Water Transportation: Lagos Scale up work on New Jetties and Four Ferries
The
Lagos State Government on Thursday said work is progressing steadily on
the construction of nine jetties with shelter and shoreline protection
and channelization of four new ferry routes as part of efforts to boost
water transportation in line with the multi-modal transport policy
across the State.
Speaking
at the annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third year
anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration held at the
Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Commissioner for Waterfront
Infrastructure Development, Mr. Babatunde Adejare said 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 involves 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.”
On
channelization 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.
According
to him, “The four channelization 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
40meters 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.
On
other activities of the Ministry, the Commissioner said in response to
challenges posed by climate change and global warming with attendant
rise in ocean level resulting in coastal erosion, the State Government
embarked on holistic measures to protect coastal communities, saying it
was gratifying to report the completion of the first and second phases
of shoreline protection from Goshen Estate to Alpha Beach in Eti-Osa
Local Government Area.
He
said the project was divided into three phases for ease of funding,
with phase two involving construction of twelve Groynes which were
completed in 2017, while phase three of the project involving
construction of three new Groynes had reached 85 per cent completion.
“In
effect, about 7.2kilometer stretch of the shoreline has been protected
against ocean surge. What I can assure Lagosians is that the projects
would not be limited to Alpha Beach, it would get to our border with
Ogun State,” Adejare said.
Speaking
on other projects, the Commissioner said the first phase of the
reclamation and protection of Badagry Marina involving shoreline
protection had been completed with additional 208metres, while within
the last three years, the government completed the delivery of Epe
Marina, reclamation of Lekki Foreshore scheme, Orange Island and
Alaguntan/Okunkobo/Olomometa in Ojo local government.
He listed other major projects ongoing to include Oworonshoki land reclamation, Eko Atlantic City, among others.

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