The Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration has kept track of fulfilling its promise to complete projects inherited from past administrations in the State, the Lagos State Office of Works has said, mentioning the administration has "matched words with actions".

Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works, Dr. Olakunle Adeyinka, stated this on Friday while recounting the scorecards of the Office at the ongoing State Ministerial Press Briefing, in commemoration of the 1st Year of the 2nd Term in the Office of the administration of Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat in Lagos State.

Recall that at the inauguration of the administration of Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Deputy Governor, Mr. Obafemi Hamzat, the government promised to complete all inherited projects and to also embark upon new projects that will be the bedrock of the ‘T.H.E.M.E.S+’ Agenda.

Adeyinka on Friday said the administration has so far since inception "matched words with actions."

He said the government through the Office of Works "has continued to deliberately invest in building infrastructure as one of the platforms used for discharging the social contract we signed with Lagosians. 

"Through our projects, we have continuously provided jobs for hundreds of our people and provided impactful economic succour to those living in the State."

Adeyinka mentioned that the Office's mandate has been responsive to bridge the gap between the required infrastructure and the current infrastructure projects in a way that generates economic growth and enables society to function. 

"We are also equally aware of the attendant impact of building resilient infrastructure, which will not only generate a strong economic base for the productivity of our people but will also increase employment and foster innovation," he said.

According to him, one of the important methods adopted to bridge the infrastructure gap in the State is to deliberately improve both the maintenance and management of existing infrastructure assets in a way that would preserve the quality of the assets. 

"To achieve this, we have put in place policies and structures for the renovation and management of the existing portfolio of our infrastructure assets," he stated.

He mentioned that under the current administration in Lagos State, Facility Management has become an increasingly visible aspect of project design and management strategies.

"I wish to say, with all sense of modesty, that in Lagos State, we emphasise a two-pronged approach by ensuring routine maintenance of existing assets to ensure that infrastructure assets operate as initially intended in a long-lasting manner and the continuous rehabilitation and upgrade of new iconic infrastructure," he emphasised.

According to him, the strategic thrust of the Office of Works based on the T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda of Governor Sanwo-Olu's administration has been centred around the continuation of Strategic Ongoing Offices And Public Buildings; Major Renovation Works, Facility Management And Maintenance Of Offices And Public Buildings.

He said that based on the strategic thrust, the Office of Works has delivered 30 building Infrastructure projects out of a total of 76 of the building projects being undertaken, while works are steadily progressing on 46. 

He identified some of the buildings the Office is currently working on towards effective administration of justice including the construction of the Commercial Court at Tapa, Lagos Island; the renovation of the Magistrates' Court at Ebute-Metta, J.I.C. Taylor Magistrate Court, Igbosere, Lagos Island, Igando, Ogba & Ikeja Magistrates' Courts; the construction of Judges and Magistrates' Quarters, Epe; construction of Police Model Area Command At Elemoro (Phase II) and the Police Model Station at Alausa; and the construction of the Warehouse and Fence Works for the Lagos State Judiciary (Sherriff Department). 

He also highlighted "renovation works at the Lagos State Code of Conduct Bureau and Magistrates' Court at Ikorodu, Ajegunle, Surulere, Yaba; the construction of Citizens' Mediation Centre Offices, Alimosho is completed." 

Recounting the impacts of work projects in the health sector, he said, "The construction of a 280-bed General Hospital in Ojo has generated about 180 jobs and is at 39% completion. Also, the 150-bed New Massey Street Children's Hospital is progressing as scheduled and is being proposed for completion by December 2025 and has so far generated about 130 jobs. Mr. Governor has also approved the construction of a 1,500-bed Psychiatric Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre in Ketu Ejinrin."

He listed projects that have been delivered to include three Mother and Child Centers (MCCs) at Eti-Osa, Igando, Badagry and Epe; renovated Health Centres, Harvey Road Health Centre, Yaba and Ebute Metta Comprehensive Health Centre; construction of a four-story Faculty of Basic Medical and Clinical Sciences Office Block at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), among others.

