By Aderonke Ojediran

Lagos State Government on Friday reiterated its commitment to engaging local engineers and students in higher institutions to ensure transfer of knowledge in roads and bridge construction.



Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, gave the during a tour of five strategic road and bridge projects.



The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government selected for internship, no fewer than 30 students studying civil engineering in both private and public universities.



The projects toured include Abiola-Onijemo link road with bridge, Ikeja GRA regeneration road project, and Opebi Mende-link bridge and roads.



The others include Arowojobe link bridge and approach road at Maryland, Agidi Demurin and Church Street Network, and Saint Finbarrs Road (UNILAG to Abule Okuta- Soluyi).



Omotosho said: ” Many of our youths have been employed, we have seen our students working there, they are being taken to come and learn how to do things.





“The project of this Opebi link bridge is not something that is common; so, it is very good for our young engineers to have this experience.



“It is a massive project that will bring relief to residents of Lagos trying to connect the airport, Ojota, Ikorodu.”

Omotosho said that in spite of the rains, contractors were committed to meeting deadlines.

“We have been going around since morning, and what we have seen is testimony to the fact that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu is not resting on his oars.

“There are so many things that have been completed and so many in the pipeline,” he said. (NAN)

The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Infrastructure, Mr Olufemi Daramola, who was in the team, expressed satisfaction at the various levels of completion of the projects in spite of the rainy season.
” The weather slowed down the spate of works on sites but the contractors are working assiduously in ensuring completion of the projects they are handling
“This tour is part of our efforts to ensure that all our contractors are up and doing.

“Most of the projects have very commendable progress. The major challenge is the issue of the rain.

” However, I assure you that public works are up and running,” Daramola said.

Miss Apologun Onetere, one of the interns on site and a fourth year student of Babcock University, said that the experience had been thrilling.

” I have learnt a lot about piling which is the foundation of building a bridge.

“It is so interesting, I appreciate this experience,” she said.

All the projects toured recorded, at least, 70 per cent completion.

NAN