnering with your government in moving our economy
forward,” he said.
The President, after the commissioning, went on a bus ride
with dignitaries to tour the facility and also drove through the remodeled
Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road.
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