AMBITIOUS AMBODE SAYS EKO ATLANTIC CITY WILL BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER 2019

EKO ATLANTIC CITY, Nigeria – Lagos state government on Thursday said the phase VI of the Eko Atlantic City, Nigeria’s premium rising smart city situated in Victorial Island will be completed in October, 2019. The state’s Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, revealed this while speaking at the annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third year anniversary of governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration held in Lagos.

He said the flagship project designed to stand on 10 million square metres of land reclaimed from the ocean, has six phases of implementation. He said, ‘’Phase one and two has already been completed with roads, potable water to World Health Organisation (WHO), standards, fibre optics and advanced telecommunication facilities, and over 10,000 trees planted within the city in recognition of the Lagos state government initiative to plant one million tress in the state.

‘’The emerging new city will change the aesthetics of the coastline and real estate market.’’ Adejare said work is progressing steadily on the construction of nine jetties with shelter and shoreline protection and channelisation of four new ferry routes as part of efforts to boost water transportation in line with the multi-modal transport policy across the state.

According to him, the projects, upon completion, would transform water transportation and thereby contribute to the vision of the present administration to reduce pressure on road infrastructure. The jetties under construction, according to Adejare, include VIP Chalet, Badagry; Apa Waterfront, Baiyeku Waterfront, Offin Waterfront, Isalu-Ajido, Badagry; Liado Waterfront, Amuwo-Odofin; Ilashe-Ojo Waterfront, Ito Omu Waterfront, Epe and Takwa By Island.

He said, “The jetties which are at various stages of completion ranging from 90 per cent to six per cent, essentially involve the construction of modern concrete jetties with shelter and shoreline protection across the riverine areas of the state.

“The work done and on-going include construction of reinforced concrete jetty supported by 24 number of concrete piles, hydraulic sand filling to be paved using 60mm paving stone, chrome handrail with canopy over the jetty, fenced waiting area, street light, waiting shelter with concrete seats, toilets for male and female, soak-away, among others.”

Regarding the channelisation of four new ferry routes, Adejare said the project was conceived to improve water transportation, adding that it would be completed with new world class comfortable ferries already ordered to be procured by the state government, to convey people through the waterways.

“The four channelisation projects are at various stages of completion and are progressing satisfactorily with Ijede-Badore route at 40 per cent, Baiyeku-Ajah route at 70 per cent, Ebute Ojo-Marina at 60 per cent, and Ijede-Marina at 35 per cent completion.

“The projects involve the dredging of ferry routes, creating a path of 40 meters width and four meters minimum depth to accommodate bigger boat movement. With the population of the state progressing numerically, there is the need to intensify and compliment the predominantly road-based transportation in the state with water transportation in order to move large number of people from one point to another,” Adejare said.