Fourth Mainland Bridge: Over 790 Persons To Be Rendered Homeless |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

It is going to be a mixture of sadness and joy following the soon to be  started construction of the Fourth Mainland Bridge.

The Construction of the 37 Kilometer bridge could see to the demolition of about 795 residential houses.

Revealing this sadness and joyful news, the Federal Government in partnership with the Lagos State Government said a lot of efforts have been made to reduce the number of affected structures from about 9,000 to less than 800.

This was even as the state government assured that owners of the affected properties would be adequately compensated, despite the prevailing economy circumstances.

It said all stakeholders would be satisfactorily considered in the execution of the project.

Speaking at the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Stakeholders’ Scoping Workshop with the Federal Ministry of Environment in Lagos, Environment Minister Mamoud Abubakar, said there should be sincere commitment on the part of Lagos State government on the compensation for owners of affected properties.

The Minister, who was represented by a director in the Ministry , James Kolawole, explained that though the project would have about 16 alignments,  the best had been selected.

“There was an alignment that will affect about 9,000 structures along the corridor, but we have reviewed it and gone for the alignment that will affect about 795 houses, instead of the one that will take more houses. It is an ongoing thing on how best to minimise the negative impact,” he said.

The State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development said the bridge, which will connect Lagos and Ogun states, will pass through Abraham Adesanya in Lagos and Sparklight Estate near the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State.

A town planner in the Ministry, Mr. Abayomi Omolola Amos said the alignment of the project had been carefully designed to reduce the number of houses that should be demolished.

The Federal Government said the proposed bridge will boost economic growth and enhance international trade.

Abubakar said the Lagos State government has been working on the project for about four years and has made several representations to the Federal Government.

The Minister said the project will enhance commerce and international trade to improve the people’s livelihoods.

He congratulated the state government on the laudable project, while stressing the need to take cognisance of both positive and negative impacts of the project on stakeholders.

According to him, doing this will ensure all issues are addressed to avoid compromising the comfort of future generations.

“For us as a ministry, we are happy with the positive impact, but is need to resolve the negative aspects: what we need is sustainable development,” he said.