The Lagos State Government budget records show that ₦129 million was disbursed in 2025 for the landscaping and beautification of the Obalende underbridge bus park. But repeated visits by this reporter between late 2025 and April 2026 found no visible signs of work matching that scale of spending, while state officials failed to provide details of contractors, project scope, or completed deliverables.
The finding raises fresh questions as the same location is now being proposed for another major transformation project to be funded by MTN Nigeria under its corporate social responsibility initiative.
The newly announced plan, branded the Y’ELLO Bus Park, is expected to turn the Obalende Bus Stop into a modern transport hub with organised transport operations, solar-powered infrastructure, improved sanitation, and green public space.
However, while the new proposal has been welcomed by many commuters and transport workers, the earlier ₦129 million reportedly spent on landscaping and beautification in 2025 remains invincible in public.
For daily users of the space, they have consistently advocated for such change in the area.
“We’ve pushed for this development before, fought, we’ve gone back and forth, but at this point, it’s up to the government to act when they’re ready,” said Saka Balogun, a bus driver.
According to him, earlier conversations around the project stalled over execution.
“The last major argument was about who would handle it. Now, MTN said they wouldn’t hand it over to anyone; they want to execute it themselves,” he said. “There’s been no sign of construction or beautification. If work had started, we would all see it.”
Speaking further, he said commuters and transport workers are open to the new plan.
“Everybody wants development. Nobody would reject something good. For now, we are hopeful and waiting.”
What the 2025 Budget Shows
Documents from the Lagos State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning show that ₦194.2 million was allocated for a project titled Landscaping & Beautification of Obalende Underbridge and Setback, Development of New Parks and Garden.
By the end of the fourth quarter of the 2025 budget cycle, about ₦129 million had been disbursed.
A breakdown of the spending shows that ₦60.55 million was released in the fourth quarter, while ₦23.256 million was spent in the third quarter. This suggests that roughly ₦45.227 million had already been expended during the first and second quarters of 2025.
The project fell under agencies including the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
However, there is limited publicly available information on the exact scope of work completed, contractors engaged, timelines, or milestones achieved.
When contacted, the General Manager of LASPARK, Mrs. Adetoun Popoola, directed enquiries to the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources.
She said only the ministry could respond to questions regarding the project.
“Send a letter to the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry of Environment is handling the project. They will give you any information you need on the project,” she said.
A formal letter was sent to the Commissioner for Environment and the ministry seeking clarification. As of the time of filing this report, no response had been received. Repeated calls to the commissioner also went unanswered.
What Site Visits Reveal
Multiple visits by this reporter between the end of February till April of 2026 found no clear evidence of landscaping or structural upgrades consistent with a project of that scale.
A follow-up visit on April 7, 2026, also showed no obvious beautification works of any change.
The under ridge bus park remains unchanged, still show it used to be.
Traders and commuters expressed surprise when informed of the reported spending.
“We haven’t seen any work like that here,” said Muyibat Kareem, a trader.
“If anything was done, it didn’t show,” said a commercial driver who gave his name simply as Jimoh.
Their comments reflect a disconnect between budget figures and lived experience.
During another visit on April 19, however, a banner announcing the commencement of the Y’ELLO Bus Park project, including sponsors and projected timeline, was visible at the site.
This suggests that a fresh redevelopment effort is now being pursued possibly in May 2026, even as questions remain over the previous expenditure.
Sanitation Concerns Persist
Beyond questions of funding and timelines, commuters still face immediate environmental concerns.
Under the bridge, drainage channels remain clogged with stagnant water, plastic waste, and debris. A nearby pipe empties directly into the canal, creating a strong odour around the area.
For a location used daily by thousands of commuters, traders, and transport workers, the conditions present both discomfort and possible health risks.
Makeshift shelters also line parts of the underbridge, where some homeless residents live beside polluted water in unsafe conditions. Traders sell food nearby while commuters wait for buses only a few steps away.
When it rains, users fear the blocked drainage could overflow, disrupt movement, and expose more people to contaminated water.
A policeman stationed nearby, who requested anonymity, said the area needs basic environmental management before beautification.
“Before beautification, there is a more urgent need for basic environmental management. We can’t even breathe,” he said.
For now, Obalende remains caught between documented expenditure, proposed redevelopment, and difficult daily realities. Until officials provide clearer explanations and visible progress aligns with public records, questions over the ₦129 million spend are likely to remain.
While we continue to observe the supposed fresh redevelopment effort as indicated in the banner recently placed at the underbridge bus park, we’ll bring you an update in a follow-up story.
By Omowumi Abraham