Contractors handling the development of
the deep seaport under construction in Badagry, Lagos, are mobilising to
site within the next few days, Akinwunmi Ambode, the state governor,
has disclosed.
Ambode made the disclosure at a meeting
with journalist at his office in Ikeja at the weekend.
He said the
seaport, along with the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to ten
lanes with light rail system on the median, would open up the Badagry
axis, and turn it into a hub for commerce and tourism, in what he
believes would shore up the gross domestic product (GDP) of Lagos and
create jobs on a large scale for the people.
The seaport which is being jointly
developed by the Federal and Lagos state governments, is also a measure
to decongest Apapa which presently hosts two ports- Tincan and Apapa
ports.
It would upon completion accommodate the
high volume of cargo generated through international maritime trade and
enable Nigeria attain the status of a maritime hub for west and Central
Africa.
It would also accommodate dry docking
facilities for super tanker vessels which offer low cost access to both
offshore oil/gas fields, in addition to the numerous employment
opportunities and related support services it is envisaged to attract.
It would further be a multi-purpose port
which accommodates large and heavy laden vessels. Ambode said when both
sea ports come onstream, they would ease the unyielding congestion
currently crippling and degrading Apapa.
He also pledged that his government
would give more effect to the implementation of the inter-modal
transportation system being planned to spread transport beyond just
roads, to waterways and rail, as part of efforts to decongest Lagos and
make life easier for its millions of residents.
The governor further revealed plans to
cut cost of governance by merging agencies which tended to overlap in
their functions. Along thses lines, he said the ministry of rural
development had been outrightly abolished and replaced with the ministry
of wealth and job creation.
“We will be more efficient in tax
collection and at the same time reduce cost of administration,” the
governor said, adding however, that the administration would not impose
new taxes, but extend the tax net to ensure that more taxable adults
living and doing business in Lagos are harnessed.
Meanwhile, in addition to abolishing the
Ministry of Rural Development, the governor has also scrapped the
Parastatals Monitoring Office, Political and Legislative Powers Bureau,
Debt Management Office and Office of Special Adviser on Taxation and
Revenue.
Ambode in the executive order No. EO/AA
01 of 2015, directed the Head of Service, Folasade Jaji to effect
necessary realignment of office allocation and redistribution of human
resources in line with the new structure.
Inter- governmental relations was
slashed from what was Ministry of Tourism and Intergovernmental
Relations and allocated to Special Duties, to become the Ministry of
Special Duties and Inter- governmental Relations.
The government also merged the Office of
Works and that of Infrastructure as well as the Office of Drainage
Services and Office of Environmental Services.
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