- FG sets April deadline for Lagos-Badagry road
President Bola Tinubu has flagged off the reconstruction and expansion of the Lagos-Ibadan Dual Carriageway, Section 1, and Section 1 of the Lagos-Sagamu Expressway.
Performing the flag-off at Sagamu, Ogun State, President Tinubu said the project, which would be completed in 24 months, would cover underpasses at Kara, Wawa, Magboro, and Arepo, while flyover bridges would be constructed at Kilometer 16 around the Mountain of Fire Ministries and Kilometer 37 at Makun around Sagamu.
Pedestrian bridges, the president informed, would be constructed at Arepo, Magboro, NASFAT, Deeper Life, and Redemption Camp, while the construction of the remaining 60 kilometres of the Sagamu-Benin Expressway from Sagamu Interchange to Itele would be flagged off to ensure the safety of road users.
Represented by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, the president acknowledged the strategic importance of the road as the busiest, providing a direct link between Lagos, the commercial capital of the nation, and the 17 southern states of the federation.
He said, “The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is not just another road; it is the busiest highway in Nigeria and the gateway to the hinterland, serving as the primary link between Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital, and the rest of the country.
“The Federal Government is committed to leveraging our natural resources by linking rural roads to urban centres, commercial hubs, and industrial corridors. These strategic roles align with the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and commitment to rebuilding, expanding, and modernizing our national road networks, railways, and airports, which is critical to the nation’s economic prosperity.”
President Tinubu stressed the importance of road infrastructure as fundamental to the socio-economic development of any nation, sustaining economic growth, facilitating mobility, and enhancing quality of life.
However, he regretted the long neglect of the road, which has claimed many lives due to its poor condition.
He stated that by upgrading and expanding the expressway, the federal government aims to reduce travel time, improve efficiency and productivity, enhance safety, and facilitate ease of doing business in the country.
The president maintained that the inclusion of the Sagamu-Ore section in this phase further underscored the Renewed Hope Agenda’s vision of ensuring that national road networks meet international standards and support aspirations for economic expansion and industrial development.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, said, “In the Lagos-Ibadan project, we have Section 2, Phase 2, and part of what we are doing today is that Phase 2, which was awarded to Julius Berger. When we could not resolve our differences in terms of price, we terminated the job.
“What we are doing today is part of the Lagos-Ibadan project, which is Phase 2, and it includes the works on Magboro underpass, Warewa underpass, Arepo underpass, Sagamu, and Iperu; that is 12 kilometres by 2, which is 24 kilometres.
“The next phase of this job is also 48 kilometres by 2, taking off from Iperu and reaching Ijebu-Ode. That is the Sagamu-Ore road.”
The minister directed that no payment should be made to contractors without an Advanced Payment Guarantee certificate, adding that it must be valid at the time of payment to the contractor, and the Performance Bond must also be valid before any payment is made.
Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, said the House is poised to work with the ministry to ensure that Nigerians have access to good road networks, stating that the road is not just for the people of Ogun State but will impact the economic lives of all Nigerians.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for including footbridges in the project, assuring that the state would work with the contractor and federal government officials to ensure the speedy completion of the job.
The Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, called for the construction of two flyovers at the Sagamu junction and the police divisional junction, as well as a fire station to respond to fire incidents on the road.
Governor Abiodun later performed the flag-off of the project on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
Also, the Federal Government has announced that the ongoing reconstruction of the Lagos-Badagry-Seme border road will be completed by April 2025, with Phase 1 now 80% finished.
Umahi disclosed this during an inspection tour of the 24.3km ECOWAS route project, assuring that the government will support the contractor, China Geo Engineering Company, to meet the deadline.
Originally awarded in 2018 for ₦63 billion, the cost of Phase 1 alone has risen to ₦71 billion, while the total project cost, including Phase 2, is now estimated at ₦145 billion.
Umahi also inspected other infrastructure projects in Lagos, including repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge, Eko Bridge, Carter Bridge, and the Lagos-Abeokuta Road.
He noted that 90% of the 271 palliative road projects nationwide have been completed and will be commissioned in April.
The government has also committed to rehabilitating the 18km stretch of the Lagos-Abeokuta Road within Lagos State, while the Ogun State government continues work on its section of the road. (NAN)
