Kunle ADELABU & Wale JAGUN
-Rehabilitation commences 20years after road collapsed
-Ayangbure, Dabiri-Erewa, Benson, residents laud FG
Residents of Ikorodu and other users of Ikorodu-Sagamu road, today (Monday, May 21,2018) heaved a sigh of relief as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Gbenga Ashafa and Member, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Babajimi Benson , led other dignitaries to flag-off the reconstruction of the 30.4km road.
The project was awarded to Arab Contractors and is expected to be completed in 36 months at the cost of N20bn.
According to the description of the project, there would be rigid pavement of 11.65km, flexible pavement of 18.75km and 25km of drainage.
Also at the historic event were the Special Adviser to President Muhammed Buhari on Diaspora Affairs, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, HRM Oba Kabir Shotobi who was represented by Otunba Ayodele Elesho, former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, First Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun and the Vice Chairman, APC Lagos East Senatorial District and former Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, among others.
At the event which was held in Ikorodu, Mr. Fashola assured the residents of government’s commitment to complete the job within the specified duration, saying that the road was strategic and would serve multi-purpose benefits for Nigerians, especially the people of Lagos and Ogun States .
The minister explained that, “The road will serve as an alternative route during traffic congestion and relieve the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“It will also lead to reduction in vehicle operating costs, travel time, road accidents and loss of lives. There will be job opportunities and increase in commerce. The government has a strong policy on agriculture and industrialisation, and no road is as important to these as this road.”
Re-emphasizing his assurance on the completion of the road within time, the Minister said: “Arab Contractors constructed Obafemi Awolowo Road and Ibeshe to the satisfaction of everybody. In essence, the Federal Government awarded the contract to the firm based on competence and integrity.”
“The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of Wednesday, 28th of March, 2018, awarded the contract for the full rehabilitation of Ikorodu – Shagamu Road, which passes through Odogunyan – Ogijo – Likosi -Mosimi – Sotubo before terminating at Shagamu in Ogun State at the cost of N20,845,338,248.20 to Messrs Arab Contractors O.A.O. Nigeria Ltd with a contract period of 36 months. It should be emphasized that the scope of works involves the full reconstruction of the road which hitherto has been in a very poor condition and requires urgent intervention.”
The Minister during the ceremony also appointed Asiwaju Olorun Basorun as the Coordinator of the project, especially in the area of providing employment opportunities for the teeming youths interested in working on the construction site.
Also speaking, the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for fulfilling his promise on the road, calling on the residents to cooperate with the contractor handling the project so that many people would be engaged in the rehabilitation project.
He said: “The effect of this road construction would be immense and the benefits immeasurable. Certainly, the effect of the entire process beginning from the construction phase to the completion and use of this critical infrastructure would be of direct benefit to all.
“I am aware that this project, in addition to the ultimate ease and comfort expected on completion, would also create thousands of direct jobs in the areas of skilled and unskilled labour throughout the period of construction.
“Consequently, I call on the people of Ikorodu and indeed all stakeholders to cooperate with the Federal Government and the Contractors (Messrs Arab Contractors) handling this project in order to expedite its completion. Through these 36 months, we are likely to experience inconveniences in the form of road closures, lane alternation or delays due to presence of equipment on the road. I urge you to consider these inconveniences minor sacrifice for our greater good and comfort.”
Oba Shotobi, in his own address, lauded the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari for doing in three years what former administration under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to do in 16 years.
“I really want to applaud the government of President Buhari for the award of contract and commencement of the rehabilitation of this important road.
“This is what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government failed to do in 16years but which the All Propgressives Congress (APC), led by President Muhammud Buhari, is doing in three years.
Ayangbure then advocated for the return of Buhari for second term in order to finish the project.
“Since this project cannot be finished in one year. In that wise, there is need for the continuation of this government so as to complete the project that would boost economic, social and agricultural activities”, he appealed.
Also speaking, Hon. Babajimi Benson stated that the flag-off of the project would bring about economic prosperity and social development in Ikorodu division.
“The flagging off of the road marks the beginning of economic prosperity of Ikorodu (division) and social emancipation. I commend President Buhari and our amiable Minister for this success”.
In her own remark, Hon. Abike Dabiri, who explained that as a lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the lower Chamber of the National Assembly, she and a colleague from Sagamu did everything to ensure that the road was rehabilitated but were refused by the PDP led Federal Government because they were in the opposition party, also lauded FG on the project.
Alaba Peters, a resident of Odongunyan and a regular caller on radio stations for the repair of the road and other facilities in Ikorodu by the FG, while speaking at the ceremony on behalf of the residents commended the FG and Lagos State Government for intervening in most of the critical areas he always complains about during his phone calls on radio programmes.
Ikorodu – sagamu Road Expressway is one of the busiest roads in Southwest, Nigeria. It is a important road network connecting Lagos to Ogun State State from Ikorodu garage roundabout to Sagamu town.
Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, March 29, 2018, approved N20.8 billion for the rehabilitation of the Sagamu-Ikorodu Road.
The initial official ceremony to kick- start the commencement of the road rehabilitation was scheduled to hold on Thursday, April 1, 2018, but was put-off without any reason.
The development caused disappointment for the people who have been expecting the rehabilitation work to commence in earnest since the news about the federal government’s approval for the road’s rehabilitation was broken.
