Lagos state approved N320 billion for infrastructure in 2017

It was disclosed on Monday that Lagos State approved and duly processed over 1,000 contracts under the 2017 fiscal regime, noting that the contracts were valued at about N320 billion.

The state government also said it had started removing structures built on the right of way along the Oshodi-Apapa road to give way for the reconstruction of the 5.06-kilometre road project being redeveloped to a 10-lane highway.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (LSPPA), Mr. Fatai Onafowote, gave the number and value of contracts awarded under the 2017 fiscal regime at the annual procurement summit held at Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) yesterday.

The summit was attended by the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Head of Service, Mrs. Folashade Adesoye; Commissioner for Finance and former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Ade Wahab, among others.

Ambode, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello, at the summit, warned that the state government “will not condone any act of misappropriation and misapplication of public funds.”

He, therefore, charged the procurement agency “to be steadfast and innovative in the application of the laws and regulations. This administration places high premium on accountability and will not condone any act of misappropriation and misapplication of the public funds.”

Also addressing the summit yesterday, the general manager listed the achievement of the procurement agency in the Ambode administration, noting that the agency achieved enviable milestone in 2017 with the N320 billion projects approved for execution.

He said some of the achievements “are the processing of over 1,000 requests for approvals of procurement processes valued at over N320 billion and leading to the issuance of approval instruments utilised by the agency.

“Another achievement is the organisation of a procurement planning clinic to ensure that annual procurement activities of MDAs are in line with the law and regulations as well as the issuance of registration and renewal instruments to over 1,900 contractors desirous of doing business with Lagos State,” the general manager said.

Onafowote said the agency would intensify its monitoring on all projects to ensure that no government project was abandoned or failed to be delivered at a record time, noting that the government had been able to bring about transparency and eliminate the perceived corruption inherent in the public procurement through demonstration of professionalism and adoption of global best practice in the procurement.

On the Oshodi-Airport road, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, noted that the work upgrade “is a timely intervention by the state government as the highway ushers visitors into the country, and has been in a deplorable state for a while.”

He disclosed that the contractor, Hitech Construction Company Limited, had started removing structures on the right of way, noting that Ambode “is running an all-inclusive government with a human face.

“We have dialogued with the stakeholders on the importance of the development to the area, Lagos State and Nigeria at large. We secured their buy-in as the stakeholders adopted the development wholeheartedly. Statutory notices have been served and all identified structures marked. Thereafter, public notices were placed in two national newspapers to inform residents about the project.”

On the payment of compensation, Ogunleye said the state government “is sincere about payment of compensation to all affected by the exercises carried out across the state. We have paid more than 90 percent in Mosafejo Oshodi, Abule Egba and Epe I.

“We are presently paying Epe II. As of those in Ijede, Isawo, Igbogbo-Bayeku, Agege Pen Cinema, Oyingbo and the airport road, we have started the compilation and very soon, payments would be made.”

He urged all affected property owners “to submit their planning documents such as certified registered title document of properties within the said right of way ,Lagos State approved building plan permit for the affected structures and any other relevant documents as proof of ownership to his office at the state secretariat in Alausa.”

Credit: Thisday