Lagospidia

𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐆𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐢’𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐤𝐤𝐢-𝐈𝐤𝐨𝐲𝐢 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐣𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐦𝐨𝐛𝐢 People with sharp and bright minds will obviously not buy into the false narrative of Chinedu Rhodes-Vivour’s defeatist running mate, Babatunde Gbadamosi. Only a dull internet audience whom both losers daily entertain with their cocktails of gossip will glorify the misleading claims captured in his post, which have no basis in fact. In this season of politics, an irresponsible comment like this is likely to create unnecessary buzz around political discussion if not factually addressed. The reason why this long explainer matters to reassure the teeming Lagosians who are already anticipating top-notch leadership from Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat — the candidate of the moment. 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐤𝐤𝐢-𝐈𝐤𝐨𝐲𝐢 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 Yes, it is true that the then Commissioner for Works, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, oversaw the construction of the 1.68 km cable-stayed Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, an important asset built by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to ease traffic congestion affecting vehicular travel across the sprawling urban communities of Eti Osa. When completed in May 2013, the bridge cost approximately N29 billion (about $190 million at the then prevailing exchange rates). This figure aligned with Nigeria’s general infrastructure cost benchmark during the construction period. The cable-stayed bridge, which is the first of such projects in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, was built by Julius Berger. It has an approximately 90 to 91 metres A-shaped pylon, stay cables, dual carriageways, prominent sidewalks, approaches and deep foundations, with piles up to about 60 to 75 metres high over the lagoon and navigational clearance below. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗-𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 There is no where in the world where cable-stayed bridges are not capital intensive. Cable-stayed bridges are more expensive per unit metre than girder or long viaduct bridges because of the specialised pylons, stay cables, geometry and construction techniques deployed to build cable-stayed bridges. The Ikoyi-Lekki Link Bridge cost approximately $6,000 per metre square based on the calculations of the period, and considering the deck area, which is a total of 31,900 metre square. This was a period when the international benchmark for cable-stayed bridges averaged above $7,000 per metre square, excluding varying costs of environmental constraints. During construction of the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, the cost per square metre reflected the capital for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), waterfront constraints, imported skills and materials, soil conditions requiring deep piles, and the need for a durable, high-quality structure built to endure. 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 In his grossly deceptive remarks about the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge project, Gbadamosi pointed to high cost “per kilometre”, even when the entire bridge deck was not even up to 2km. He compared the Lekki-Ikoyi Cable-stayed Bridge with a 26.7 kilometre-long self-anchored suspension Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China. This comparison lacks a sensible basis and sincerity, because the befuddled pretender concealed key aspects of the projects he used in his deceptive comparison. He intentionally omitted the structural details of the China bridge just to provoke hysteria from his intellectually lazy supporters. He never mentioned the true deck spans of the China bridge, material markets, and its environmental conditions. The fact: Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is a 26.7km component of the 41.58km Jiaozhou Bay Connection Project. The project cost ¥10 billion (approximately $1.58 billionat the time the construction completed in 2011). 1/2

Governance is about listening to the everyday struggles of people and having the courage to find lasting solutions. A few days ago, during my visit to residents of Osborne Foreshore Estate, I was reminded of why we took the decision to build the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge during my time overseeing the Ministry of Works. People needed to spend less time in traffic. Drivers needed relief. Lagos needed better connections to support the growth of the Lekki Peninsula. When we delivered this landmark project alongside Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, it marked an important moment in the development of our city. Beyond the relief it brought to thousands of daily commuters, the bridge became an iconic part of the Lagos skyline and a symbol of what vision, innovation and purposeful leadership can achieve. Critics may try to rewrite history, make unfair comparisons or turn progress into a political argument but they cannot erase the difference this bridge has made in the lives of the millions of people who use it. I have always believed in clean, transparent and impactful public service. We are focused on what matters and our responsibility is to keep building, renewing infrastructure and making everyday life better for the people of Lagos. That is the work we started and that is the Lagos PROMISE we remain committed to keeping. And when anyone attempts to undermine projects that have made life better for Lagosians, one simple question is worth asking: What have they built? @drobafemihamzat