The Lagos State Government on Saturday handed over a police station it constructed to the Marine Division of the force in Epe.

The old police station is to be demolished by the state government to pave the way for a road project in the local government area.

Speaking at the handing  over ceremony, Special Adviser to  Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, said the planned demolition of  the old station and construction of a new one was to enable government promptly deliver the expansion of Awolowo Way-Ita Marina road project.

Mr Daramola, represented by a Permanent Secretary, Ayodele Somide, said the old police station was marked for demolition because it was standing in the way of the ongoing project.

Mr Daramola said that the expansion of segment five of the project required redesign of the existing vertical and horizontal curves on the road alignment.

This, according to him, necessitated the relocation of the existing Epe Marine Police post and some other structures on the new road alignment.

He said, “Taking into cognisance the security implications, a new Marine Police Post had to be built to accommodate police officers. This is the only outstanding challenge to the full completion of the rehabilitation/upgrade of  the strategic arterial/inner roads (Phase II) in Epe L.G.A, which is currently at 95 per cent completion.’’ 

He said the expansion of the road and other inner city roads in the town had become imperative to eliminate potential gridlock and reduce travel time through improved road connectivity.

He stated that government was improving road infrastructure in the  area because “Epe and its environs are presently witnessing an influx of people and increased traffic volume as a result of industrial and commercial growth arising from the development of the Dangote Oil Refinery, Air and Sea ports as well as industries within the Lekki Free Trade Zone”

Speaking, representative of Cranberg Construction Limited, Fady Bourjely, the contractor handling the road project said a new police station was built by the government because the old one was delaying the execution of the road project.

“The implication is that we can continue the work. What is holding us back now is for the officers to shift to the new building so we can continue as fast as possible. The project is now just with the demolition of the old police station which will take place June 5 so we can commence work, by August we should be done. Though it depends on the weather because now we are in the rainy season, it may have some delay because of the weather,” Mr Bourjely said.

A representative of Nigerian Police, SP Richard Ekemerusu, commended the state government on the new station.

“One thing about the structure is that even though it is close to the river, water can never wash it away. There are boulders, which are big rocks arranged around the structure, preventing erosion from washing it away. The former structure that we were using was old, not befitting the status of the Nigeria Police. But the present one is a very beautiful one, the one that will actually help us to perform our duties well. There are a lot of things there. You have the security cameras. Inside, the personnel that are working can see far away from where the structure is located and criminals can be sighted far away.

“With the CCTV camera, we are going to perform. We are performing very well, but this one is going to improve our performance, and we are going to make the citizens happy because our job is to protect the lives and property of residents,” he said.

The government also handed over a 12 -room bungalow to the Nigerian Correctional Service in Badagry.

Mr Daramola said that the 12 -room bungalow would facilitate the delivery of the ongoing Hospital Road project (Phase 1), in Badagry.

The old NCoS staff quarters were on the Right of Way of the Hospital Road project (Phase 1), a strategic road that transverses Idale, Akarakunmoh, Povita, Topo and Ajido communities to the Lagos-Badagry Expressway via Joseph Dosu Road.

He said, “The result is a sleek and functional living space that prioritises the well-being and comfort of the NCoS staff. The project reached its fruition after the tireless efforts of the project team from the office of Infrastructure and the Staff of the NCoS which culminated in the official handing over. Also the handing over of the quarters would make room for the completion of Hospital Road, which is currently 80 per cent completed.’’

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Controller of Corrections, State Headquarters, NCoS. Mr B. R. Freedman, he appreciated the LASG, for the expeditious reconstruction and handing over of the staff quarters

He said that the reconstructed staff quarters were delivered with a generator to ensure uninterrupted power supply, adding it would enable NCoS staff to carry out their tasks efficiently.

(NAN)