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By Tayo Ogunbiyi
One major index of social change and development today, especially in Africa, is infrastructure development, as particularly epitomized by the construction of roads and bridges.
The growth of any country’s economy hugely depends on the status of its infrastructure. The dearth of needed infrastructure in a given society places serious limitations on human capital development.
In a megacity where mobility is currency and infrastructure defines productivity, the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration in Lagos State has continued to sustain a deliberate policy thrust anchored on sustained investment in transport infrastructure, aggressive maintenance culture, and the expansion of critical road networks across all five divisions of the state.
The government has delivered an impressive network of roads spanning several kilometres, marking a significant milestone in its infrastructure drive. These projects cut across urban and semi-urban communities, targeting long-neglected inner roads, high-density corridors, and economically strategic routes. From Ikoyi to Alimosho, from Kosofe to Badagry, the state has pushed to ensure that infrastructure development is not concentrated in elite zones but distributed equitably.
The state has also embarked on a series of urban regeneration projects to address the various environmental and infrastructural challenges leading to the collapse of some road networks within Ikeja GRA, Ikoyi, and Lagos Island.
The projects include the Ikeja Regeneration Project, consisting of roads such as Oduduwa Way, Oduduwa Crescent, Oba Dosunmu, Sobo Arobiodu, and Sasegbon streets.
Others are the Ikoyi road network, comprising Macpherson, Oyinkan Abayomi, Femi Okunnu, Ilabere, Ilu, Inupa, Adeyemi Lawson, and Kuramo roads, as well as Adeniji Adele, Okepopo, Tapa, Idumagbo, Ojo Giwa, Iga Iduganran, and Oroyinyin streets on Lagos Island.
The Opebi–Mende Link Bridge and Approach Roads, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Road (formerly Dopemu Road) in Agege, Abaranje Road in Alimosho, and several road networks within Alimosho, Ikeja, Lagos Island/Eti-Osa, Kosofe, Somolu/Bariga, and Epe, including Aradagun, Mosafejo, Ajido, Imeke Road, and Hospital Road Phase II in the Badagry axis, are among the notable projects delivered by the government in the past year.
Among notable projects is also the reconstruction of key link roads such as the Abiola-Onijemo corridor, designed to ease movement within densely populated areas and reduce travel time.
Considering its people-centric philosophy, the government will continue to prioritise transportation infrastructure in response to rapid urbanisation, population growth, and the increasing mobility needs of residents of Lagos State until the last day in office.
From May 2025 to May 2026, the state has completed an additional 130 roads covering approximately 113.25 kilometres, alongside several strategic bridge and transport projects aimed at reducing travel time, improving safety, and stimulating economic activities across Lagos.
As part of efforts to boost economic activities in the state, the administration has completed some new transformational projects awaiting commissioning. These include the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Eti-Osa/Lekki/Epe Expressway corridor from Admiralty to Epe, which provides access to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, currently witnessing large-scale infrastructural development, including the Dangote Refinery and other major industries within the zone
It must be emphasised that the government is not merely constructing roads and bridges, but investing in resilient infrastructure that supports economic competitiveness, enhances connectivity, and improves the daily lives of over 20 million Lagosians.
Several strategic projects are currently at advanced stages of completion, including the Igbogbo–Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Igbe Road and the Agric–Isawo–Konu–Arepo Road.
The commitment of the administration of Governor Sanwo-Olu to the delivery of strategic infrastructure projects across the state is never in doubt. Through deliberate investments in roads, bridges, pedestrian infrastructure, and integrated transport systems, challenges relating to mobility, long travel time, safety, and economic growth have been addressed in the state.
Despite the prevailing economic challenges, including rising construction costs and inflationary pressures, the state has completed 362 roads spanning approximately 347.17 kilometres since 2019.
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Cheerfully, the trend isn’t slowing down, as the government is ready to commission 12 newly completed road projects and has increased the pace of work on 181 other road and bridge projects currently ongoing in different parts of the state.
Equally significant is the continued rollout of road networks that connect residential clusters to major highways, effectively improving last-mile connectivity—an often overlooked but critical component of urban mobility.
While new projects grab headlines, the Sanwo-Olu administration has also prioritised road maintenance as a strategic intervention. Through the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (PWC), the government carried out repairs on over 1,000 roads covering more than 78 kilometres, alongside extensive drainage works.
This approach signals a shift from reactive to proactive infrastructure management. Instead of waiting for roads to deteriorate completely, the state has adopted continuous intervention strategies such as pothole patching, sectional rehabilitation, and overlay works.
Bridges remain a critical element in Lagos’ infrastructure architecture, given its unique geography of lagoons, creeks, and waterways. The delivery of five bridges within a year underscores the administration’s recognition of their importance in decongesting traffic and improving connectivity.
Projects such as the Opebi-Mende link bridge have been particularly transformative, providing alternative routes that bypass traffic choke points and redistribute vehicular flow across the city.
These bridges are not just physical structures—they are economic enablers, opening up new corridors for commerce, real estate development, and urban expansion.
Beyond completed projects, Lagos is currently witnessing an unprecedented scale of ongoing infrastructure works. At present, over 147 road and bridge projects are in various stages of construction across the state.
Among these is the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway into a 10-lane highway, complete with Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes and light rail integration—an ambitious project aimed at transforming mobility along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
Similarly, the Eti-Osa–Lekki–Epe Expressway corridor continues to receive upgrades, reflecting the growing economic importance of the Lekki axis, home to major investments including the Lekki Free Trade Zone and Dangote Refinery.
These projects, when completed, are expected to significantly reduce travel time, enhance logistics efficiency, and stimulate economic growth.
With the completion of thousands of kilometres of fibre duct installations, the government has also invested in fibre optic infrastructure to enhance connectivity. There are also plans to expand further, attracting foreign investment and positioning Lagos as a leading digital hub in Africa.
It needs to be stressed, however, that infrastructure development in Lagos is not merely about convenience—it is fundamentally about economic transformation. Improved road networks reduce logistics costs for businesses, enhance access to markets, and increase property values. Bridges open up new development corridors, while digital infrastructure attracts investment in technology and innovation.
Without a doubt, the Sanwo-Olu administration has demonstrated a renewed commitment to infrastructure development, delivering tangible results that are reshaping the urban landscape. From roads and bridges to digital connectivity, the administration has laid critical building blocks for a more efficient, connected, and economically vibrant city.
While challenges persist, the scale and pace of ongoing projects suggest that Lagos is firmly on the path to redefining urban infrastructure in Africa. For residents and businesses alike, the message is clear: Lagos is not just growing—it is being deliberately and strategically built for the future.
• Ogunbiyi is Director, Public Enlightenment & Communication Relations, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja
