Press Releases

Lekki Masterplan: Consortium of Investors Praises Foresight of LASG

Jan 9, 2008 - The visionary strides of the current administration received praises yesterday as the Lagos State Government took a decisive step giant stride towards ensuring the planned development of the Lekki corridor of the state when it signed an agreement for the development of a master plan for the area with Messer Dar- Al- Handasah.

Speaking on behalf of the consortium of investors in the project, the Managing Director of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), Mr Opio Offoriokuma said it could only have taken an administration with an eye for the future to embark on the far reaching projects being undertaken by the government. According to Offoriokuma, Lagos is too critical to the country to be toyed with adding that he agrees whole heartedly with the popular contention that if Lagos does not function, the whole country will not.

Speaking at the occasion, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said the development would ensure the even distribution of facilities and services and avoid lopsided development which currently characterizes the region. Governor Fashola said with the track record of Messer Dar Al Handasah, a globally renowned project consulting firm, the state government is sure that its plan to replan the area and avert the imminent collapse of the existing infrastructure and development of the area would be achieved.

While thanking the stakeholders including the royal fathers who have generously agreed to participate in the programme for their patience and cooperation, the Governor added that the need for a proper planning and provision of modern infrastructural facilities to meet up with international standard is desirable at this period.

He said the development of a masterplan for the Lekki sub region represents one of the first of many which the state plans for Badagry, Ikeja, Yaba, Apapa, Surulere and many other parts of Lagos and which it intends to develop as a legacy for the future generation.

Governor Fashola emphasized that the present government intends to support the development of master plans for all the areas of the state with legislations to ensure orderly development of the state.

He said the Lekki sub region is the fastest growing corridor in Nigeria in terms of physical development and plays host to the largest concentration of private estates, the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the proposed International Airport and Deep Sea Port.

The Governor lamented that the State is however challenged by a myriad of problems such as the haphazard arrangement of physical developments and the poor linkages between Private layouts and Government schemes which are likely to pose a serious threat to the successful infrastructural development of the area.

Particularly, Governor Fashola said the uncoordinated sand filling going on without any benchmark could pose serious dangers to the ecology of the state as well the flagrant disregard of operative town planning laws and regulations by developers which cannot be allowed to go on unchecked.

He informed that the state has commenced the expansion and upgrading of the Lekki- Epe Expressway which would upon completion bring relief to the inhabitants of the sub region who have in the past been traumatized by the constant heavy traffic on the road.

Governor Fashola reaffirmed the government’s avowed commitment to the sustainable development of the state and ensuring a Brighter Rewarding Future to take Lagos to the next level.

Speaking earlier, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Francisco Abosede said the choice of Dar Al Handasar was arrived at following several meetings between the ministry and stakeholders involved in the project who recommended that with the multidisciplinary experience of the firm they should get the job.

Mr. Abosede said one noteworthy development about the agreement is that the cost of funding the development of the master plan would be borne 100 percent by the stakeholders.