Gov Ambode says his government replicate Dubai Marina in Badagry, Epe

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday vowed that his administration will replicate the Dubai Marina project in Badagry and Epe axis to harness the state tourism potentials.

The governor revealed this while fielding questions from reporters after embarking on inspection of on-going projects in Epe, Lekki and Ajah axis.

He said the government has decided to develop its tourist sites that could match the best in the world to boost its economic prosperity.

“The road will be dualised with about five metres of walkway to make it pedestrian friendly. The intention is to build a modern Marina that can compete with others worldwide. We have already incorporated some of the world Marina design into the project.

“There might be some hotel and malls that will encourage 24-hour commercial activities. It will be a mega terminal for water transportation,” Ambode said.

The governor added that the Badagry-Marina Lagoon reclamation project would be completed by the end of August. He said the Epe-Marina Lagoon reclamation project was a complete redevelopment plan to facilitate growth of the area and promote tourism.

Ambode explained that the government gave the project to a contractor, FCC Construction Company, based on what they had achieved in the construction sector.

He said: “The reason we embarked on these projects simultaneously is to actually duplicate what you see in Dubai-Marina. This is a whole stretch of two kilometres of real estate and new tourist centres that we are putting in Epe and Badagry at the same time.

“We believe strongly that coming out from our retreat that we said we are going to grow the IGR of Lagos State by 2017 to N30 billion and by 2018 to N50 billion. We believe that some of these projects that we are commencing now are just inlets to our dream of growing the IGR.

“We believe that by the time we expand the tourist potentials of the state, especially Badagry and Epe, we will be able to get new investors into the state. They will be doing other things away from what we already have at the moment.”

The governor, who was accompanied on the inspection by some top government functionaries, also inspected the Adeniji Adele transport interchange outward Third Mainland Bridge, where he ordered massive enforcement against illegal dropping and picking of passengers at undesignated bus stops.

Ambode also inspected the on-going rehabilitation and upgrading of Freedom Road and Admiralty Way in Lekki, as well as the on-going bridge being constructed at Ajah Roundabout.