Lagos —The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said his government had received assurances from the contractors handling the reconstruction of Ilasamaja pedestrian bridge that the project would be completed by January.

Fashola disclosed this yesterday, shortly after inspecting the project and other key ongoing projects in the state.

He said most of the work on the bridge had been concluded, and that the contractor was working round the clock to ensure that it was completed on schedule.
The Ilasamaja pedestrian bridge was pulled down by the state government for reconstruction on Sept. 8.

“Work has reached an advanced stage on the pedestrian bridge. The contractors are already piling and they told me by January the overhead bridge should be back.

“We have redesigned the bridge to make it better. This time it will have a ramp for the physically challenged and steps for able-bodied people and a roof to give protection against the weather.

“We only hope that when it is done, some people will not turn it into a market place and start trading there. That is clearly not the purpose, “ he said.

The governor, who also inspected reconstruction work at the ultra-modern Tejuosho and Oyingbo markets, gave assurances on the speedy completion of the two projects.

He said most of the work at Oyingbo Market had been completed, assuring that the project would be ready by the second quarter of next year.

At the Animashaun canal, Surulere,  Fashola blamed the problem of blocked canals across the state on indiscriminate dumping of refuse by residents.

“The blockage of canals is an ongoing challenge for us. People want to live a good life, but they do not want to live by the rules.