By Chukwuma Umeorah
The Federal Government has assured that the ongoing Marina shoreline protection project in Lagos would extend the lifespan of the newly constructed Outer Marina Road by at least 25 years, while preserving a key component of the state’s transport infrastructure, the Blue Rail Line.
Lagos State Controller of Works, Olukorede Kesha, who disclosed this during a recent oversight inspection by the House of Representatives Committee on Works, emphasised that the project is on track despite early delays. “As of the moment, the percentage of permanent work that has been completed is about 30. It still has about 70 percent more to go, and time is not on its side,” she said.
She explained that the quality of the work was uncompromised, describing it as “top-notch.” According to her, the new intervention became necessary after the existing sheet piles gave way. “We’re not doing away with the old ones. We’re doing another concrete structure behind it and connecting the two, so there’s more rigidity, With what we’re doing now, the lifespan of this road has increased by more than 25 years,” she said.
She added that the project was being executed by Build Well Construction and involved the use of seeking piles, a method that interconnects primary and secondary piles for enhanced water resistance. According to the project manager, “It’s a full protection for the water, a cut-off wall. So, you don’t have water coming from either side.”
He added that sections with corroded sheet piles were being reinforced with concrete and connected to intact I-beams for added durability.
Kesha also hinted at a broader urban development vision tied to the project, revealing that the new shoreline would eventually support a promenade for public use. “It will be a place where people can come, have a walk near the lagoon, shore and everything, without being disturbed,” he said, while urging the public to take care of the infrastructure upon completion.
Chairman of the Committee, Akin Alabi, who led the delegation, commended the technical quality and scale of the project, noting the urgency of such interventions to safeguard federal investments. “The last time this was done was over 40 years ago. And because of the lack of maintenance, we’ve gotten to this point, where there has to be an intervention, or else, we’re going to lose a lot of assets,” he said.
The lawmakers also visited the surveillance and control room monitoring the emergency repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge, where they were briefed on the progress of the CCTV installations, lighting and rehabilitation works. “This is about 99 percent completed,” Kesha said, attributing minor delays to vandalism of cables and cameras around Adeniji to Falomo. “We’ve asked the contractor to replace the vandalised spots before final handover.”
Alabi expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and level of progress of all ongoing Federal Government’s projects in the state, saying, “This is what we like to see. When parliament appropriates money, we want to see the results, so that when you come back for more, we won’t have a reason to deny you.”
He added that based on the performance seen on site, the National Assembly would support future budgetary requests. “When they come with another request, the Committee on Works, in conjunction with the Committee on Appropriation, will have no hesitation. We will support them and appropriate good money to complete the project.”