By Bennett Oghifo
Engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has been awarded contract by the Lagos State Government for the reconstruction and upgrade of three roads in Lagos Island. As a long-standing infrastructure development partner, it would be recalled that Julius Berger has been in Lagos since 1965 when it built the historic, strong and still sturdily standing Eko Bridge.
The new roads awarded to Julius Berger for reconstruction and upgrade include the popular Adeniji Adele, Oke Popo and Tapa Streets. The roads are presently structured as two-lane single carriageways. Official sources said, in previous years, government palliative intervention on the affected roads only had the effect of temporary relief to road users, after which the roads had deteriorated and broken apart. Senior government ministry officials disclosed that the damage to the affected roads has been worsened due to serial misuse and abuse by several factors including increased and heavy motoring volumes by the motoring public, indiscriminate construction on drainage alignment, and poor maintenance strategy.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was represented by his Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, during the flag-off of the projects. Engr Adeoye said the reconstruction will improve economic activities and jumpstart the administration’s plan for infrastructural renewal and upgrade in Lagos Island. The Governor further said that arrangements have been concluded for the road rehabilitation, drainage construction, and provision of fiber optic ducts, among other basic amenities in the area for regeneration. The Governor also said, the Government was planning a world-class children’s hospital to replace the popular Massey Street Hospital, construct roads, and redevelop Pelewura Market, for the beneficial use of Lagosians.
Sanwo-Olu said the onset of the construction works for the road projects will generate employment and create legitimate means of livelihood for citizens, particularly in the project communities. According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, the completion of the projects would also lead to improved safety of lives as it will help to eliminate flooding often experienced on the roads. On the general economic, traffic and social benefits to citizens, investors and residents, the Governor said the completion of the projects “Will also enhance property values, stimulate businesses and economic development among the people of Lagos Island. The road construction will no doubt help to improve road connectivity within the axis, unlock perennial traffic gridlock with resultant reduction in travel time along the corridor,” he added.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Infrastructure, Rotimi Thomas, who also spoke at the event, urged support for the government in its efforts to build a greater Lagos.
Donates Mosquito Nets to 4,000 Families on Abuja-Kano Road
Meanwhile, the company continues to enable progress and impact lives in the nation’s communities, living up to its popular real time billing as a frontline believer in the welfare of citizens and residents across the country. In the company’s strong commitment to its corporate social responsibility, Julius Berger again donated long-lasting Treated Nets, aka mosquito nets, targeted at protecting and preserving the health and physical integrity of no fewer than 4000 families along the Abuja–Kano Road project corridor, recently.
The exercise elicited excitement and effusive gratitude from beneficiaries even as they had kind words for Julius Berger.
Further to its well thought out determination to key into the health needs of the people and proactively enable them against the disease, Julius Berger designed a plan to protect about 15,000 families across the country from the deadly malaria disease by making the donations.
The donation which took place at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Memorial Hospital, Sabon Wuse, Kaduna State last Friday, was made to pregnant women and women with infants who often are at the receiving end of mosquito stings and its consequential malaria attacks.
Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Larfana Bk. Musa was excited and thanked Julius Berger for always living up to its corporate social responsibilities even as he advised the beneficiaries to use the nets wisely to prevent their children and themselves from often fatal effect of malaria.
Before the presentation, Group Head, Corporate Communications, of Julius Berger Nigeria plc, James Agama, thanked the hospital management for receiving his team within a short notice. He admonished all to be vigilant against the malaria parasite by maintaining cleanliness and related good health habits. The nets according to Mr. Agama will effectively prevent and protect users from mosquito bites that cause malaria. He thus added, “stay away from malaria, use your nets wisely.”
The Group Head, Media Relations Office of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Prince Moses Duku later told correspondents that the company is committed to its malaria prevention and eradication campaign because a healthy people means a productive people, a progressive economy and a happy society. “Julius Berger has a continuing commitment to progressively enable communities and impact lives,” Duku added.
