The Lagos State Government (LASG) has delivered a newly built police station to the Epe Marine Division.
The division’s former police station was marked for demolition because it was obstructing the ongoing construction.
Speaking during the handing-over ceremony, the Special Adviser to the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure, Engr. Olufemi Daramola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Ayodele Somide, said the significance of the handing over was to enable the government to complete the five segments roads.
The contract award for the rehabilitation and upgrading of strategic arterial and inner roads in Epe Local Government Area consists of five segments and was meant to eliminate potential traffic gridlocks and thus reduce travel time by improving road connectivity in the area.
“It was a single carriageway with a length of 1.14 km and an average width of 8.0 m, comprising the conversion to a dual carriageway and the incorporation of an additional single carriageway (average width of 8.0 m) to the existing carriage on the Marina
“Awolowo Road, Epe LGA Junction/Ita Maruna, into a dual carriageway with a length of 1.52 km and an average width of 19.0m
“Epe Town and its environs are presently witnessing an influx of people and increased traffic volume as a result of industrial and commercial growth arising from the development of the Dangote Oil Refinery, Air and Sea ports, as well as industries within the Lekki Free Trade Zone,” he said.
Daramola added that the expansion of segment five (Epe Marina Road) required the redesign of the existing vertical and horizontal curves on the road alignment.
This, according to him, necessitated the relocation of the existing Epe Marine Police and parts of some other structures on the new road alignment.
“Taking into consideration the security implications, a new Marine Police Post had to be built to accommodate the Police Officers
This is the only outstanding challenge to the full completion of the Rehabilitation/Upgrading of Strategic Arterial/Inner Roads (Phase II) in Epe L.G.A., which is currently at 95.5% completion.
Also speaking, the representative of Cranberg Construction Limited, the Contractor, Mr Fady Bourjely, said the police station at Marina Epe is being handed over to the officers in charge.
“The implication is that we can continue the work. What is holding us back now is for the officers to shift to the new building so we can continue as fast as possible.
“The project is now just the demolition of the old police station, which will take place on June 5, so we can commence work. By August, we should be done.
“Although it depends on the weather because now we are in the rainy season,. It may have some delay time because of the weather,” Bourjely said.
The representative of Nigerian Pollice, Superintendent of Police (SP) Richard Ekemerusu, of the division, described the building as very solid.
“One thing about the structure is that even though it is close to the river, water can never wash it away because we have something they call the GibIon wall. There are boulders, which are big rocks arranged around the structure, preventing erosion from washing away.
“The former structure that we were using was an old type that is not befitting the status of the Nigerian Police. But the present one is very beautiful—the one that will help us to perform our duties creditably well.
“There are a lot of things there. you have the security cameras. While inside, the personnel that are working can see far away from where the structure is located, and criminals can be sighted far away.
“With the CCTV camera, we are going to perform. We are performing very well, but this one is going to increase our performance, and we are going to make the citizens happy because our job is to protect the lives and properties of residents,” he said.
In the same vein, LASG also handed over a 12-room bungalow to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in Badagry.
Engr Seyi Dansu, who represented the Special Adviser Office of Infrastructure, Engr Olufemi Daramola, said that the completed 12-room bungalow would facilitate the expeditious delivery of outstanding works on the construction of the Hospital Road project (Phase 1) in Badagry.
It would be recalled that the old building of the NCS staff quarter was on the right of way of the Hospital Road project (Phase 1), a strategic road that transverses Idale, Akarakunmoh, Povita, Topo and Ajido communities to the Lagos-Badagry Expressway via Joseph Dosu road.
” The result is a sleek and functional living space that prioritises the well-being and comfort of the NCS staff’’
“The project reached its fruition after the tireless efforts of the project team from the office of infrastructure and the staff of the NCS, which culminated in the official announcement,” he said.
Also, the handing over of the quarters would make room for the completion of Hospital Road, Badagry local government area (phase 1), which is currently at 80 per cent.
The newly built staff quarters were received by the Controller of Corrections, State Headquarters, Nigerian Correctional Service. Controller B. R. Freedman appreciated the LASG for the rapid reconstruction and handing over of the staff quarter.
He noted that the reconstructed staff quarters were designed with a generator to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. This addition empowers the NCS staff to carry out their tasks efficiently.
This, according to him, was a significant upgrade that ensured the privacy and convenience of the occupants, acknowledging the critical need for the staff’s comfort while they carry out their essential duties.
Beyond the enhanced living spaces, the reconstruction project implemented crucial amenities to address longstanding challenges.
Two 1,500-litre capacity water tanks were installed to guarantee a reliable water supply, alleviating previous scarcity concerns and promoting seamless operations within the quarters.
The completion of the road will boost access to several tourist centres, such as the Agiya Tree Movement, the First-Storey Building, the Early Missionary Cemetery in Nigeria, and the Heritage Museum, to welcome tourists and visitors.
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