President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, inaugurated the Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge and two other landmark projects in Lagos State.

The three are among key projects to be inaugurated by the President during his two-day visit to Lagos.

Mr Tinubu, represented by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, arrived at the Opebi-Ojota Link Bridge at 1:25 p.m. alongside Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Opebi-Mende Link Bridge is 5.04 km long.

The other projects inaugurated by the president on Wednesday are the Lagos State Geographic Information System (LAGIS) Building and the Multi-Agency Administrative Complex at Alausa, Ikeja. The complex will be known as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administrative Complex (BATAC).

Mr Tinubu said that the projects reflected the Lagos state government’s commitment to development. He added that the projects were visible, impactful, and people-oriented.

“These projects undertaken by the administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu are not just physical structures.

“They are symbols of purpose. They reflect a government that understands that development must be seen, must be felt and must be experienced by the governed,” he said.

Mr Tinubu said that the Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge was more than a transport project, describing it as a strategic intervention that would improve mobility and boost productivity.

“The Ojota-Opebi Link Bridge is more than a road. It is a bridge to opportunities.

“In a city like Lagos, movement is everything.

“When traffic improves, productivity also improves. When time is saved, businesses grow. When access is made easier, life also gets better,” he said.

He said that the projects showed that Lagos would not be overwhelmed by the pressures of rapid urban growth, but would continue to confront and overcome its developmental challenges.

Mr Tinubu added that the Lagos State government had been delivering infrastructure that aligns with the national vision of a modern and economically strong Nigeria.

“As President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I thank Lagos State Government, headed by Gov. Sanwo-Olu, assisted by the deputy governor, members of the executive council, and the State House of Assembly, for the honour of naming the administrative complex after me.

“I accept this honour with humility, but let me be clear: this achievement is about a system that is working,” he said.

Mr Tinubu said the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administrative Complex represents an investment in efficiency, coordination, and improved public service delivery.

“It strengthens the government so that government can better serve the people,” he said.

He added that the LAGIS Building represents the future of governance, especially in an era where data and transparency are critical to development.

“A modern land administration system is not optional. It is essential.

“It reduces uncertainty, strengthens planning and unlocks economic value. This is how serious societies grow,” he said.

The president said the projects align with his broader national development vision of a digitally-enabled, infrastructure-driven, and economically resilient Nigeria.

“This is the standard we must replicate across the country,” he said.

He assured Nigerians that the federal government remains committed to investing in infrastructure, strengthening governance, and expanding opportunities for citizens.

“To the people of Lagos, I say that these projects are for you. They are investments in your future. Use them well, protect them and build on them,” he said.

He praised Mr Sanwo-Olu and his team for discipline, focus, and sound financial management.

“You have shown that governance must be about service delivery,” he said.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said at the event that Mr Tinubu’s presence was a symbolic homecoming of a leader whose legacy continues to shape the development trajectory of Lagos State.

The governor noted that his administration has about 416 days left and is determined to sustain momentum in delivering people-centred projects until the last day.

“For us, finishing only makes sense if it is done well. Winding down is not an excuse to slow down or succumb to lower standards.

“On the contrary, it is meant to be an opportunity to ramp up momentum,” he said.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the three projects inaugurated reflect his administration’s commitment to addressing mobility challenges and improving urban planning and public service delivery in line with its THEMES Plus Agenda.

According to him, the Opebi-Mende Link Bridge is designed to decongest the busy Ikeja-Maryland-Ojota corridor and provide a new direct connection between the Opebi/Allen axis and Ikorodu Road through Odo-Iya-Alaro and Mende.

“The objective is to improve efficiency of traffic circulation with noticeable impact even beyond the immediate environs of the bridge.

“The expected and inevitable result is better quality of life for Lagosians, less stress, greater productivity and more time to spend at home resting with loved ones,” he said.

The governor said the road project includes a 2.8 km bridge, deck-on-pile structures, walkways, and bicycle lanes.

He also said that it features solar-powered street lighting, embedded service ducts, and a comprehensive stormwater management system to tackle flooding on the Odo-Iya-Alaro corridor.

“This was not a straightforward build. The terrain there is swampy and prone to flooding, which meant that conventional methods would not suffice.

“What you see, therefore, is the result of careful planning and application of advanced solutions,” he said.

On the LAGIS Building, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the facility would digitise land administration in Lagos, eliminate legacy paper-based bottlenecks, and strengthen property rights.

On the Multi-Agency Administrative Complex, he said the facility would improve speed, efficiency, and coordination in public service delivery.

He said the complex, situated on approximately 2.01 hectares within the Alausa Government Secretariat precinct, comprises four blocks with over 7,362 square metres of office accommodation.

The governor said the complex also has penthouse conference facilities, parking space for over 300 vehicles, and fully integrated mechanical, electrical, fire safety, and external infrastructure systems.

“By bringing multiple agencies into a single, well-designed environment, we are enabling integration and responsiveness of public service delivery in Lagos State.

“It is a significant step towards a truly 21st Century, citizen-focused public service,” he said.

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the decision to name the complex after Tinubu was in recognition of his enduring contributions to the institutional development of Lagos State.

“The decision to name this complex after Your Excellency is both deliberate and symbolic.”

The governor acknowledged Mr Tinubu’s support for Lagos and his administration’s interventions in the state, including the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, upgrades at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, and rehabilitation works at Apapa and Tin Can Island ports.

“Your bold reforms continue to speak loud and clear, even beyond the shores of Nigeria.”

Mr Sanwo-Olu said the state government will intensify investments in infrastructure and institutional reforms in the remaining period of the administration.

Dgnitaries at the event included Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo, and Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno.

Mr Tinubu is expected to inaugurate the Tolu Schools Complex, comprising 36 schools at Ajegunle, and the Fresh Food Agro Hub in Abijo, Ibeju-Lekki, on Thursday. 

(NAN)