The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said the Federal Government requires N56billion for the full reconstruction of the deplorable Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway.
He spoke alongside Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, at the inspection of Sagamu Interchange Bridges on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Fashola’s visit followed last week’s protest by a group of protesters with hashtag #FixOtaRoads which had demonstrated by blocking roads over the poor state of the roads. Another round of protest slated for Monday was later suspended by the organisers.
Our correspondent reports that the roads filled with potholes and crafters have become death traps to the commuters and motorists playing them.
Fashola, while explaining that the federal government was not looking away from the deplorable conditions of Lagos-Sango-Ota- Abeokuta Road, added that the government was committed to fixing the road as a total of N13.4 billion had been approved for immediate commencement of palliatives.
He said the federal government was ready to borrow money to fix the deplorable road which had elicited several protests by residents and motorists.
According to him, the cost of reconstructing the entire road was put at N56 billion and the federal government would start the capital project first with the reconstruction of failed portions which would serve as palliative measures with N13.4 billion.
“We are not looking away on the condition of Ota/Abeokuta road unlike some people are saying. The Federal Government in conjunction with Ogun State Government is committed to fixing the road.”
“Works would soon start to do palliative work on the failed portions and which shall be reconstruction so that when reconstruction of the entire road starts, it would not be about the waste of money, but a mere joining the portion to link each other,” he said.
He, however, asked both governors of Ogun and Lagos, Abiodun and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to prevail on the members of both chambers of the National Assembly, representing the two states to influence and speak in favour of the road during the debate on the 2022 Budget Proposal starts.
