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Tag: Road projects

  • FEC approves over ₦740b for major road projects

    FEC approves over ₦740b for major road projects

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved a number of high-profile road projects, including ₦740 billion for the Berger stretch of the Abuja-Kano route.

    The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after the Council meeting, which was presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

    He clarified the government’s approach to managing the extensive backlog of infrastructure projects.

    Among the key decisions, the FEC announced that the Shagamu-Benin road is undergoing a critical rehabilitation, while procurement processes are being finalized for its full reconstruction using reinforced concrete pavement. 

    He said the  Abuja-Kano road, previously slated for a tax credit arrangement, will now be procured without such a provision, with the 162-kilometer Berger section already approved for ₦740 billion.

    Umahi highlighted several other projects, including the commencement of construction on the Sokoto-Badagry road, with the Sokoto section to be flagged off imminently. 

    Additionally, he said works on the Oyo-Ogbomosho road, a project stalled for 18 years, will resume, and the Makurdi-Katsina-Ala road will undergo significant repairs.

    According to him, FEC also tackled the inherited debt profile of ₦1.6 trillion tied to 2,604 projects, with a total contract value of ₦13 trillion. 

    To manage the backlog, he said the Ministry of Works has initiated a phased approach to project completion based on available funding. 

    Key examples include the phasing of the Biu-Kangiwa-Kamba-Kaya Niger Republic road in Kebbi State, the Yola-Hong-Mubi road in Adamawa State, and the Kachako-Dambazua road in Kano State.

    The council further approved advanced payment mechanisms to combat inflation and rising costs driven by fluctuating exchange rates and petroleum prices.

    “And finally, we presented a memo to FEC that where there is proof of funds, there is available funds, the Procurement Act allows MDAs to pay a maximum of 30% advance payments. And let me emphasise that this advanced payment. When you read the law, it say may pay. 

    “And so when people are giving contracts and they don’t mobilize, and they said, I’ve not paid mobilization, it is not legally binding, because the word says may pay. And so some people turn it shall pay. So no, it’s may pay. 

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    “So where we have funds, and they will have a valuable fund beyond this 30% so what we are, you know, we requested from FEC is approved, that we first pay 30% which is the Procurement Act, and not more, and then when the contractor has started work, and to the satisfaction of the Ministry of works, we should be allowed to pay additional funds. 

    “Yes, the law allows us to pay in terms of you know, materials on site. But we are asking beyond that, what is the essence of this? Is to mitigate a lot of fluctuation and inflation, because we have a lot of you know, indices that affect the ministry of works like the petroleum you know it affects it. 

    “You know the dollar exchange rate also affects so we are doing everything to manage the resources within the available funds so that we mitigate inflation,” he added.

    Also speaking to journalists at the briefing, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed that President Tinubu spoke about seeing to conversion of most fuel stations across the country to CNG dispensing stations, where you can also get conversion kits. 

    According to him, Nigeria has turned to the use of the alternative fuel, adding that it is cheaper, safer and is aimed at reaching all parts of the country. 

    “Today at the Federal Executive Council, the President has given a charge, through the Minister of Information, on CNG. We are well aware that the President set up a Presidential Committee on the CNG to drive the CNG project, as a minister who has been supervising what has been going on there, and it is left for us to inform the general public that CNG has come to stay, and we have to follow that route because CNG is safe, cheaper, and protect the environment. 

    “So today, the President has talked about ensuring that most of the filling stations across the country are converted into CNG stations, where you have the conversion kits, so that people can convert their vehicle to CNG. 

    “It is important to note that when you are using CNG, you save a lot of money, a liter of fuel that can go for N1000, with CNG, you get it at N200, which saves you N800 and I believe, with the passion of Mr. President, the push that he has given to us we’ll try as much as possible to drive the CNG programme to reach all the nooks and crannies of this country, so that we will take advantage of the natural resources, gas, that God has endowed us”, Ekpo said. 

    Also, the FEC has approved the printing of 1 million science textbooks for distribution to secondary schools across the country.

    The approval was granted following a memo presented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, on behalf of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). 

