The government of Nigeria has started construction work on the Ibadan end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, while appealing to road users and travellers on the axis to cooperate with the contractors handling the job so that the project would be delivered on time.
The Director of Highway Construction and Rehabilitation, Federal Ministry of Works, Engineer Funsho Adebiyi, made the disclosure recently, after a meeting with top functionaries of the Oyo State Government, OYSG, on the need to secure a synergy between the two governments, on how best the project would be delivered.
Adebiyi, who said he had toured the entire stretch of the Ibadan Toll Gate-Ojoo axis, where construction work was fully ongoing noted that all the structures on that stretch were illegal as they were built on the FG’s right of way and as such the owners should not expect any compensation for the demolition which should commence anytime soon.
He stated, “I have gone through the road, no serious buildings are there. Most of them are kiosks. Filling stations there are extending. Not that they constructed the filling stations on the right of way, but they are just extending for their own profit margin. So, if they are extending beyond their limit, we just bring them back to where they should be and the project moves on.”
Noting that the filling station owners and residents would be happier when the roads are better, Adebiyi appealed to road users to show passion, empathy and take ownership of the project, which is planned to outlive everyone in terms of durability.
The Director said part of the infrastructure to be on the project includes at least four major pedestrian bridges, while appealing to the State Government to consider supporting the project with street lights, and at least four more pedestrian bridges, in collaboration with the federal government, due to high population of road users on the long stretch of the road within the city.
Speaking on the importance of the meeting with the State Government, Adebiyi noted that there are various projects of the government which is ongoing in the State and that the State Government has shown positive signs to support the projects, especially in the areas of traffic management when roads are being diverted to allow for free flow of construction works in the axis.
He emphasised the importance of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway project, which is progressing from Sagamu to Ibadan and is now at the Toll-Gate end, saying the construction is kicking off from the stretch of the road between the Toll-Gate and Ojoo, which is perhaps one of the biggest sectors of the project.
“Although the vehicular and human traffic volume is quite high and the axle load is equally high.”
“We will need to close some sections to work and open another section, maybe a segment of 4 kilometer intervals. The traffic diversion will be necessary, the human traffic diversion will also be necessary as well as vehicular. This is where we have to collaborate with the Oyo State Government in the areas of traffic control for easy delivery of this project.”
He said the Lagos-Ibadan road project, which is over halfway gone is planned to be commissioned within the first quarter of 2022 and as such should not be interrupted with challenges.
Lateefah Ibrahim
