• Residents excited as minister reads riot act to defaulting contractors
• Stakeholders applaud infrastructural development efforts of Tinubu’s administration
By Chukwuma Umeorah
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda may have started bearing the desired fruits. This came to the fore last week when the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, led the executives of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) on an inspection tour of roads in the Southwest zone.
The minister used the tour to showcase the commitment of President Tinubu in making infrastructure the cornerstone of his administration’s agenda.
Upon assumption of office, Goronyo had articulated a clear mission to ensure that the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure goals are executed with precision and efficiency.
Speaking during the Southwest tour, the minister noted the urgency of addressing Nigeria’s long-standing infrastructural deficit, exacerbated by years of neglect and rapid population growth.
“This is a country with a deficit of infrastructure that was neglected in the past. Over time, it deteriorated while the population multiplied. But now, with President Tinubu’s leadership, we have a government ready to confront these challenges head-on,” Goronyo declared.
The minister emphasized that adequate infrastructure would serve as a vehicle for job creation, economic revitalization, and enhanced quality of life for Nigerians.
Lagos projects inspection
The minister’s tour began from Isale-Eko, Lagos, where he commissioned 212 solar-powered streetlights constructed by FERMA.
This project, designed to provide affordable and sustainable electricity, serves the dual purpose of enhancing security and boosting economic activities in the community.
The ostensibly excited residents of Isale-Eko welcomed the initiative, which Goronyo described as emblematic of Tinubu’s broader development vision.
He explained that the project’s benefits go beyond lighting the streets, as it would also deter criminal activities, allow businesses to operate for longer hours, and improve the quality of life for the locals.
His words: “This project will not only provide cheaper and more sustainable electricity, but will also address insecurity and boost economic activities.”
The focus on Isale-Eko underscored a central theme of Goronyo’s leadership anchored on community engagement.
Recognizing that the success of infrastructure projects depends on local buy-in, the minister emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and the people.
He assured the residents that similar initiatives would be replicated across Lagos State and other parts of the country to align with Tinubu’s goal of equitable development.
The minister’s engagement with stakeholders at every level is said to be a way of creating a framework for sustainable infrastructure management that prioritizes community needs.
The traditional leaders, including the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, commended the government’s commitment to the community and pledged their support to maintain and safeguard the infrastructure.
Corroborating what the minister said, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FERMA, Dr Emeka Agbasi, highlighted the agency’s commitment to delivering on the President Tinubu promise to Nigerians.
Hear him: “The quality of the work we do conveys the image we send to the people. Cutting corners is not an option, as the public perception depends on the durability and effectiveness of our projects.”
FERMA also provided detailed updates on the state of federal roads in Lagos State and the progress of ongoing projects.
Engr. Atiku Sodiq, FERMA’s Chief Engineer for Lagos I, which oversees the eastern part of the state, presented a comprehensive overview of the state’s road network.
“Of the 531.5 kilometers of federal roads under his jurisdiction, 145 kilometers are in good condition, while 142.6 kilometers are in bad condition, 61.7 kilometers are classified as poor, and 22 kilometers are very bad.”
Rehabilitation efforts, he said, are underway with 161 kilometers of roads currently undergoing repairs.
He, however, revealed that restoring the entire network to good condition would require an estimated N52 billion.
Sodiq also highlighted the innovative use of rigid pavement for critical roads like the Ijora Indoor Terminals Road, a solution designed to withstand the heavy vehicular traffic and refuse dumping that had previously damaged the road.
He provided additional insights into the challenges and progress in the region, which includes the Lagos West Senatorial District.
“Of the 517.6 kilometers of federal roads in Lagos Central, only 40 per cent were in good condition, leaving 60 per cent in need of urgent attention. The region faces significant traffic congestion, particularly in densely populated areas like Badagry, which exacerbates the difficulty of maintaining and improving road conditions.
“Ongoing projects include the rehabilitation of key traffic corridors and efforts to address drainage issues, a recurring problem that contributes to road damage. Contractors have been mobilized to resume work on stalled projects, with optimism for visible progress by the end of the year,” he said.
Minister Goronyo and FERMA executives
During an interactive session with FERMA executives, Minister Goronyo emphasized the importance of accountability, cost savings, and adherence to key performance indicators (KPIs).
His insistence on quality assurance and timely project completion sent a strong message to the contractors and stakeholders alike.
“Let me be clear, the era of abandoning projects is over. Nigerians are tired. This is taxpayers’ money, and Nigerians deserve value for it,” he warned.
Goronyo, therefore, directed Agbasi, the FERMA boss, to compile a comprehensive list of defaulting contractors and their contact details, with a mandate to take swift action against non-compliance.
“If a contractor is not ready to execute their job, issue them a notice and revoke the contract. We will reassign it to those willing to work and deliver for the benefit of the people,” he stated.
To reinforce this commitment, the minister announced the establishment of a technical committee to monitor and verify project quality nationwide, warning that contractors who fail to meet the expectations would face contract revocation, signaling a shift toward greater transparency and efficiency in project management.
The Ijora Causeway
One of the most significant stops on the minister’s tour was the 350-meter Ijora Causeway in Lagos, which is 80 per cent completed.
The project represents a critical link to the Apapa Wharf, a hub of industrial and commercial activity.
Community representatives, including Lukeman Akintola, who represented the ‘Ojora of Ijora’, expressed gratitude for the progress made while urging the government to expedite completion of the work.
“We are grateful for the work done so far, but as Oliver Twist, we would always ask for more. We thank the president and his team of ministers and we want more projects like this to continue within the community and indeed other communities,” he said.
The minister responded with a renewed focus on collaboration and sustainability, saying that “this project reflects President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. It’s about changing narratives and putting infrastructure back to life to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.”
Visit to Lagos State governor
The tour progressed with a visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, where the minister sought to strengthen federal-state collaboration on infrastructure development.
Goronyo described Lagos as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and emphasized the importance of prioritizing its infrastructure needs to drive national growth.
Speaking, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that Lagos’ unique position as a former capital and economic hub necessitates continuous investment in its infrastructure.
“Infrastructure is the backbone of any government’s ability to impact its citizens. Roads and bridges are indispensable, cutting across all demographics,” Sanwo-Olu remarked.
He highlighted ongoing projects like the Ikorodu-Sagamu Road as examples of federal-state synergy and praised FERMA’s role in monitoring and supervising the initiatives.
Essence of the FERMA tour
Goronyo and his team’s tour of the Southwest zone was more than a routine inspection as it revealed a strategic effort to highlight the Tinubu’s administration commitment to addressing Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges comprehensively.
By emphasizing community engagement, fostering accountability among stakeholders, and leveraging partnerships with key agencies like FERMA and state governments, the minister demonstrated a results-oriented approach to infrastructure development.
But critical stakeholders believe that the enormity of the task remains daunting, pointing out that significant funding required to address the vast rehabilitation and development needs of Nigeria’s road network, sustained commitment and innovative strategies will be critical.
They, however, believe too that Goronyo’s proactive leadership, coupled with FERMA’s technical expertise and community collaboration, would provide a framework for achieving sustainable infrastructure solutions.
Indeed, recognizing the importance of continuity, Minister Goronyo pledged to extend the efforts beyond Lagos State, and to ensure equitable infrastructure development across all regions of the country.
His next stop at Ogun State signalled the administration’s resolve to maintain momentum and deliver impactful results.
The ongoing inspections and project evaluations reflect a broader determination to align infrastructure initiatives with President Tinubu’s vision to ensure that every Nigerian feels the benefits of improved connectivity, security, and economic opportunities.