Lagos Public Works Seeks Support Of NSE, APWEN

The General Manager, Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Engr. Olufemi Daramola has solicited the support of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) in projecting the works embarked upon by the Corporation to the larger public.

Daramola also urged the Associations to continue to play the watchdog role through positive criticism and providing feedback to the LSPWC, noting that “as engineers you have the knowledge and understand the technicalities of the profession, hence you are in a better position to explain to the members of the public issues surrounding road rehabilitation and its dynamics”.

While welcoming the delegates of the NSE and APWEN to his office in Ojodu-Berger on Thursday, Daramola declared that LSPWC Engineers and Nigerian Engineers at large are capable of solving local engineering problems.

Represented by the Director Civil Engineering Department, Engr. Olayinka Abdul, the General Manager appreciated the courtesy call by the two bodies and thanked them for their support, encouragement as well as monitoring of the progress made by the Corporation in its efforts to rid Lagos of bad roads.

Engr. Daramola stressed that Lagos residents will feel the impact of the Corporation’s efforts more as soon as the rain subsides, saying that “The Corporation had envisaged that by September, the rains would have subsided and by October, we would be in the dry season which is the best time to carry out sectional rehabilitation. We are in October and the rains are still here”.

“You will be amazed by the quantum of rain that fell last week Saturday all over Lagos. Just imagine we were using Asphalt at that time, it would have amounted to waste of resources. This is the reason why we have continued to deploy boulders across different locations in the State as a temporary measure to ameliorate pains of commuters pending when the rains subside”, he added.

The General Manager acknowledged that improper discharge of wastewater to catchment areas is one of the reasons why rehabilitation work done on roads does not stand the test of time, maintaining that “If people know that they do not need to wait on the government before they desilt drainages in front of their homes or if residents dispose wastes properly as they should, then the issue of flooding which arises as a result of block drainages will be minimal”.

Earlier, the leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) led by the Chairman Ikeja Branch, Engr. Funmilade Akingbagbohun and the President, Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN), Engr. (Dr) Felicia Agubata commended the Lagos State Government for the deployment of seasoned and tested professional Engineers to manage the Lagos State Public Works Corporation.

Engr. Akingbagbohun confirmed that the presence of Public Works can be felt all over Lagos in the areas of road maintenance and rehabilitation, urging the Corporation to continue to intensify efforts to rid the roads of craters and potholes.

She expressed the desire of NSE to collaborate with Lagos State Public Works Corporation by organising training for its Engineers according to their needs, especially in the area of capacity development through the acquisition of new skills.

On her part, the President, Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN) Engr. Felicia Agubata appreciated the management of the Corporation for its glaring road maintenance efforts across the State so as to ensure less travel time on the roads.

She acknowledged that the work to be done is still enormous but assured that the association will be an eye of the Corporation by calling the attention of the management when it falters.

The President further pointed out that the Association will continue to monitor the progress of the Corporation towards excellence, saying that “A success for LSPWC is a success for all Engineers”.