*Lagosians have applauded the Lagos State Government for the completion of the multi-level facility building to promote economic development and improve the standard of living of the residents

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

As the Lagos State Government (LASG) says it is not leaving any stone unturned to meet the target in line with the Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S initiative, the state seems set to extend development across Lagos and grow the economy through a robust infrastructure portfolio.

ConsumerConnect gathered from the construction of roads to bridges, water jetties, housing estates, and recently, a multi-level car park and facility building, Governor Sanwo-Olu is gradually promoting economic development and improving the standard of living of over 20 million residents, report said.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

Accordingly, the residents of Lagos Island recently trooped out penultimate to welcome the governor and Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Deputy Governor of Lagos State to the commissioning of another project within the neighbourhood.

The project due for commissioning was the multi-level car park and facility building at Onikan, in Lagos.

The new multi-level car park and facility building

The imposing multi-level car park and facility building in Onikan, comprises five car parking floors with a capacity for 384 vehicles, offices for tickets and restrooms on each floor, while the 6th floor is designated as multi-purpose mixed-use.

The 6th floor consists of a clubhouse, two banquet rooms with a sitting capacity of 800 and 600 persons each, a water treatment plant, elevators and staircases for smooth pedestrian movement, fire alarm systems, CCTV, data network and power.

Speaking during the commissioning of the project, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the infrastructure would bring great improvements to the Onikan axis of Lagos Island.

He noted that the project would serve the purpose of reducing indiscriminate parking and greatly resolve traffic gridlock as well as enhance the ability of businesses to effectively operate.

The governor said: “This ceremony is symbolic of our steady movement towards the smart megacity of our dream; a Lagos where no one is slowed down and where we all succeed together.”

The residents, while expressing joy over the newly built multi-Level car park, were full of praise to the governor.

The Lagosians said their joy was hinged on the fact that indiscriminate parking on roads/streets, which is a major cause of gridlock in the area, would soon be a thing of the past.

Built by LASG, the Lagos residents said the new facility would go a long way to erase logjam within the axis of the cosmopolitan state.

Chief Jide Damazio, Chairman, Yoruba Tennis Club, who was said to be highly impressed by the new facility, has described the project as “a welcome relief” to the stress people go through in the neighbourhood.”

The Chairman of Yoruba Tennis Club stated that the Multi-level Car Park would help to reduce gridlock and indiscriminate parking of cars/buses on major streets/roads in the locality.

Aside from the car park project, it was learnt the Lagos Island region of the state has attracted a number of other projects, including the ongoing reconstruction/expansion of Adeniji Adele -Popo Road, the development of multi-billion Naira new Massey Hospital, and the iconic Light Rail project among others.

In his comment on the project, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, Deputy Speaker of the  Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA), who is also House Representative of Lagos Island 1, appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu for his resourcefulness and for taking the project to fruition.

The Oba of Lagos, His Royal Highness, Rilwan Akiolu, represented on the occasion by one of his white cap chiefs, also appreciated the Lagos State Governor for the successful completion of the project.

How the multi-level transportation facility was conceived ─Sanwo-Olu

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the multi-Level facility building was conceived in 2013, to provide a solution to the gridlock problem which essentially was being generated by activities related to the stadium and other primary social centres.

He noted such centres include Island Club, Yoruba Tennis Club, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, King George V Park, Police Command Recreational Centre as well as other facilities in the neighbourhood.

However, with the commissioning of the project, the governor said the facility, with a capacity to accommodate 384 cars on five suspended floors, would also help to ease the age-long parking problem along the axis, as well as ensure free flow of traffic.

There would no longer be disruption to vehicular movement resulting from parking on the streets, appealing to the residents and all stakeholders to take ownership of the project, stated he.

Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye, Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, an engineer, said the completion of the multi-level facility building would promote economic development and ultimately improve the standard of living of Lagosians.

The Special Adviser also stated:

She said: “This facility building is significantly important because of its large parking capacity, income generation potential and its location strategically within the heart of Onikan.

“Its judicious use will no doubt help absorb vehicles that would have otherwise parked on the roadside and other illegal parking places along the corridor with its attendant negative impact on traffic flow.”

Mrs. Adeyoye also said apart from creating job opportunities during execution, the facility will help solve the parking issues usually experienced within the axis.

She stated: “It will also reduce traffic congestion, enhance safety and security along the corridor, and of course provide an aesthetically pleasing environment.

“More importantly, this project will complement all our efforts around the tourism infrastructure within the precincts of Onikan.”

Adeyoye also urged the Lagos State Government to put in place a facility management process that kick-starts into operation from the day of the commissioning of the project.