Federal and Lagos State governments met on Wednesday at Alausa, Ikeja as part of efforts ensure that the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge will be environmental-friendly and done in line with international standard.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Minister for Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, and the Minister of State for Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, spoke at the maiden stakeholders’ meeting on environmental and social impact assessment for the bridge.
They solicited the cooperation and support of the residents to make the project a reality.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, assured Lagosians that the project would be less destructive.
He said: “It is instructive to note that the commencement of the project will be another undeniably flagship project of this administration. We must, therefore, use this stakeholders’ meeting to consult amongst ourselves as we take steps to remove all the bottlenecks that may impede the delivery of the Fourth Mainland Bridge.
“All the components of Lagos mobility must be considered: road planning, public transport integration and urban freight; strengthening the current radial commuting connections towards Lagos urban core and the establishment of transversal connections that will serve both long distance traffic (avoiding the metropolitan traffic) and also other connections within the megacity, which are not Lagos-bound.”
Fashola, who was represented by a director in his ministry, Dr. Adetunji Adeoye, emphasised the importance of the bridge to socio-economic development of the state.
He said all factors that could negatively affect the construction of the bridge had been considered and taken care. Mrs. Ikeazor, who was also represented by a ministry’s official, Oluwatoyin Agbenla, said the review of the environmental impact of the project was among precautionary measures to ensure that the project is safe for all.