The Federal Government has begun repair works on the seven-kilometre dilapidated sections of the Lagos-Sango-Otta-Abeokuta road, it was learnt yesterday.
The government’s decision to do the repairs was prompted by the deteriorating condition of the busy road and the need to alleviate the human and vehicular challenges faced by its users, according to Special Adviser to the Minister of Works on Media, Uchenna Orji.
The Federal Government awarded the contract to rehabilitate the road in 1999, but it was not completed due to what successive administrations called a lack of funds, leading to the abandonment of the road by the contractor.
The lack of maintenance has rendered the entire stretch of the road nearly impassable, with mostly articulated trucks and few daring smaller vehicles managing to navigate it with difficulty.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, Orji explained that the repair work would be executed by the Federal Ministry of Works in conjunction with a concessionaire.
According to him, the launch of ‘Operation Free Our Roads’ by the Federal Government was adopted to show the commitment of the government towards ensuring smooth journeys among motorists and commuters on all federal roads nationwide.
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Launching the initiative in July in Abuja, Works Minister David Umahi said it aimed at accelerating the rehabilitation of roads currently under repairs.
Also, the Senate yesterday summoned Works Minister Dave Umahi over the deplorable condition of the Old Oyo-Ogbomosho Road.
The summons followed the Senate’s consideration of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari (APC, Oyo North), who drew his colleagues’ attention to the worsening condition of the road.
The senator said the road, a major link between the South and the North, had caused untold hardship for travellers, most of whom were frequently stranded.
For over 10 years after the Federal Government began major repairs on the road, Buhari said it had remained deplorable, causing regular accidents and daily gridlock by articulated vehicles.
The Red Chamber said Umahi is to appear before its Committee on Works to explain what led to the abandonment of vast portions of the road, many years after the contract was awarded.
Senators unanimously endorsed the motion.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio directed the Committee on Works to report back to plenary in three weeks.