Kunle adelabu
Disturbed by the discontinuation of the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu – Shagamu road, the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Adetokunbo Mikhail Abiru, FCA, on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, charged the Ministry of Works to urgently provide necessary funding for the completion of the road rehabilitation.
The Senator, who is also worried by the state of Ikorodu – Itoikin – Epe road, urged the Ministry on the need to also reconstruct the road as well.
He decried the non – availability of fund for Arab Contractors, the contractor handling the Ikorodu – Shagamu road, while he also urged the Senate to mandate the Senate Committee on Works to work in conjunction with the Ministry of Works in providing necessary funding for the two important roads in the 2022 Appropriation Bill.
In a release by the Senator’s Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Enitan Olukotun, Sen. Abiru moved a motion for the urgent rehabilitation of the Ikorodu/Shagamu and Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe- Ijebu-Ode roads.
The motion was co – sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Senator Aliero Adamu,(Kebbi Central) , Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Lagos West), Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun West), Senator Tolulope Odebiyi (Ogun West) and Senator Olalekan Mustapha (Ogun East).
In the motion titled, “Motion On The Urgent Need For The Rehabilitation Of The Ikorodu-Shagamu And Ikorodu-Itoikin- Epe Roads To Further Bridge The Infrastructure Gap And Enhance Economic Growth In Nigeria”, Senator Abiru urged that the critical roads connecting the Ikorodu and other areas under the Lagos East Senatorial District to other parts of the country should be rehabilitated.
Abiru noted that the motion on the deplorable roads is a response to one of the major requests by Lagos East constituents in the NEEDS ASSESMENT that was conducted by Senator Tokunbo Abiru during the electioneering last year.
“Mindful that the Ikorodu–Shagamu road which starts from Ikorodu roundabout terminating in Isale-Oko, Sagamu, Ogun state, and the Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe road that starts from Sabo, Ikorodu and terminates in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, are Federal roads”, he said.
“Further mindful that the Ikorodu–Shagamu road is an old alignment, and is one of the busiest roads in the south – west zone which was constructed in the 1960’s before the construction of Lagos– Ibadan expressway and was a major route carrying traffic from Lagos towards the Northern part of the country, until the commissioning of Lagos – Ibadan expressway in 1978.
“Convinced that the Lagos–Shagamu road still serves as a great commercial route for the South – West, South – South and indeed the whole nation with several commercial ventures and Educational Institutions situated in that corridor such as Lafarge Cement, NNPC depot Mosimi, PZ, Knorr, several Metal Fabrication companies and Thomas Valley College and Christ Redeemers College.
“Aware that the Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe Road, which also had previously been constructed by Messrs Taylor Woodrow Nig. Ltd., was completed and commissioned by the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon in 1975″.
Senator Abiru, who was gravely concerned about the deplorable state of the two critical federal roads, further highlighted the socio-economic benefits that will accrue to Lagos State and adjourning state if the roads are fixed in record time.
He decried non – availability of funds to contractors constructing Ikorodu-Shagamu road, noting that the work done is paltry 24.04% due to paucity of funds.
“Concerned that currently, a subsisting Federal Government contract for the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu – Shagamu road which was awarded on 5th June, 2018, with a completion period of 36 months with a value of N20, 845,336,248.20, being executed by Messrs Arab Contractors O.A.O. Nigeria Limited, has only attained 24.04% completion due to lack of funding”, a concerned Senator said.
“Further concerned that in spite of the importance of the Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe road, successive Administrations have not deemed it fit to rehabilitate or upgrade this road 46 years later even though periodically, the Lagos and Ogun State Governments, have repeatedly carried out rehabilitation works on different sections of the road due to neglect from Federal Agencies [FMW&H and FERMA]”.
According to the release, the Senate approved the prayers contained in Senator Tokunbo Abiru’s motion and additional prayers by other Senators.