Adeyinka disclosed that for staff welfare, the construction of a 24-unit Doctors' and Staff Quarters in LASUTH and Gbagada General Hospital has equally commenced.

"The Sanwo-Olu administration has, no doubt, demonstrated that the restoration of public health facilities remains vital," he said.

Also highlighted are rebuilding, remodelling and repositioning the Massey Street Children’s Hospital, into a 7-storey, 150-bed, Modern and fit-for-purpose pediatric General Hospital.

Among other key projects he highlighted include the construction of Kosofe and Ijede Fire Stations; the Students' Union Arcade Ojo Campus; the construction of the Faculty of Management Sciences Complex Phase 1; the construction of the Central Library Phase 2A; the renovation of the Nigerian Law School Hostel, Lagos Campus; and the remodelling of the University of Lagos Main Gate. 

Adeyinka also listed the construction of the Central Library, the Faculty of Management Sciences Complex, the construction of LASU Business School and some projects at LASUSTECH, Ikorodu Campus, among others which are at various stages of completion. 

Other strategic projects he highlighted include completion works on the multi-agency Office Complex, Alausa, Ikeja, a multi-storey structure consisting of 3 blocks on 5 (five) floors occupying a total area of the site of 2.01 hectares; renovation of Revenue House, Alausa, Ikeja; and the redevelopment of J.K Randle Centre For Yoruba Culture And History, Onikan, Lagos and the Multi-storey Carpark, Onikan. 

"Extensive renovations on many office buildings are ongoing in several Ministries within the Secretariats to facilitate the delivery of public services," he said.

Highlighted also were completion works for Urban Regeneration Projects including Queen's Drive, Ikoyi; renovation of Iga Iduganran Official Residence and Palace of Oba of Lagos; renovation of Buildings in the Premises of the Lagos House, Marina; construction of Eleven(11) Floors Luxury Apartment Building Isale-Gangan; construction of Prototype Oba’s Palace, Badagry, completion of 52 Bedroom Hotel and upgrading of VIP Chalets, Badagry.

Others are the remodelling, reconstruction and rehabilitation of Teslim Balogun Stadium and eight Sports Facilities/Stadia across the State, four of which are ongoing; the renovation of the Indoor Sports Hall, Mobolaji Johnson Sports Hall at The Rowe Park Sports Centre Yaba, Lagos.

Also noted were the newly completed 32 metric-tonnes per hour Rice Mill in Imota; commerce development of Lagos State Industrial Leather Hub At Matori, Mushin; and the Imota Light Industrial Park Project, among others.

According to the Special Adviser, the Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA), has implemented several projects "to improve and maintain public infrastructure assets, creating employment and opportunities for small/medium-scale businesses to thrive."

"It is reassuring that priorities are given to the Education and Health sectors in the aggressive pursuit of public facilities overhaul. Schools’ facility management and maintenance exist to support the primary purpose of education," he noted.

He however, called for the strategic participation of the private sector, noting that notwithstanding these building infrastructures by the Government, the Administration is convinced that the future of any meaningful infrastructure delivery should be private-sector driven with Government strengthening the operational environment and legal framework for Private Sector Participation.

He charged the Organised Private Sector to leverage the endless opportunities of the strategic position of Lagos as one of the fastest growing economies in the world to be solution providers.

"Lagos State has always opened its doors for developmental support and partnership collaboration from multi-lateral and bi-lateral development organisations. 

"Our government believes in partnerships and collaboration, which we believe hasten development, economic buoyancy, and societal advancement. Lagos State is open to collaboration with interested investors to support the ongoing efforts of this administration to effect key reforms in transportation, environment, public infrastructure and tourism sectors to further put the State on a sound footing for economic growth and development.

"Good governance promotes accountability, reduces corruption and therefore minimises resource wastage through inefficiency, and ensures stability. It will in turn facilitate mobilisation of both public and private sector financing resources that are critical for infrastructure development," he stated.

He assured that the Government "will continue to maintain the available infrastructure and provide a conducive environment to accommodate the growing and shifting population in Lagos State."