Kunle Adelabu
Sen. Mikhail Abiru (2nd left) with officials of the Ministry of Works and representative of the company handling the project during the tour.
The Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Sen. Mikhail Adetokunbo Abiru, has commended the rate of work on the ongoing rehabilitation of the Ikorodu – Shagamu Road, stating that the journey which took him and his team 2 hours about a year ago was completed in less than 30minutes due to interventions.
Abiru, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, also stated that the project is 75% completed.
The Senator defied the torrential rainfall last Friday to tour the project with the officials of the Ministry of Works and representatives of the Arab Contractors, the construction company handling the project.
While Engr. Adedamola Kuti, Director, Highway Southwest, Federal Ministry of Works, led Ministry officials, Mr Huzem Monuir represented the contractor.
The 30 Km Ikorodu/ Sagamu road was in a deplorable condition for almost forty years due to neglect until 2018 when the Federal Government awarded the road for reconstruction. However, due to paucity of funds, the work dragged on causing unimaginable pains for commuters, motorists, residents and businesses along the axis.
The intervention of the Senator, through a motion, “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”, on Wednesday, April 28, 2021, which the Senate unanimously supported, provided the much needed funding through SUKUK for the financing of the rehabilitation of the expressway.
“So, as you have seen as we journeyed on this road, the major improvements you saw from Sabo to LASPOTECH First Gate, Odogunyan, Ita-Oluwo, Ogijo, Gbaga, Sotubo, Mosimi, Thames Valley International School to Gbara Village, are the fruitful results of those efforts we made”, Sen. Abiru said.
“According to the contractors, the work progressed from 25% to 75% in less than a year due to the Sukuk Funding I facilitated through the Honourable Minister. I want to express my profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister for Works & Housing, Mr Babatiunde Raji Fashola, SAN, for allocating the highest sum of the Sukuk 4 Bond they raised in December 2021 to Ikorodu/Sagamu Road.
“From Eyita, around Sabo Ikorodu to Gbara Village, about 22 Km had been completed, remaining about 8 km to reach Sagamu.
“I remember in 2021 when we journeyed on this road, it took us 2 hours but today in less than 30 minutes, we have travelled to and fro and that is efficiency and that is what brings prosperity and that is the kind of focus we should have in meeting the infrastructural deficit we have in this country”.
On Ikorodu/Itoikin Road, Senator Abiru said the same motion has also brought the attention of the Federal Government to the deplorable state of the road.
“Based on the follow up representations to the Minister, a resolution to rehabilitate the road has commenced, but it has to follow necessary procedures of procurement and award of contracts as laid down by law”, he said.
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“Again, I have been following up on the situation, and I can assure you that progress is being gradually achieved based on extant law on contract awards”, he assured.
Engr. Adedamola Kuti, Director, Highway Southwest, Federal Ministry of Works, while explaining the road design and materials used, said the road was partly concrete and Asphalt built to withstand heavy duty trucks that ply the road.
“A portion of this road is built on flexible pavements, that is the normal aggregate and Asphalt and we have another section that is built on rigid pavement, that is concrete construction. We have the combination of the two. Just like the Distinguished Senator mentioned, we have a lot of metal fabrication companies along this road, so this road has been built to take care of all those things”, he said.
“Even what we have done in some sections, we have done only to binder course, and you will see that you won’t see any failure on it before we now put our wear in on it. The road is built to last.
Huzem Monuir, Area Manager, Arab Contractors Company, thanked the distinguished Senator for his contribution to the fast pace of work on the road through Sukuk bond.
“We have achieved 50% progress in less than a year”, Monuir said.
