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Tayo Olanipekun
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday launched a 1000-hectare modern satellite city Ibeju-Lekki, an housing scheme for all the major projects coming on board within the Lekki Free Trade Zone.
He descrdeskibed the unveiling of the project named Alaro Satellite City as a major milestone in his administration’s vision.
He said with major projects such as the Free Trade Zone, largest Deep Sea Port in Africa and International Airport around the area, a new city to provide housing schemes and other facilities for people was important.
The project is expected to create 200,000 jobs, according to the Governor.
Giving details, Governor Ambode said: “The Alaro Satellite City was conceived to provide housing schemes to a broad spectrum of income earners, industrial workspaces, warehouses, hospitality and commercial office facilities amongst others.
“The project would not only open up the corridor but would transform its economic landscape by providing jobs, reducing poverty and contributing significantly to socio-economic development of the State, especially in terms of the GDP of the State in particular, and the country in general.”
While commending the private sector, especially Rendeavour Group and North West Quadrant Company for partnering with the State Government to deliver the new city, the Governor said the successful launch of the project was a demonstration of the confidence the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and foreign investors have in viability of doing business in the state.
Ambode assured that to forestall the likelihood of a difficult traffic situation such as being experienced in Apapa, the state government would construct a road to link Shagamu-Benin Expressway from the Lekki Deep Sea Port as well as a a 50-hectare truck park servicing the area.
According to him, “we have initiated the process of constructing the 7th Axial Road from the Lekki Deep Sea Port, en route the Lekki Free Zone to the Shagamu-Benin Expressway.
“The design for the construction of a 50-hectare truck park within the Lekki-Epe corridor is also in progress.”
Governor Ambode also revealed that the state government has approved 750 hectares of land as resettlement land for communities displaced from the Parcel B of the Lekki Free Zone namely Yegunda, Abomiti and Eyin-Osa.
He added that the Lands Bureau had also been instructed to expedite action on the enumeration of the land in question to accelerate payment of compensation and the issuance of the C of O.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh commended Governor Ambode, saying his politics were about development and economic prosperity.
“I am particularly happy to be here for the launch of this project. Lagos is Nigeria’s New York and I am told that nearly 72 per cent of Nigeria’s currencies circulate in Lagos and I am even happier because I like the politics of Governor Ambode because though you are a much younger person than I am, I can assure you that you have a big future ahead,” said Ogbe.
