Kunle Adelabu
After many years of contending with the deplorable state of Oba Sekumade Road that links many communities across councils in Ikorodu Division to the Ikorodu-Lagos Expressway, the Lagos State Government has mobilized the Arab Contractors to ensure that the road is reconstructed with some features that will make the road to last longer.
THE IMPACT had reported on June 22, 2020, on its online platforms that the Lagos State Government has awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the strategic road to the construction giant, Arab Contractors.
The project which is starting this month is expected to be completed in 14 months.
Engr. Lateef Ayomide Somide, the Project Director, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, while speaking at the Stakeholders’ meeting for the reconstruction of the Oba Sekumade road in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, on Thursday, October 8, 2020, presented what residents and other road users would experience during the reconstruction of the road and features that will be provided when it is finally completed.
In the presentation, which centred on the technical details of the reconstruction, Engr. Somide said that the project will commence in October 2020.
Also on the reconstruction details, the Project Director said:
“The road is a double carriageway, 7.3km each with Concrete Rigid Pavement, New Jersey Media Kerb of 0.5m, Drainage 1m *1m both sides, Walkway 1.5m both sides, Longitudinal Service Dust both sides, Cross Service Dust, 4 * 100mm @250mm and Street light system on both sides.
Speaking further on other features that will be on the road, he said:
“The road is going to accommodate street lightings to be powered with a generator, layby and most importantly, there is need for us to expand the road by accommodating a refuge lane of about 1000 metres on a side to make about three lanes on each side of the road.
“In this regard, people will be able to maneuver their vehicles in case there is any breakdown without having any problem.
“Taking into consideration the heavy load on the road from Dangote terminal and other articulated vehicles, the design of this road is going to be rigid pavement that is reinforced concrete rigid pavement”.
He also gave a breakdown of personnel that will be working on the road during the execution of the contract.
“Expatriate 10, Accountants and Administration 8, Nigerian Engineers 8, Skilled Labours 187, Unskilled Labour 103 and gives us a total of 316 personnel that will work on the reconstruction of Oba Sekumade road”.
The Project Director also said that the road project is in line with the T.H.E.S.E agenda of the present administration with the intention of integrating intermodal transportation systems.
“In line with T.H.E.S.E agenda of the Gov. Babajide Sanwo – Olu’s administration, where’ T’ as the first acronym, stands for Transportation and Traffic Management, this project encourages integrated intermodal transportation systems.
“This particular road is complementing this ferry terminal because the design of the terminal accommodates BRT buses within its premises which can take about ten buses at a time.
“It also accommodates passenger shelters that would take over 100 people at a time. This is a way to synchronise the road and water system”.
He said that a side of the road will remain open to motorists to ply throughout the duration of the reconstruction.
“The intention of the ministry is to ensure that one side of the road is constantly passable till the end of the project. The way we are going to structure the work is that we will be working on one side while the other will be passable throughout the duration of the project”, Engr. Somide said.
He, however, called for the cooperation of residents and other road users throughout the duration of the reconstruction.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructures, Engr. Olujimi Hotonu, also speaking at the meeting, summed up what residents should be expecting after the completion of the reconstruction of the road stating that:
“The Oba Sekumade road, a major strategic link road, serves as alternative route for the lkorodu road and it connects about 20 communities in lkorodu West LCDA to Ogolonto on the Lagos expressway.
“Oba Sekumade road enables several communities to link the Lagos – Ikorodu road but it has deteriorated overtime and presently in a highly deplorable condition. Road users experience heavy traffic, delay travel and sometimes suffer damages to their vehicle.
“The news today is that our governor has responded to the yearnings and aspiration of the good people of Ikorodu.
“The reconstruction of Oba Sekumade road will terminate the sufferings and bring relief to the people that are living in this area and also promote socio – economic activities”.
