By Monsur Olowoopejo

LAGOS — Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, yesterday, said his administration planned to build new 720 housing units in Ikorodu Local Government, to reduce the housing deficit in the state.

This came as the governor said the state signed Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with Research In Motion, RIM, manufacturers of Blackberry phones, to build an engineering academy in the state.

He spoke at the commissioning of a seven-kilometre Ibeshe Road, Ibeshe, Ikorodu, which was also attended by former President, African Bar Association, Chief Babatunde Benson, SAN, Chief Olofunfemi Bashorun, among others.

According to him: “We will in few months commence the construction of new 720 housing units in the axis. And 10 other projects would be delivered very soon for the benefits of the residents of the axis.

“This is more than a road. It is a statement of fidelity. It is statement that things can happen in a democracy when promises made are kept.

“This is one of the inner roads we promised to deliver in the second term of our administration. From today, over 200 inner roads that have been completed would be handed over as the dry season sets in.”

”This road was an electoral issue. During my campaign in 2007, I was brought to this road and it took us 45 minutes to travel through a seven-kilometre road. The road was broken and there wasn’t any commercial activity here.

“But after the completion, it took us less than 10 minutes to drive. Also, commercial activities have returned to the community.”

On MoU with RIM

Fashola explained that the state government signed the MoU with the phone manufacturers, to transfer the technology into the state.

The governor said the academy would be set up in the Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH, Ikorodu.