    He said the programme targets areas where Nigerians have deficiencies, including physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer science. 

    This initiative seeks to bridge the gap and enable Nigeria to match up with the rest of the world in technological and engineering development.

    He also said the textbooks will be distributed to 774 local government areas, 104 unity schools, and 122 special schools. 

  • Edo residents excited over Obaseki’s road projects

    As the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration rev up road construction across the state, residents in rural areas in the state have hailed the governor for opening up their communities and bringing economic opportunities closer to them to drive development.

    A cross section of the residents, who spoke with journalists when officials of the Edo State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) inspected ongoing constructions in their areas, said the governor’s strides are appreciable and deserve commendation because he has not only delivered on his promises, but is also promoting economic diversification in agriculture in their communities.

    A resident of G1 Road, Ihumudumu, in Ekpoma, Mr. Paul Ẹhizẹle, said the construction of the road has made the area easily accessible, noting, “I am happy that the road is being constructed and we appreciate the state government for the project. This road will improve economic activities in this area. People can now easily access this community.”

    Mr. Davidson Ese, a resident in Ehor, said the state government has proven to be trustworthy and dependable, noting that most of the promises made by the governor to people in the area has been fulfilled.

    “Aside the roads, there is the Edo Food and Agriculture Cluster (Edo-FAC) in Ehor. This will ensure that we get greater benefit from farming activities in this part of the state. With the roads and the cluster, we are set to become the food basket of the state,” he added.

    An official of Edo State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) inspects ongoing road construction along G1 Road, Ihumudumu, off Benin Ekpoma Expressway, Ekpoma, Edo State.

    Project Coordinator, Edo SEEFOR, Mr. Toju Onaiwu, said the state government is not relenting on its infrastructure development plans, which are aimed at improving economic activities and livelihoods across the state.

    He noted that the state government has given instructions to all contractors on the quality of road projects, adding that SEEFOR has a monitoring mechanism in place to assess the quality of work by contractors.

    Onaiwu added that Edo SEEFOR is inspecting ongoing road projects at G1 Road, Ihumudumu, Off Benin-Ekpoma Expressway; Old Police Barrack Road, Ehor, in Uhunmwode Local Government Area as well as along Abebe Street, off Aba Road, Iruekpen LGA.

    Other road projects inspected by the team, according to him, include construction of Asphalt Overlay with Kerbs along Ikpeshi entrance Road and Old Auchi-Igarra Road from the roundabout through Market Square to Freedom Junction in Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

  • Obaseki lifts rural communities with road projects

    For many years, residents of Ekpoma, headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area used to pray for rain not to fall even though they are predominantly farmers. Their reason was simply because of the bad state of roads network in the community.

    The Ekpoma township roads were first constructed during the administration of late Prof. Ambrose Alli between 1979 and 1983. Despite the road networks like the Irrua-Igueben-Ebudin-Ugbekun-Ujogba road and the completed Ubiaja-Okhuesan-Emu-Ohordua-Ewatto-Ewohinmi-Igueben constructed in other local government areas by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole within Esanland, he was still accused of not doing anything in the locality because roads in Ekpoma were in a bad state.

    It, thus, became a yearly ritual for the people of Ekpoma to complain about bad roads during the rainy season. What worsens the situation was when the Ekpoma axis of the Bénin-Auchi-Abuja highway collapsed.

    But this year, the story is different. The people are no longer afraid of the coming rains because of the nearly completed roads network in Ekpoma. Roads where work has reached advanced stage are Ekpoma-Uhumudumu road, Mousco – Ukpenu Road, Market road and Uwenlebo Road.

    A legal practitioner, Ehis Osagiede, who heaped praises on Governor Obaseki, for opening up rural areas especially in Edo Central for economic prosperity said ‘past administrations totally neglected Esan land and did not give them a sense of belonging which made us feel like outcast in the Edoid race.

    According to him, “The feedback I get from the people of Ekpoma, a town where I lived the most of my life, attended my nursery, primary, secondary schools and university, is that, Ekpoma is being transformed, and truly getting back its status of a metropolis which I have always dreamt of and certainly that which Prof. Ambrose Alli envisioned for it. It would also interest you to know that, there is nothing that has gladdened my heart as much as getting these feedbacks from Ekpoma.”

