Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday disclosed that the construction of the long awaited 38km 4th Mainland Bridge would begin this year.
The governor spoke at the 2022 Thanksgiving Service held at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos on Sunday.
Sanwo-Olu said this New Year 2022 is a special year for his administration, because it would be the final full year of the four-year mandate given to him by Lagosians in 2019.
“It will therefore be a Season of Consolidation, a year in which we hope to complete all ongoing projects and significantly advance our journey towards the Greater Lagos of our collective desire.
“By the special Grace of God, the vision of having the largest Rice Mill in sub-Saharan Africa and one of the largest in the world will become a reality this year.
“Also, this year 2022 will witness a milestone achievement in the rail transportation system in our State, as we expect the 37km Red and 27.5km Blue Line Rail projects to commence commercial operations between the last quarter of this year and first quarter of 2023,” he said.
The governor added: “Equally, construction work on the 38km 4th Mainland Bridge — which will be the longest in Africa — and the Opebi-Mende link bridge will commence this year. 2022 will also witness, by the special Grace of God, the completion of the ongoing reconstruction work on the 18.75km Eleko to T-Junction in Epe, the 10km Lekki Regional Road, and the section of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway that the Lagos State Government is constructing with the permission of the Federal Government.
“These are just a handful of the projects that will be completed or advanced this year. Indeed, 2022 will witness remarkable development on various fronts: Infrastructure, Technology, Health and Education, Security, and many more; all of which will translate to a significant improvement in the quality of life of all Lagosians.”
However, Sanwo-Olu said God had been faithful in the previous year, as His mercies and goodness have been abundant upon “our lives, as individuals, as families, as a State, and as a nation.”
He said every New Year comes with the opportunity to start afresh, to dream new dreams and envision new visions, of personal change, of self-improvement, of the pursuit of new levels and vistas in people’s lives and undertakings.
But it is also an opportunity to look back, at the outgoing year, to highlight the lessons we learned, to review the steps we took, to learn from the mistakes we made.
“This season is therefore both for looking back and looking forward. And in these acts, we will no doubt find much to be thankful for.
“Looking back at 2021, it was the second year of the global pandemic, which has been described as the greatest disruption to human existence since the Second World War.
“During the year, Lagos remained the epicenter of the pandemic. But by the sheer and abiding Grace of God, we have been able to cope with the threat represented by the Coronavirus. We commenced our successful vaccination programme, in a bid to stem the tide of the virus in our state.
“2021 was also a year of bouncing back from the destruction visited on our State following the EndSARS protests in the fourth quarter of 2020. We are grateful to God for the strength to overcome the mindless violence our State experienced. We are deeply grateful that what the forces of darkness planned for our State did not come to pass.
“We emerged from it, still standing, still trusting in God, and fully energized to build back, better and stronger. What the forces of destruction meant for evil, God is turning around for our good. We are wiser, and more determined than ever to transform our State into a truly 21st century economy,” he said.
The governor stated that the arson and violence had spurred his administration to invest more resources in security apparatus, automate court processes and redouble mass transit reform.
“And we are confident that never again will our State have to suffer such devastation at the hands of the agents of violence and destruction. They sought to divide and destroy us, but they have only succeeded in bringing us together and strengthening our resolve to build a Greater Lagos for ourselves and our children,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu stated that this year’s Edition of the annual Thanksgiving Service has the theme, ‘Songs of Thanksgiving’, inspired by Jeremiah Chapter 30 and Verse 19 (NIV), “From them will come songs of thanksgiving and sounds of rejoicing. I will add to their numbers and they will not be decreased; I will bring them honour and they will not be disdained”.
He said it was only the grace and blessing of the Almighty God that could translate the lofty dreams and efforts into the kind of glorious success that Nigerians desired, adding that it is only the Blessing of God that could translate the newly signed 2022 Budget into the kind of prosperity that positively touched the lives of all the people of Lagos State.
The governor used the opportunity to encourage all to take their vaccines and booster shots without delay, saying “we have seen first-hand how vaccination has helped minimize the impact of the 4th wave, compared to previous ones.”
In his sermon, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, who used Psalms 150:6 as reference point, charged people to cultivate the habits of appreciating God, noting that people have reasons to praise God.
Adeboye, who was accompanied by his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye, prayed for Governor Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State and Nigeria.
Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, thanked God for witnessing another year, saying the administration is living no stone unturned at ensuring the security and safety of lives and property of Lagosians.
Elegushi, who said the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is embarking on infrastructural developments, urged people to be law abiding through due diligence by adhering to COVID-19 protocols.
The Thanksgiving Service which featured hymns, praise and worship, Bible readings and prayers was also attended by All Progressives Congress (APC), National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Mudashiru Obasa; First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and his wife, Abimbola; Senators Adeola Solomon and Tokunbo Abiru; former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Otunba Femi Pedro and Princess Sarah Sosan, members of the State Executive Council, former and serving government officials, traditional rulers and religious leaders among others.
