Dapo Abiodun Flags Off Reconstruction of Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway Today After 20 Years

By: Israel Adeleke

Residents of Ogun State are heaving a sigh of relief as the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun sets out to flag off the turning of the sod for the reconstruction of Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway on Friday, 23rd August, 2024.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News recalls that many passengers, commuters and motorists plying the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway who have consistently decried the deplorable state of the Federal government road over the years are excited as the contracting firm, Craneburg, has moved to the site to begin the reconstruction of the ever-busy road ahead of the flag off ceremony.

OTN News also recalls that the construction firm, Craneburg has commenced palliative measures on the road within the last one week, in an attempt to make one side of the road motorable, while earnest construction works begins on the other section.

The palliative measures already completed on the road covered Sango-Ota, Pakoto, Ifo, Ewekoro, Itori, and Obada, with stone bases spread on the bad portions to make traveling less stressful while the reconstruction is ongoing.

Although the federal government-owned road has been in a deplorable state for close to two decades, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has confirmed that the road has been finally handed over to the state for reconstruction of the expressway.

According to the Governor, the handing over of the road to the Ogun State government took place this year under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration after many previous unsuccessful attempts.

Governor Abiodun emphasized that bureaucratic bottlenecks have stalled the reconstruction of the road.

While recalling the efforts by the Ogun and Lagos state governments to take over and reconstruct the expressway, Abiodun said he and his Lagos State counterpart were frustrated by delays from the federal government.

According to the Governor, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the federal government was approached again for the transfer of the road to the state, a request that was granted.

He said: “The Abeokuta-Ota-Lagos road is a federal government road and has been in very bad shape for long. Because of the suffering our people endure on the road, my counterpart in Lagos and I jointly wrote a letter using a single letterhead to the federal executive council, seeking the transfer of that road for us to reconstruct.

“After waiting for a month without a 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 had been awarded since May this year.” the Governor said.