President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke proudly of his vision for sustained development of Lagos, the State he governed for eight years, during which he laid the foundation for its modernisation, saying it has raised the bar in quality project delivery.
He spoke when he inaugurated the newly constructed Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge, a project envisioned by his administration in 2002.
The project has now been delivered by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
The bridge, a 5.04km transport corridor, is one of the three key Lagos projects inaugurated on Wednesday by Tinubu on the first of his two-day official visit to Lagos State for project commissioning.
Other projects included the five-storey Lagos State Geographic Information Service (LAGIS) Building and Lagos Multi-Agency Building, both in Alausa.
President Tinubu was represented by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who was joined by Governors of All Progressives Congress (APC), led by the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma.
Members of the State’s cabinet, legislators from Lagos State House of Assembly, Governance Advisory Council (GAC) leaders, Local Government Area chairmen, and Lagos members of the APC attended the commissioning.
Tinubu congratulated Lagos residents, saying the projects delivered by Sanwo-Olu spoke to the importance of putting people’s wellbeing at the centre of development.
The President said the projects sent a clear message that the Government of Lagos State had not been overwhelmed by the mobility challenges facing the State, pointing out the continued efforts to proffer solutions made Lagos the best of the most progressive States in the country.
Tinubu said: “The Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge is more than an infrastructure; it is a bridge to opportunities.
“In a busy city like Lagos, vehicular movement is more than just commuting; it is associated with the city’s economic wellbeing.
“When traffic flows, productivity improves.
“When time is saved, businesses grow. When access is made easier, living standards get improved.
“This is an achievement that speaks to the importance of making the well-being of the people the centre of development.
“Lagos Government has continued to show that it understands that development must be seen, felt and must be experienced by the citizens.
“The Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge project being inaugurated today sends a clear message that the Government of Lagos State has not been overwhelmed by the mobility challenges facing the State.”
Tinubu thanked the Lagos State Government for naming the new Administrative Complex after him, noting that he accepted the honour with humility.
The President said theLAGIS Building represented the future of an effective and transparent land administration system, stressing that the role of data and technology in land management was not optional, but essential to strengthen planning and improve land economic value.
He said the projects aligned with his Renewed Hope vision, which, he revealed, sought to build a modern country that would be fully digitally enabled and economically strong.
By the quality of the projects, he said Sanwo-Olu had set another standard in project delivery, urging other states to emulate and replicate.
He said: The Administrative Complex being commissioned today is an investment in efficiency, coordination and better service delivery.
“The edifice will strengthen the capacity of the Government for improved service to the people.
“Let me emphasise that these achievements are more than the ability of one man; it showcases the system that is working.
“It is about public service that continues to deliver the dividends of democracy to the masses.”
Sanwo-Olu said the projects were distinct but complementary investments, with each addressing a critical aspect of governance.
The bridge, he said, would address congestion and mobility around Ikeja-Maryland-Ojota corridor, while improving the quality of life for commuters.
The Governor said the Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge would improve efficiency of traffic circulation, with noticeable impact beyond the immediate environs of the bridge.
He said the road project was completed with walkways, bicycle lanes, solar-powered street lighting and embedded service ducts.
He said: “We have built, not just for today’s needs, but with a clear eye on the ever-expanding demands of the future.
“As part of this project, we have integrated a comprehensive stormwater management system to address the long-standing challenge of flooding along the Odo-Iya-Alaro corridor, thereby strengthening environmental resilience.
