Nigeria pledges US $62.3m for Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway project

The Federal Government has pledged early completion of Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway at the cost of US $62.3m to hasten socio-economic growth and international trade within Ogun and Lagos corridors.

Speaking at the launch of the road reconstruction at kilometre zero, Ile-Zik, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, regretted that the road had suffered several delays and contract variations owing to paucity of funds.

However, the present government is ready to prioritise key infrastructure to drive the economy and address the security challenges by ensuring that critical roads like the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road is completed in record time.

Fashola said the government is considering alternative funding sources apart from the regular budgetary allocations.

Olalekan Busari, Director of Highway Construction and Reconstruction, Federal Ministry of Works, said the government is committed to completing the road because of its socio-economic importance, and as an alternative to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ilorin-Ile-Ife, as well as an international link to Benin Republic.

Construction works on the road, will also generate both direct and indirect employment during construction, expected to last for 18 months.

“The contractors have been asked to immediately address critical sites that have failed entirely,” said Fashola.

He stated that the contractors have been mobilised to site with 15% down-payment, representing about US $10.6m, while there will be need for complete review of the drainage system occasioned by new development on the corridor, including the BRT road being constructed by Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority ,LAMATA.

Head of Julius Berger, West Division, Wolfgang Loesser, speaking on behalf of the contractor, expressed readiness to complete the project within schedule.

He said the company had mobilised workers to site to carry out palliatives as directed by the government to address critical failed portions to ease traffic and lessen the travel time on the road.