Council calls for improved traffic management on Lagos-Ibadan expressway
The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) on Wednesday called for better traffic management at the ongoing road rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Registrar of COREN, Prof. Bello Adisa, while lauding the road rehabilitation as meeting international standards, said traffic should be managed to meet best practices and ease the stress of commuters.
A report says the Federal Ministry of Roads and Works had awarded the rehabilitation of the road between Seven -up to Shagamu Interchange along Lagos Ibadan expressway to Julius Berger Nigeria.
The Registrar was represented by the Lagos State Technical Committee led by the Secretary, Joseph Adeyemi, an engineer.
Adisa said that commuters were groaning at the poor traffic management and slow pace of work which should be addressed accordingly to ease the stress of the road users while construction was ongoing.
“The purpose of the council is to ensure that the codes of ethics of engineering are upheld in Nigeria.
“All our observations and recommendations will be passed to the council for ratification to the right order.
“All observations made will be passed on to improve the traffic management as well as other issues identified,’’ he said.
He also identified some salient points that should be addressed including flooding during rain at Kara Bridge, and a resolution plan for frequent accidents on Otedola Bridge.
The Registrar advised that the design of balusters for parapets must be robust and sturdy and that all signages should be made bold and visible for road users.
According to him, the quality of work done should not be sacrificed at the speed of completion and high-quality control must be upheld.
He encouraged all engineers should be registered with COREN according to cadre and that the engineers should be at the Engineers Assembly coming up because it enhances professional development.
While responding to the issues to be addressed, the Chief Resident Engineer, Clement Adejala, said that the Lagos Ibadan expressway was the busiest interstate corridor around West Africa.
He said that there was a traffic management plan with LASTMA, TRACE, and FRSC to reduce stress and traffic.
According to him, most traffic issues on the road are manmade due to non-compliance with instructions.
“Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) created a platform for feedback from the community and the situation is being improved.”
Adejala also alerted that the small palliative carried out on Ikorodu road was not adequate hence the traffic.
The Controller of Works, Keisha Olukorede, said that the work was according to the specification of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and would be done for the good of Nigerians.
According to Olukorede, the visit is a timely one and a very welcomed one.
“It is something to be done from time to time because COREN, being the regulatory body, needs to do on-the-spot assessment of what the engineering community is doing.
“They will be convinced beyond any doubt that the jobs are being executed according to specification and standard.”
She, however, recommended that such visits be more frequent, very objective and technical details should be looked into such that if there were suggestions or comments, revisions could be effected according to standards.
“All Hands must be on deck; it is collaborative work and responsibility of all the engineers.
“So, COREN being a regulatory body, it is part of their duties and we welcome them at all times”.
Mr Kayode Ibidapo, an engineer of the National Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE), also commended the ongoing work at the Lagos Ibadan expressway between Seven Up and Shagamu Interchange.
Ibidapo said that the inspection was also to ascertain that the engineers were qualified and he affirmed the result was satisfactory.
NAN/Dominica Nwabufo
