Amidst the economic recession and dwindling financial resources occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Lagos State Government has declared readiness to partner with the organised private sector for sustainable road infrastructure in Lagos State.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye while addressing members of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) who paid a courtesy visit to her office on Tuesday, 21 July, 2020.
According to the Special Adviser, there is a new ray of hope for companies coming to enter into Public Infrastructure Improvement Partnership (PIIP) with Government.
While maintaining that Lagos is deliberately promoting its performance index on the Ease of Doing Business metrix, she said that the invitation extended to the organised private sector to collaborate with the government on infrastructural development can only end up on a win-win situation for the collaborators
Adeyoye also alluded to the fact that presently road rehabilitation and maintenance is grossly underfunded and the only available option available to Government is to create extra budgetary funding for the maintenance of roads. She however lauded Zenith and Access Banks for their collaborative efforts in the area of Public Infrastructure Improvement Partnership.
The Special Adviser said MAN need to take bold steps to encourage members to partner with the government, adding that there are concessions such as tax holidays and branding and advertisement concession attached to such partnerships.
Speaking in a similar vein, the Permanent Secretary, Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Olujimi Hotonou said the government cannot provide the entire infrastructure all alone.
He advised that companies can come under the umbrella of PIIP to maintain and rehabilitate existing infrastructure so that Government can concentrate more on the provision of new roads.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory, Dr. Abiodun Afolabi said his agency is well equipped to carry out various quality assurance tests and has zero tolerance for building collapse. He reiterated that Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory is operating within the ambit of its ministerial responsibilities.
Earlier, Executive Secretary of Ikeja branch of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluchi Odimuko had commended the state government for daily upload of construction work schedule in the state, she however commented on the outrageous bill from the material testing laboratory against the present economic reality of the moment
