LAMATA PARLEYS COMMUNITY OVER BRT EXTENSION PROJECT The promoter of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension project along Mile 12-Ikorodu town axis, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), has appealed to the resident of Ikorodu community that it was aware of the untold hardship and traffic snarl being experienced at the ongoing extension BRT project. Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola stated this at the agency’s stakeholders forum in Lagos over the weekend that LAMATA was doing everything within its limit to ensure speedy completion of the BRT extension road project next year. According to him, it was better for the agency to parley with the residents of Ikorodu to explain and give them updates on the project, which according to him, when completed would bring further development, infrastructure and business opportunities to the Ikorodu environs. He said the stakeholders meeting was organised because it is an avenue where all the stakeholders on the BRT expansion project converge and collaborate with the community people to know their minds about what they want and proffer suggestions to the agency on what to do, adding that it was better to carry the community along on the project. The LAMATA’s boss stressed that the project was conceived to extend BRT service from Mile 12 to Ikorodu, while also improving the Ikorodu road network infrastructure. He noted that the community people needed to be patience and endure the untold hardship now, prophesying that the future will be brighter as the benefits for executing the project are enormous and geared towards transforming Ikorodu. Speaking on behalf of the community people, the former Commissioner of Information in Lagos State, Chief Elemosho .O, said there was no doubt that the BRT extension project would transform Ikorodu, but noted that there were some contractual issues which LAMATA has failed to resolved and the issues are important towards the success of the ongoing BRT project. He listed the issues as compensation of owners of affected buildings, employment of Ikorodu youths and erection of modern model market. According to him, LAMATA has not compensated landowners whose buildings/structures were affected due to the extension project, adding that it was unfair on the part of the agency and Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to asked landowners to produce Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and tax clearance before they will be compensated. The former Commissioner for Information advised LAMATA and Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to suspend the C of O and tax clearance to allow peace to reign since most of the affected houses have been built for yesteryears. On the Employment opportunities, Elemosho admitted that the contractors handling the project have not been fair to the youths in the community, adding that LAMATA should direct them to employ their youths since the community is the direct beneficiary of the project. He said that LAMATA should build a modern market for the market women and men to display their goods, adding that the BRT extension project has affected the renowned Ayangburen international market, thus depriving market women and men to trade
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 07:50:05 +0000
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