    Apart from Ekpoma, construction work has commenced in several farm roads in other local government areas like Uhunmwode, Owan East, Igueben, Ikpoba-Okha and Oredo. From Airport road in Bénin City, work has started at the Irhirhi-Aroobga-Obazagbon-Obagienevbosa-Oghehghe road to connect Bénin-Sapele-Warri road.

    A resident in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government, Mrs. Grace Omo, said the reconstruction of roads in the area would open the area up for development, noting, “It will be easier for people to commute and carry out their business. We appreciate the governor for his good intentions for us. Before now, during rainy season, the roads were terrible and difficult to pass through.”

    Read also: Ogun professionals decry political violence in state

    In Uhunmwode that was described as the least developed local government, Obaseki has commenced construction of the College Road at Ugieghudu, the Ehor-Ukpogo, Obadan-Ugonoba and Oke-Oruah roads. Governor Obaseki said he embarked on the roads to open up the area for more socio-economic activities and change its development narrative for the better.

    At Owan East, Governor Obaseki flagged off the reconstruction of the 16.2km Ihievbe-Ogbe road that cuts across Ihievbe, Ogbe-Ihievbe, Warrake communities in Owan East LGA and Egeuno community in Etsako West LGA. He told the people that work would soon commence on the Afuze-Erha road.

    According to the governor, his administration’s decision to invest in road infrastructure across the state was informed by the important role that roads play in economic development.

    “Our youths in this local council need jobs and I will create more jobs for the youths of this council area. Water is another problem our people are facing here and I have already started working on water projects, and soon water will begin to flow in the area.”

    Speaking on how Governor Obaseki raised the funds for the rural roads construction, a top government official who pleaded anonymity said the governor saved N500m monthly that was previously used to pay debt.

    The source explained that when the state government finished paying the loan with the N500 million deducted from the state’s monthly allocation, Governor Obaseki decided to continue ‘paying’ the loan in the form of savings.

    According to the source, “That is how we were able to save N6 billion for the state. We were paying a loan with N500 million monthly deducted from our monthly allocation and after the completion of the payment, the governor in his wisdom said the deduction should now be converted to savings for the state and that what the governor is deploying to rehabilitate, reconstruct about 400 roads across the road.

    “You see that we are in the dry season and this is the best time for road construction and that is why you saw the governor award the roads. The contractors are happy working because they are seeing the money there and so will be working with confidence that they will get their money once work is completed.”

  • ‘Every geopolitical zone benefiting from road projects’

    EVERY geopolitical zone is benefiting from road projects across the country, the Director, Highways, Southwest, Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Funsho Adebiyi, has said.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after an inspection of federal roads across the Southwest, Adebiyi refuted insinuations that the Presidency was paying more attention to roads in the North.

    He said: “The government spreads out road projects in such a way that no zone has been left out. Sukuk bond and other funds made available for road projects were shared equally among the six geopolitical zones.

    ”But differences in topography, soil condition and other things in the North and South make it look as if the government is constructing more roads in the North. For instance, funds that can be spent on 100- kilometre road in places like Borno or Katsina may not complete 10 or 15- kilometre road in Bayelsa State.”

    The director said every state in the Southwest had the presence of the Federal Government as regards road rehabilitation and construction.

    “In fact, the country has never had it so good in road infrastructure.

    “Among the ongoing road projects are Lagos-Ibadan sections I and II, handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC). The new Oyo-Ogbomosho road dualisation is being constructed by RCC, Ogbomosho-Oko-Osogbo road is being handled by Dutum Construction Company.

    “We have the Ila Orangun-Ora-Ilale-Ekan Meje road; Efon Alaaye-Erinmo-Iwaraja road; Ibadan-Abeokuta road, built by Kopek Construction Company. Shagamu-Ore road is being constructed by RCC,” he said.

    Adebiyi said the works done so far on the roads inspected were of high quality, capable of standing the test of time.

    On the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, he said the government had set aside a dedicated fund that would finish the road, assuring motorists that the ongoing construction work would no longer suffer delay.

    The director attributed the past delay to inadequate funding of the project by the previous administration.

    He said the government needed to take extra measures to ensure quality service delivery on the road.

    Adebiyi implored road users to obey traffic laws and regulations, saying overloading and other traffic offences reduced the lifespan of roads.

    He warned residents of communities along roads to desist from drying farm produce on such roads.

    Adebiyi reiterated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration towards construction of roads, rehabilitation of roads and completion of abandoned road projects awarded by the previous administration.

  • Embargo on explosives halts road projects in Borno

    The embargo placed on use of explosives in the North East has brought road construction and rehabilitation to a halt in Borno State.

    Contractors handling the reconstruction of Biu-Gombe road and Damaturu-Biu road disclosed this yesterday during an inspection of the North East infrastructure projects led by Minister of State for Power, Work and Housing I, Mustapha Baba-Shehiru.

    Project Manager, FIK Global Resources Limited, Taofeek Rahman, said the firm’s permissions to blast was denied by the Ministry of Mines and Steel, which noted only the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) could give such permission.

    Appealing to the Minister to intervene, he explained that dynamites are most essential element for blasting and crushing rocks, which makes up aggregates needed for the road construction.

    He said it was necessary to ensure the 119km Biu-Gombe road is completed within the 24- month schedule.

    “We have tried to start the project but we are having some constraint which is the issue of quarry.

    “So far all we are doing is scarification and making the road usable so that the people can assess it.”

    He said the construction had so far employed 140 indigenes of the community in various capacities like engineers, operators and labourers among others.

    At the 49.1km Damaturu-Biu construction site the Project Manager Omoshewo Abdul-Razaq also said the embargo on explosives has affected the progress of his work greatly.

    Abdul-Razaq said they had scarified and cleared 15km and also constructed out 10 covets.

    He also appealed to the Minister to help in getting the much needed permits.

    “The major challenge of this road is aggregate as we are aware there has not been blasting in this state for over 11years now and all the quarries are not functioning.

    “We have to go and get aggregate from as far as 160km away from here for the concrete work,” he said.

    Baba-Shehiru assured the contactor of doing everything possible to get the construction back on track after expressing satisfaction on the work done so far.

    He urged the contractors to consider the importance of the road that links Gombe, Borno and Jalingo before the raining season sets in fully.

     

  • Road Projects: Stakeholders laud Ambode, urge speed

    Prominent stake-holders in the Lagos East senatorial district of Lagos State have commended the numerous road construction projects embarked upon by the Lagos State Government under the leadership of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, saying the Isawo Owutu and Igbogbo roads, among others, when completed, will further open the area up for development.

    Speaking under the auspices of the Eminent Persons of Ikorodu Division (EPID), under the Chairmanship of Prof. S. A. Sanni, a pan Ikorodu Division socio-political and economic organisation, the stakeholders also urged the governor to speed up the processes of moving contractors to sites where necessary and ensure the smooth running of the construction projects where applicable. The liaison group said it will soon enter into communication with government on how to alleviate the effects of the development on the people by providing some palliatives.

    In a release signed by Sir Engr. (Chief) R. O. Shoderu and Chief Tele Oduloye, Chairman and Secretary of the liaison group respectively, the group said the various reports of the consultative committee it constituted to look into the ongoing road projects in the division revealed that the people of Ikorodu are virtually happy about the developments and are willing to co-operate with the government and the handlers of the said projects across the division. It, however, noted that the notice before the demolition exercise in Igbogbo was rather short.

    “The Kabiesis, chiefs and the entire people of Ikorodu Division express profuse thanks to His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State, and the Lagos State Government for approving and embarking on construction of super highways of over seven kilometres each to pass through major areas of our division. We stand by the government in the current phase (demolition of structures), in spite of the pains being felt by some of us as we believe the completion of the roads will bring gains to us.

    “It has been emphasised at various meetings by our traditional rulers and leading socio-political leaders that the state government would not delay payment of compensation to those affected by the demolition exercise. We hereby passionately plead that the government should give this a priority attention,” the statement read in part.

    While appreciating the immense effort of the Kabiesis towards the fruition of the road projects, the group further commends the involvements of illustrious sons and daughters of the division such as Prince Biodun Ogunleye, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Hon. S. O. B. Agunbiade and Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, for relentlessly pursuing the approval and commencement of the projects by the state government.

     

     

  • Akure indigenes laud Akeredolu over proposed road projects

    A group, Akure Patriots (AP), has lauded Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for proposing in the 2018 budget, the rehabilitation and construction of many roads in the community.

    Some of the listed roads mapped out for construction are dualisation of ‘A’ Division-Hospital road-Olukayode roundabout-Oke Obere-Ijoka road, Oke Obere-Ijoka in Akure to Idanre, construction of Gaga community road, construction of Oke-Ogba community road and that of Appeal Court road.

    Others include the rehabilitation of Igbaraoke-Ibuji-Ondo/Ekiti State boundary, rehabilitation of roads in Isarun, Ifedore local government and the dualisation of Akure-Iju-Itaogbolu-Ondo/Ekiti State boundary.

    The commendation was contained in a communique issued at the end of its meeting held in Akure and signed by Prof. Olu Aboluwoye and Olusoji Aga on behalf of the group.

    It unfolded plans to subject all candidates of different political parties seeking offices to debate in order to put its best forward to occupy political positions.

    The group also expressed displeasure that those who had represented the community in the past have not really brought development to the town, lamenting the underdevelopment of the town despite being the state capital.

    The group, however, praised Governor Akeredolu and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, for appointing indigenes of the town into vital positions in the present administration.

    Those appointed, according to the communiqué, included the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),Ifedayo Abegunde, Mrs Olawunmi Edet and Saka Yusuf Ogunleye as commissioners, Mrs Bunmi Ademosun and Tunji Light Ariyomo as special advisers.

    The group, which faulted the quality of people elected into offices in the past, said “we unanimously agree that all contestants in Akure will be subjected to thorough, open debates so as to ensure the emergence of the best candidates to represent Akure.

    “We enjoin various youth leaders in Akure communities to organise symposia, conferences to integrate their teeming members in the political system as they are expected to be future leaders.”

     

  • FG approves Road Trust Fund

    FG approves Road Trust Fund

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday approved the Road Trust Fund (RTF) towards facilitating and incentivising private sector involvement in the provision of Nigeria’s Federal road infrastructure.
    The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, disclosed this to State House correspondences at the end of FEC meeting.
    According to her, it is a form of Public Private Partnership (PPP) that will accelerate the provision of Federal Roads by allowing private sector operators to collectively fund road provision in exchange for tax credits.
    “This will complement Federal Government’s budgetary allocation to roads.” she said

  • Ahmed spends N7b on road projects

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said yesterday his administration had spent over seven billion Naira on road projects.

    He said they were executed under the state Infrastructure Development Fund (IF-K).

    Ahmed, who spoke at the inauguration of Federal Road Safety Corps RS8, Kwara State office complex in Ilorin, said the I-FK’s success demonstrated the benefits of partnering private sector to fund key infrastructure projects.

    “Among road projects embarked on by this government”, the governor said, “are dualisation of Kulende-UITH-Oke Ose Road, Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange, Share-Oke-Ode Road, Egbejila-Airport Road and Megida Arobadi Road.”

    He urged the private sector to synergise with governments under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model to establish and fund infrastructure projects on a sustainable basis.

    “While I remain an advocate of stronger federal/state synergy in the funding and provision of infrastructure, it is time we leveraged on the private sector to provide key infrastructure, which as we know is a major driver of social and economic development,” Ahmed said.

    He said the PPP approaches ensured efficiency, guaranteed funding for projects and insulated infrastructure from the challenges associated with government financing of projects.

    The governor added that the second phase of the Light-Up Kwara project had begun, as streetlights had been installed on major streets.

  • Bouquet of road projects in Lagos

    Bouquet of road projects in Lagos

    The take-off of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport road and the Pen Cinema Flyover Bridge construction by the Lagos government has continued to tickle stakeholders, writes ADEYINKA ADERIBIGBE

    Lagos State Government can be described as a ravaging bull in road construction and others.

    With uncommon courage, the government is tackling in one fell swoop two issues: urban renewal with a high premium on aesthetics of the metropolis and the expansion of its road infrastructure to accommodate increasing pressure caused by huge vehicular traffic.

    Getting round in Lagos is a nightmare. The state, the nation’s commercial and economic nerve centre, with its 9,100 road network, most of which are in various stages of dilapidation, is gradually becoming ensnarled in its success.

    Its bugeoning economy and growing averagely comfortable middle class are daily cloging its narrow width roads with their new auto wheel acquisitions leaving routine traffic gridlock that seemed to defy all logic and sustenable solutions.

    But Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is set to tackle the hydra-headed traffic gridlock headlong, and has since assumption of office, being expanding the road network, applying the “three R and P” template designed by its Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) agency – the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transportation Authourity (LAMATA), – which are – Routine mainrenance, Recurrent maintenance, Periodic maintenance and Rehabilitation.

    The first two applies to routine cleaning, desilting, clearing, which involve filling or sealing of cracks, potholes’repairs, treatment of swellings, and depressions, among others on the roads.

    According to LAMATA, about 405 routine maintenance contracts have been addressed and under the recurrent maintenance, 104 contracts were awarded and implemented on 275km of roads.

    The last two, which are periodic and total rehabilitation, apply to  asphalt overlays, reconstruction of walkways, road markings and installation of concrete lined drains to control flooding.

    While the periodic maintenance also involve some minor Traffic System Measures (TSM), such as signage and traffic light installations at major junctions to redistribute traffic; the rehabilitation involves reconstruction of pavements and application of an overlay of 50-millimetre thick hot asphalt. It also involves the reconstruction of drainage systems, kerbs and pedestrian walkways.

    While these have continued to be witnessed on several roads simultaneously on the island as well as the mainland axis of the state, and further opening up of the city-state, with the constructions and rehabilitations of several inner city roads across all the 20 local governments and 37 development units of the state, the government is targeting sustainable remedial work on some straategic roads to improve traffic situations in the state.

    One of such interventions, described as “laudable”, is the government’s determination to address the “embarassing” Murtala Muhammed International Airport road (known as Airport Road), and Pen Cinema Flyover Bridge. Both, being handled by the same contractor – Hitech Construction Nig. Ltd.,  would be completed in December, next year.

    A stakeholders’ forum, which signalled the take-off of the two projects,  held between Thursday (for the Airport Road) and Friday, (Pen Cinema Bridge) last week, to intimate and seek the cooperation and understanding of motorists and other road users for the projects.

    The Airport Road, for instance, for decades, has been in a the deplorable state. It is the only access to the nation’s busiest local and international airport, a facility which, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), accounted for 4.01million passenger traffic last year.

    “This road for several years has been an eye sore, but we are happy that an end has come to this sad tale,” a resident, Sylvanus Anyanwu, unable to hide his happiness  said about the development said last Thursday.

    Successive governments had gone to sleep, abandoning their statutory responsibilities on the road. Angry residents said the decay of the road  belittles the nation’s claim to being a continental giant. They saw it as a bad testimonial of the maagers’ commitment to the nation’s infrastructure to aesthetics.

    In place of the run down road, which in the past, had suffered rehabilitations in breaches, the design of the project, according to the government, includes the reconstruction and expansion of the carriage to three-lane expressway on both directions, construction of two lane service roads, in both directions, construction of ramp bridge to provide a U-turn from Ajao Estate to the Airport and the construction of a flyover at NAHCO/Toll Gate and drainage.

    Others include the removal of pedestrian bridges at Ajao Estate and HAHCO/Hajj Camp, construction of slip roads to provide access to Ajao Estate, of lay-bys and installations of street lights.

    The government’s intervention came at the behest of a presidential directive ceding the road to Lagos.

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (as he then was), in May, approved the government’s request to allow it embark on extensive reconstruction that would fit its urban renewal initiative.

    The reconstruction will begin from Oshodi.

    The new-look road, the state government said, would complement the ultra-modern terminal gradually taking shape at Oshodi, which would, undoubtedly, transform transportation systems in the state.

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, reportedly awarded the contract for the road’s face-lift and expansion. This was even when his government and that of Lagos, under the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola as governor, were on opposite sides of the table.

    Perhaps that explains why the contract never materialised. Rather, the road witnessed mere window dressing as the state government embarked on beautification and regrassing of its sidewalks and complemented it with erection of street lights.

    Rather than being an international gateway, the road became home to illegal squatters, as car dealers, commercial three-wheeler motorcyclists and upholstery makers took vantage portions on the road, turning it into auto garages, park and a thriving upholstery village.

    Ambode said: “In the spirit of the regeneration and urbanisation that this administration set to achieve, we believe strongly that the image of the decadence of that road must be repaired and we took it upon ourselves to appropriate the 2017 budget that the House of Assembly should approve the total reconstruction of the Airport Road from Oshodi to the international airport.”

    The government said the reconstruction would be carried out with the full support of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    The governor said the stakeholders’ forum was to prevent any delay to the project’s execution timelines.

    The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Adebowale Akinsanya, who represented Ambode, said the state’s intervention was borne out of the desire to transform the entire Airport road axis as part of the greater Oshodi renewal plan.

    He observed that the international gateway’s redevelopment would enhance vehicular movement from the airport to Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and its immediate environs, such as Ikeja metropolis, Isolo and Mafoluku axis. He said it would eliminate the traffic gridlock and reduce travel time in the area.

    Akinsanya noted that the construction would come with some inconveniences, assuring that measures were in place to mitigate the impact on residents, motorists and commuters who ply the route.

    He solicited the cooperation, support and understanding of all users of the road, informing them to remember that the ultimate goal was to facilitate improvement in the quality of life and the standard of living of communities in the vicinity of the project.

    At the meeting, a representative of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Remi Aromiwura, said the agency was pleased with the decision of the state government to reconstruct the road.

    Aromiwura, who pledged the commitment of the agency to the timely delivery of the project, said the design was at par with other airport’s gateways across the world, especially in the developed nations.

    Hitech Construction Director. Mr. Ivan Becker, promised delivery of the job within 15 months, adding that the presence of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) on the route would aid free flow of traffic and speedy execution of work.

    The government  also allayed the fears over its readiness to compensate anyone whose property might be affected by the proposed reconstruction.

    Akinsanya said the design had shown that only some perimeter fences of some properties were affected.

    Similar discusions featured at the stakeholders forum at Agege on Friday, over plans to begin work on the Pen Cinema flyover Bridge, which Ambode said, would equal the Jubilee Bridges at Admiralty and Abule Egba in grandeur.

    Also represented at the Agege forum by Akinsanya, Ambode said the construction was necessary to relieve traffic patterns across the intersections of Iju Road and Old Abeokuta Road with Oba Ogunji/Agunbiade Street, which serves as strategic link to communities.

    He said the precast/pre-stressed concerete for the dual carriageway flyover and ramp at Pen Cinema Junction has started.

    He said: In ensuring that this project measures up to world class standard, the reconstruction was given – Hitech Construction Nig. Ltd., the construction company that is prepared to work round the clock in two shifts to ensure the timely completion of the project.” He might just have been speaking for the two critical projects on the plate of Hitech.

     

    the bridge comes up and this will take the stress away.”

    Thomas Akpo, a Yellow Bus driver on iju road praised the government for the proposed flyover bridge. “This project is aimed at improving our lives.” Akpo who obviously was referring to the traffic gridlock especially at Pen Cinema said many of his colleagues have abandoned the route and moved to Abule Egba and environs as a result of the intransigent traffic on the Agege axis.

    “We are grateful to Ambode for giving a thought to improving our lives here too. Now, is the time the common man to also enjoy the benefit of government,” Akpo added.

    With the strides of the Ambode government, he may not be totally wrong.