Toll Gate portion of the road as captured on camera.
The Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun has given directives to contractors to commence immediate repair of parts of its end of Lagos-Abeokuta Road, despite the contentious response of the Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola to the state’s intervention on the road.
According to Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, the governor ordered the immediate reconstruction of the road to cushion the sufferings of users of the road as he could no longer wait indefinitely for the Federal Government while “people suffer”
Alhaji Odusile made this known in Abeokuta recently, while briefing journalists alongside his counterpart in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya on infrastructures in the state.
The commissioner told journalists that as several efforts by the state to take over the Federal road for repair has failed, the governor has ordered the reconstruction of the road from Singer to the Toll Gate to cushion the surfering of “our people on the road” as an interim measure while still awaiting Federal Government promised repair.
Asked how the state intends to recoup the money spent on the Federal road, Odusile said the issue has now passed the point of recouping the money spent.
He noted that if the Federal Government wants, let them pay back, what is paramount now is the welfare of the people adding that Governor Dapo Abiodun is sworn to ensure this in all ramifications.
It will be recalled that almost seven months after the planned take-off of the total overhaul of the Lagos-Abeokuta road by the Federal Government, Governor Abiodun, while inspecting some bad spots on the road, issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to commence work on the road, after which the state may take over the road.
The governor who expressed worry over the hardship motorists are being subjected to on the road declared that his administration would not fold its arms and allow its citizens to continue to suffer due to the negligence of the authority in charge of this road.
“If after two weeks, the Federal Government refuses to commence work on this road, I will take it over and reconstruct it,” he said.
But few days after, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola seemingly on the war path declared that the state has no power whatsoever to embark on the project.
In the same vein, Governor Dapo Abiodun has also given approval for the reconstruction of 32km Sango-Ijoko-Akute-Yakoyo and 8km Mowe-Ofada roads.
Odusile said the governor gave the approval during the State Executive Council meeting held on Monday, August 1, 2022.
He stated that even though the roads also belong to the Federal Government, the governor was not happy with the hardship been experienced by citizens on those roads, hence the urgent need for the reconstruction work to start to make the roads motorable for the people and for them to enjoy the best of life as much as possible.
Speaking on how the construction work would be funded without affecting the welfare of state workforce and the retirees even in the face of glaring dwindling federal allocation, Odusile said, “the government of Prince Dapo Abiodun without inflicting pains on the citizens, has been able to increase Internally Generated Revenue of the State, while prudently allocating resources to the areas that need funds the most.”
On his part, Akinsanya disclosed that the Sango-Akute-Yakoyo road which had been awarded to contractors would be constructed in six phases with construction works commencing at both ends simultaneously.
Akinsanya said the 32 km road had been divided into six phases and construction work would be ongoing simultaneously. The first phase which would start from Sango roundabout to Ijoko Bridge is 8.5km, while the sixth phase starting from Lagos-Ogun boundary to Ojodu- Abiodun end is 1.5km, noting that the reconstruction would be completed in December 2022.
Speaking on the Mowe-Ofada road which had only one section asphalted without the last layer, Akinsanya revealed that the road had been re-awarded to a new contractor with proven records who would be able to deliver in record time.
The Works and Infrastructure Commissioner added that some other roads that had started receiving the attention of the government include, Ilaro road with laying of asphalt and Owode – Idiroko road with evacuation work ongoing, assuring that work would soon start on Itori – Ewekoro – Ifo – Sango – Toll Gate road.
He added that the Abiodun-led government was working on a master plan for drainage system for the state to end flooding often experienced in major towns and cities, especially during heavy downpour, urging the residents to complement government’s efforts by keeping the drainages clean and stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse to allow free flow of water in the drains, and as well make the road last longer.
