By Demi Adeniyi
The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (LAMATA) on Wednesday handed over to the State’s Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) a new Public Primary School, at Ori Odi community, in Mushin Local Government Area of the state, to replace the old, demolished for the construction of the Red Line of the Lagos Railway Project.
Handing the new school complex over to the Lagos State Universal Basic Education, LAMATA’s Managing Director Engr Abimbola Akinajo said it is another promise kept by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
“Sometime last year, we had consulted with the SUBEB led by Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King on the rail project and how it would affect Mushin Primary School. He welcomed the project and wholeheartedly supported our proposal to demolish the school and build another one at a new location.
“On behalf of the Lagos State Government, I want to sincerely thank you for trusting us. We know how difficult it must be for the Board to have the pupils distributed to other schools. We also wish to apologise to our children and parents because we had to put extra burden on them.”
Akinajo who was represented by LAMATA’s Director of Rail Services Engr Olasunkanmi Okusaga said the new school structure now comprises three-blocks of one-storey building well-fenced, with a new gatehouse, 12 classrooms, 14 toilets, four staff rooms, two head teacher’s offices, a food court, standard playing pitch, four storeroom and elevated water tank for the supply of pipe borne water and an ample parking space.
She said she is happy that the pupils had gone through minimal disruptions to their academics as LAMATA is handing over a new structure in replacement of the old school, where academic exercise can continue unabated in the new session.
Akinajo who recalled that a similar gesture took place last month where LAMATA on behalf of the Lagos State Government handed over three blocks of nine flats to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) at Agege in replacement of the three structures demolished in Ikeja, for the Ikeja Railway Station, said LAMATA is in the forefront of ensuring minimum losses by anyone in the process of achieving the legacy rail project.
Akinajo who handed the new school building over to the Commissioner of Education Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, said the school can accomodate 350 students urged the State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) to make good use of the school.
Adefisoye who was represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Mr Abolaji Abayomi, commended LAMATA for the gesture.
Describing the new structure as “1000% better than what was demolished”, the Permanent Secretary urged LAMATA to “kindly come more often and demolish the state’s public schools in order to help replace them with more befitting edifices.”
He commended the State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for keeping to the promise of bequeathing a 21st Century metropolis to the people of the state, adding that the Red and Blue rail lines which would be delivered next year are legacy projects that would etch the governor’s name in the minds of the people.
The Permanent Secretary later handed over the keys to the school premises to the Chairman of the Lagos SUBEB, Mr Wahab Alawiye-King, who was represented by SUBEB Board Chairman, Mr Lamidi Hakeem.
A community leader, Yinusa Wahab, thanked the Lagos State Governor for bringing such an edifice to the Ori Odi community in Mushin. “We in this community appreciate the governor for promises made and fulfilled.”
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