How Raji Rasaki was instrumental to the construction of Third Mainland Bridge

How Raji Rasaki was instrumental to the construction of Third Mainland Bridge

A lot of people do not know Brigadier Raji Alagbe Rasaki (rtd) was instrumental to the building of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos Rasaki was th

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A lot of people do not know Brigadier Raji Alagbe Rasaki (rtd) was instrumental to the building of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos

Rasaki was the military governor of Lagos State from July 1988 till January 1992. He was also military governor in Ondo and Ogun States at various times.

He revealed this much in an interview saying, “By the way, I was very much in support of what Governor Ambode did, by speaking up about his frustration concerning the Airport/Oshodi Expressway. Sometimes, you need to blackmail the Federal Government to get some of these things done. I did the same thing with the Third Mainland Bridge.

“I remember General Babangida had come back from a trip, and I had gone to receive him, despite the fact that we were using siren, it was tough passing through traffic because we passed through Yaba to Dodan Barracks. So, when we got there, I saluted and turned back. I could see that he was looking very unhappy. Akhigbe had tried with the issue but the next day, I went to Babangida and said, sir this traffic situation is bad, can you please let us sit down and discuss how to finish this bridge. General (Mamman) Kotangora, who was the Minister of Works, said the end, that is the Oworonshoki side is a built-up area, and it will be impossible to navigate it. I said sir, can you please give me the map, they said it is with Julius Berger.

“When I left there, I went to Julius Berger, I got the map, and in the process of checking that map, I saw the Coastal Road up till Calabar, that was how I began the Coastal Road. That map is there, we can still look at it. So, I went to him and said, Sir I know this is a Federal Project, but it is my people that are suffering, can we do this 50-50. If we can’t pay, you can take it from source.

“That was how we then introduced the Development Levy, it was for the Third Mainland Project mainly. That was when Gani Fawehinmi took me to court. I was not bothered because I knew we were doing something that will benefit majority of Lagosians.

“We then started work, we had got half of the way, I think that was around 1989, I believe I had just lost my wife. Babangida now said, there was no money. I said that is not possible. I told him, I have been to Abuja, I saw what is happening there, so I told him: the method you are using in Abuja, let us use it in Lagos, even if we are going to use oil to exchange for the funds because Lagos was too critical to the nation’s economy.

“The late Bode Emmanuel used to be the Chairman of one of the construction companies, that is how we became close. I told him you are a Lagosian, please let your company continue the job, we are working on payments, I also called Julius Berger and gave them assurances. There was one Dafinone that also came to our rescue, we then also told Government to collect some of the money from source too.

“That was why I was on that site every day to ensure that work was going on as scheduled.But we had a problem at Oworonshoki, one Baale and one Imam, came, they were complaining about the houses that were in the right of way, I told them, please this road is greater than all of us, nothing must stand in its way.

“They were still complaining. I just kept quiet, I went to the Army Engineers, I think Ihejerika was in charge of the Army Engineers, I told them I want that place cleared for the road in 24 hours. I told them that they should clear everything on the path of the bridge on the weekend, so that they cannot go to court and stop us. Fadayomi was my Commissioner of Justice and Baba (Teslim) Elias was with us, I also went to Rotimi Williams, they said start the operation by Friday and before they can go to court on Monday, you have completed your operation. I loved that idea.

“I was happy with the kind of advice I got. Just as we were talking, one man came in from Julius Berger, a very nice man that I worked closely with during the project. He said, I should not use Army Engineers that there was another way we can do it, that if we use the Army, we will be blackmailed. I said I don’t care. We cleared the bridge area, there were no houses for many metres, but today, the plan was to allow space in case there is future expansion.

But today I have seen houses on both sides, when I noticed that Ambode was doing some work there, I thought he will bring down those houses, that is the difference between the civilian and military government. We do not care about re-election; we just get the job done. When we cleared the place, off course, the people went to court, but the deed had been done and that was how Justice Esho used the word Executive Rascality, and you the media started singing about it, but we did not let that disturb us. Today, we are all enjoying the Third Mainland Bridge.”