From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has flagged off the reconstruction of the 70-kilometre Abeokuta-Ifo-Ota-Lagos Expressway with a pledge to complete it in 18 months.
The governor, who performed the flag-off at Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area, on Friday, noted that the road is significant not only to Ogun State but also to Lagos State and the nation, as it provides a thoroughfare for people going to the neighbouring country.
The Governor Abiodun-led administration had initially expressed readiness to reconstruct the road in 2019, but all efforts to convince the federal government to release the road to the Ogun State Government proved abortive.
Speaking further, the governor said, “the plan for the reconstruction of this road did not just start today because we have the interest of our people at heart. We know this is a federal government road, and the state had to follow the due process before getting the required approval to commence the reconstruction.
“This road was awarded in 2003, but since then, it has suffered insufficient funding, resulting in contractors working and many times abandoning the road at times for a year. By then the roads would have suffered degradation. Our people have suffered too much travelling on this road, but today hope is renewed.
“I am glad to inform you that work is beginning on the road immediately. The excuse then was that there was a sitting contractor on the road. The best the state could do at that time was to carry out palliative works on the critical sections along the road axis. We re-opened our appeal to the federal government to reconstruct the road upon the inauguration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who graciously, through the minister for Works, handed over the reconstruction of the road to Ogun State.