Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday inspected sites for relocation of people to make way for the proposed Ikorodu Road expansion project warning traders to steer clear of the road and its bus stops.

Governor Fashola who undertook an inspection tour of part of Ikorodu Road to evaluate the proposed expansion, told Government House Correspondents after inspecting parts of the setbacks at Ajegunle in the Kosofe Local Council Development Area, that there was no way the project could be successfully implemented with the traders still occupying the road setbacks.

The Governor who said he also came to see the activities of the Mile 12 Market, declared, "They have to move back into their Market and stop obstructing the road so that there can be efficient thoroughfare of commuters and transporters. There is no expansion we can do, no matter how well-intentioned and well-implemented, if people trade in the streets, it won't work".

"So, this is again our final appeal to Mile 12 Market men and women to move back into their market and stop trading at the bus stops or on the streets. We will send our people back again to sanction them if they don't comply", the Governor warned.

The Governor, who said he came to see the extent of relocation between Mile 12 and Ajegunle, disclosed that all the people at the setbacks on both sides of the road would be moved for a successful implementation of the expansion project adding that the relocation and displacement of people would be an inevitable consequence of the expansion project.

Governor Fashola said, "I thought it was important for me to come and see things for myself what the experts have shown to me in the office and also to feel the communal response", adding that some of the people already affected by the expansion project were the danfo drivers recently relocated from under the Mile 12 Bridge.

"I was happy that the Treasurer of the Drivers' Union there said they were happy with our plan to relocate them and that they were ready to move", Governor Fashola said.

On the proposed Housing Estate at Ajegunle, Governor Fashola said the site of the proposed Housing estate was formerly a slum "where all sorts of things were happening. But we have cleared the place; we have taken possession with the collaboration of the Local Council Development Area here and we already have very interesting partnership for Housing development and it is part of the renewal programme of the Ajelogo/Mile 12 onto Ajegunle and Ikorodu Town".

"They look good on the plans and so we have come to see how they look in real life, and so far so good", the Governor said.

He commended the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), the Ministry of Transport, and the Lands Bureau "for the great job they have done so far", adding, "What is left, the next step now is to conclude all the transaction documents and get all the contractors on site for the road and the housing estate so that Ikorodu, Mile 12 and Ojota and their immediate environs can expect to see improvement in the months to come", the Governor said.

Governor Fashola, who reiterated that the French Development Agency has facilitated part of the funding for the project which has been advertised for tender, noted with delight that the two projects would generate employment stimulate economic growth and other related ventures in the State.

Also among the inspection team were Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola and Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola among other members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries.