Lagos-Ota-Sango-Abeokuta road.
Ogun State Government has expressed its readiness to commence work on the Lagos-Ota-Sango-Abeokuta road.
The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya disclosed that the road has already been awarded to Craneburg Construction Company.
Akinsanya however noted that that the necessary administrative process is at the Federal Government level, adding that the project would be done in phases with four gangs working simultaneously.
He said the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun had facilitated more road projects with the Federal Government, such as the commencement Sango-Atan-Owode-Idiroko road project and Prof. Wole Soyinka Train Station in Laderin, assuring that it would also be done in phases with the channelisation of storm water to the drainages.
Engr. Akinsanya revealed that his Ministry would collaborate with the Federal Government to rehabilitate additional 21 roads across the state, beginning with Ado-Odo/Ota, Yewa North and South, as well as Abeokuta North and South Local Government Areas.
“We have two bridges along that road, and this will bring relief to the people especially those at Oju-Ore and the roundabout where there is a major problem. That problem will be resolved with a flyover at the location. Then, moving from there to Canaan land, there will be another bridge, and the road will go all the way to Idi-Iroko border”, Akinsanya stated.
It would be recalled that the Lagos-Ota-Sango-Abeokuta road had been a sore spot to motorists as the Federal Government and Ogun State Government wrestle over its repair.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has insisted that bureaucratic bottleneck stalled the reconstruction of the Expressway.
Abiodun also assured that the Agbara-Lusada-Atan road currently under construction would be completed in September.
Speaking in an interview after inspecting the 20-kilometre Agbara -Lusada-Atan road, in the Ado Odo/Ota local government area recently, Governor Abiodun emphasized the importance of the roads not only to the economic well-being of the State but that of the nation.
While recalling the efforts by Ogun and Lagos States governments to take over and reconstruct the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta expressway, Abiodun said he and his Lagos State counterpart were frustrated by delays from the Federal Government, right from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the governor, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in power, the federal government was approached once again for the transfer of the road to the state, a request that was eventually granted.
He, however, said the state still faces stiff opposition from some federal officials on the transfer, which forced the state government to formally award the contract in May, with or without the necessary transfer papers.
He said: “The Lagos-Sango- Abeokuta road is a federal government road and has been in a very bad shape for long. Because of the suffering our people pass through on the road, I and my counterpart in Lagos jointly wrote a letter, using a single letterhead to the Federal Executive Council, seeking for the transfer of that road for us to reconstruct.
“After waiting for a month without reply, we wrote a reminder. That road was not handed over to us until the present federal government came on board. The contract for the road has since been awarded since May this year.”
On the deplorable condition of the Atan-Lusada-Agbara road, Governor Abiodun disclosed that before he assumed office, he met with industrialists in the area and promised to put the road in good shape.
He noted that the road was in terrible condition, leading to trailers and other articulated vehicles falling on their sides, stating that his administration decided not to wait for the federal government before commencing its reconstruction.
The road, with a width of 10 metres, Abiodun added, is being built to standard, saying on completion, it would revive businesses and the socio-economic development of the area.
He said he was on the road to see the level of work done so far, assuring that it would be dualised from the Lagos-Badagry road end to the Agbara Estate gate, while a single lane would be constructed to Atan to aid movement.
“I am here today to have an on-the-spot assessment of how the contractor is doing. I have given them certain timelines, and I want to ensure that they are working in tandem to ensure they meet those timelines.
“I have said to them that they must ensure that from the Lagos-Badagry end, the dual carriageway is completed to the entrance of the industrial estate, the OPIC entrance so that trucks and trailers that are coming from the port can enjoy the dual carriageway easily going in and out effortlessly so we can increase productivity and enhance their operations.
“We will now focus on one lane beyond the OPIC entrance to Atan first. Let’s finish that so our people can enjoy the driving pleasure from Lagos-Badagry to Atan on one side.
“One side is 4.75 wide. It will take at least four vehicles. Let’s finish that because this road has cost us so much.
“You can imagine a few months ago, you award a contract. Before the ink dries up on that contract, the cost of asphalt has increased three times in one day. So I said, let’s finish this because we are committed to it. We are a promise-keeping administration. We only make promises that we can keep,” he said.
On the recent attack on his person on social media, Abiodun said he would not be distracted by propaganda but remain focused on serving the people who entrusted their mandates to him.
Prince Abiodun described the attack as unwarranted, noting that the attacks were being sponsored.
He said: “My attention was drawn to various sponsored media attacks on my person and my administration. These media attacks are focusing on roads by attempting to disparage me and accuse me of either neglect not being responsive or being uncaring.
“When I see these media attacks, at times, my first reaction is to ignore them because I know who I am. I know why I am here. I know what it has taken me to get to where I am. I know what I was before I became Governor. The only reason I am here as Governor is to serve the good people of Ogun State and that I am irrevocably committed to.
“When I now see such a barrage of sponsored media attacks, the first question I ask myself is where were these people before I became Governor? We know how many roads were in a state of disrepair across the country. We know how many federal roads are in a state of disrepair. I just came on another federal road, Lagos-Badagry road, that has been in a state of disrepair.
“When Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was under construction, we were all suffering. At times, we will be on the road for 10 hours. Not once did anybody go there and begin to attack anybody.”
While seeking the cooperation and understanding of residents, the governor, however, threatened legal action against those critics misrepresenting his administration, just as he promised not to be ferreted by the antics of his detractors.
