Businesses enjoy environment when symbiotic relationship exist — Lagos Speaker

Mr Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, says symbiotic relationship with communities is required for companies to enjoy a flourishing business environment.

Obasa made the assertion on Thursday, at the commissioning of the Westron Bridge and Road, at  Ijegun Egba, the new port city, in Amuwo Odofin Local Government in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Westron Bridge and Road were constructed by Westron Properties Nigeria Ltd., a company involved in property development and management, as well as engineering works both in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom.

Obasa was represented by Mr Rauf Age-Sulaiman, House Committee Chairman on Legislative Compliance, Amuwo Odofin Constituency 2.

According to him, nothing can exist in vacuum, and a system cannot function without interaction between everyone involved, hence the need to take care of the residents of the environment.

“The description given about Ijegun Egba, how it was in the past is very correct, about it being a swamp, and now, see how we can move smoothly on it.

“The essence of what we are doing here today is about social responsibility and we are solidly behind  the Westron Properties Nigeria Ltd.

“What they are doing is part of what government would have done, but we know this is a new government and government is about continuity, and we will do everything possible to support their efforts,” he said.

He said that the agitation against the Ijegun Port City was normal and reasonable, adding that the angle the agitators are looking at was quite different from the company’s.

Obasa said  there was need to call and give them the assurance that what was going on was for their own good and that of the country.

In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Westron Properties Nigeria Ltd., Mr George Igboegwu, said that the commissioned bridge constituted the second phase of the project which had to do with Ijegun Port City.

“Ten years ago, the area you see now across the canal was a huge swamp, completely covered with water, it was our foresight and raw determination that has led to what we see today.

“We have so far attracted a giant multinational oil company, a container handling company and a top gas company to set up shop here.

“This new road provides alternative access to the port city, links up to the Folarin and Luma roads, as previously there was only one major link, the Marwa road.

“All these developments  will increasingly bring more relief to Apapa,” he said.

The CEO called for government’s cooperation to see it come through.

Igboegwu said that the development could not have come without  some pains and discomfort to the surrounding residents of the area.

According to him, nothing comes easy.

“Our determination is to ensure we do everything possible to eliminate such discomfort, and it is in line with this that a flood control canal, road and dredging work in the community was done.

“We are comforted by the fact that in the balance, the benefit brought by the birth of the port City to Lagos, Nigeria as a whole cannot be compared with the minor and solvable discomfort that will arise,” he said.(NAN)