LASG Commissions New Asphalt Plant

Mr. Babatunde Fashola, he Lagos State Governor, will commission the newly established 160/HR Asphalt plant in Imota before the end of the week.

Mr. Gbenga Akintola, executive chairman, Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), who disclosed this at a press briefing at LSPWC’s headquarters  in Lagos, explained that the new plant, which was initiated in January 2013, is expected to cater for about 404 roads in the Local Government and Local Council Development Areas around Ikorodu and Epe axis, adding that the first batch of asphalt was produced at the plant on the 25th of December, 2013.

Akintola stated that the construction of another 160T/HR asphalt plant located in Ajido, Badagry Local Government Area has reached 35 % completion stage, stressing that the manufacturing of the plant itself has been concluded in Italy and shipping of its components will commence any moment from now.

He said, “It is anticipated that the Badagry 160/hr asphalt plant will be commissioned and begin full scale operation before the end of the second quarter of 2014”, adding that “it shall cater for about 400 roads within the Amuwo, Ojo and Ajeromi-lfelodun axis in Badagry upon completion”.

Recalling the sorry state of road infrastructure in the State, prior to August 2010 when the present administration began to invest massively into the corporation in a bid to reposition it, Akintola noted that the agency has since recorded landmarks achievements in the maintenance of road infrastructure all over the State in order to meet the needs of Lagosians.

He highlighted some of the Corporation’s achievements in the past year to include the maintenance of 988 roads in the state as against 705 roads in 2012 and 568 in 2011; the replacement of 251 manhole covers and grating in the year 2012/2013, while a total of 350 have been earmarked to be replaced and grated for the 2013/2014 period.

The LSPWC Boss also disclosed that the corporation interlocking paving stone production factory located within its asphalt yard in Ojodu-Berger and commissioned in June 2013 by Governor Babatunde Fashola, has produced a total of 26,840 square metres of paving stones which had been used to repair more than 15 major roads in the State.

He noted that, apart from the substantial sum of money saved by the corporation from the establishment of these plants, some of its positive implications are the downturn in the number of damage roads recorded which justifies the staggering upward movement in the comparative annual number of roads maintained between 2009 and2013.

Responding to a major question on how to enforce the relevant laws to dissuade people from indulging in activities that cause road damage, the Chairman stated that the corporation is set to collaborate with the Lagos State Environmental Task Force to begin monitoring of the environment in order to arrest and prosecute anyone caught in the act in line with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Law of March 2001.

Akintola, however, calls for the support and collaboration of all Lagosians in its corporation’s efforts toward ensuring well maintained good and motorable roads in the State all year round.