Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola
yesterday commissioned the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, where he paid glowing
tribute to the late President of Nigeria, Musa Yar’Adua, saying he played a
pivotal role in the successful construction of the bridge.
The governor, who spoke at the ceremony held on the
new bridge, recalled the challenges initially encountered by the state
government when the idea of the bridge was first conceived.
He said while enemies of the state were busy trying
to halt the progress, some patriots pulled out all the stops to accelerate the
turning of the wheels of progress.
The governor particularly commended the effort of
the late President Yar’Adua recalling that despite the seeming differences
between the state and the Federal Government, the late president did not
hesitate to give his support to ensure the speedy success of the project.
According to him, on the completion of the design of
the bridge, four properties were earmarked for demolition at the Ikoyi end of
the bridge with two of such belonging to the Federal Government.
Fashola added that at the height of the dispute
between both arms of government over the properties, there were feelers from
members of the state executive council that the President Yar’Adua-led Federal
Government would not be willing to cede the properties to a state controlled by
its main opposition.
“While President Yar’Adua surprised them, he did not
surprise me. This was the same president who released our local government
funds that were illegally withheld.
“When I showed him the design in his office in Abuja
and explained the project to him, he simply invited Alhaji Yayale Ahmed who was
then Secretary to the Federal Government to join our meeting,” he said.
The governor recalled that President Yar’Adua, at
the meeting, immediately directed the release of the two properties to the
state government, despite the dispute of the properties in court, on the
premise that “Our court dispute or political differences cannot stand in the
way of people’s development.
“Although there was no federal funding support, this
bridge is clear evidence of what the federal might can achieve depending on
whether the person who exercises authority chooses to be a politician or a
statesman.
“That was President Yar’ Adua as a statesman and not
as a politician. On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I express
profound gratitude to the Yar’Adua family.”
Fashola further expressed gratitude to citizens who
voluntarily agreed to relocate their fences and provided part of their premises
as works yards for the project.
Speaking on the importance of the cable bridge,
Fashola said: “It will save more travel time for motorists going into Lekki,
providing them a choice to do so successfully without having to go through
Ozumba Mbadiwe in Victoria Island.”
He said the government would also facilitate the
completion of third roundabout through Admiralty Way to provide a choice and
access to commuters from Ajah who were heading to the Mainland.
“In this way, we expect to finally reduce the bottle
neck in Victoria Island, Ozumba Mbadiwe and its immediate environs that is
caused by a lack of choice,” he said.
Fashola, however, said the bridge would attract
toll, urging residents of the state to cooperate with the government in
rendering dividends of democracy to them.
He revealed that saloon cars would pay N250 to
access the bridge, while mini-vans, Sub-Urban Vehicles (SUVs) and light pick-up
trucks would pay N300.
“Non commercial buses with a maximum seating
capacity of 26 persons will cough out N400, while motorcycles with 200cc
capacity and above will pay N100 per trip on the bridge,” Fashola added.
The governor also emphasised that commercial
vehicles, commercial motorcycles, popularly called ‘Okada’, tricycles, also
known as ‘Keke Marwa’, heavy duty trucks, articulated trucks, lorries and such
other vehicles categories were restricted from the bridge.
The bridge is expected to be opened to motorists
from Saturday, June1.
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