Ambode moves to light-up Lagos by December

                     
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has initiated moves to fulfill one of his campaign promises to illuminate all nooks and crannies of communities and adjourning boundaries in the state before the end of the year.

This was made known on Thursday at a joint press briefing by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Public Works Corporation and Lagos State Electricity Board, as a follow up to the promise of Governor Ambode, during the maiden Town Hall Meeting held at Ayobo Ipaja, last Tuesday.

Addressing newsmen, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Taofeek Fashola, said efforts are in top gear to illuminate major roads in the state, including all adjourning boundaries in Ogun State, including Federal and State roads.

He said that the work would be delivered in phases, starting with Ikorodu to the Lagos Island, Ojodu Berger to Lagos Island and in addition, about 67 communities in Ibeju Lekki, which have been in darkness for about five years, will be connected to the national grid.

"Berger to Lagos, Ikorodu to Lagos Street light installing is ongoing. We have developed agreement to ensure safe and reliable power. We would be illuminating from Berger to Lagos. Ikorodu to Lagos. We are working with those contractors that are versed on the job and everything would be done latest by December," Williams said.

Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Energy, Mr. Deji Williams, said government is set to connect street lights from Ikorodu to Lagos Island to an Independent Power Plant (IPP), adding that the government is currently carrying out feasibility study of how to structure and determine the best points of contact to connect the street lights on the entire axis.

Williams also revealed that the government is considering involving the private sector in the maintenance aspect through outsourcing of the street lights, specifying that the present administration in Lagos has prioritized illuminating all roads in the state.

He said that in line with the Governor‘s directive, most part of the metropolis should be lit-up by December, thus involving contractors well versed in the job.

"All these we are doing by engaging well versed contractors that are grounded on the job to ensure everything is ready by December," Williams said.

Head of Power in the Ministry, Engineer Ibilola Kasumu, said that the third phase of the project is the electrification of the Ibeju Lekki axis, adding that 67 communities have been in darkness in the area for the past five years.

She said efforts are in top gear to extend power from the grid to the areas, beginning from Ibeju Lekki area, Magbon Alade, Ode-Omi and its adjourning areas, assuring that before the end of the year all the projects would be completed.