Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to gulp N20bn in 2018 – Senator Adeola

Chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content, Solomon Adeola, has disclosed that the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Reynolds Construction Company Ltd. will gulp N20 billion in 2018.
The senator, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, assured Nigerians that work on the express road will be completed next year.
Adeola made the remarks while reacting to recent condemnations of the executive and the National Assembly over the reduction of a proposed N31 billion to N10 billion in the 2017 budget and the failure of a proposed virement before the presentation of the 2018 budget proposals.
He said: “Following the president’s presentation of the 2018 Budget proposal, our focus is now on how to appropriate funds for the Lagos-Ibadan dual carriage expressway as the virement requested by the executive as well as supplementary budget suggested by some of us did not see the light of the day with the year almost gone.”
He, however, noted that the 2018 Budget proposal under consideration made ample provisions for key infrastructure that serves as a major road network for economic activities in the country. He added that efforts will be made to ensure the provisions are passed and strict implementation enforced for the completion of the project.
“In all, N20.5 billion was proposed for the dual carriage way in the 2018 proposal. For Section 1 of the project, N9 billion was proposed while Section 2 has N11.5 billion. We will consider an increase, if possible, in view of debt from unpaid completion certificates already executed on the two sections to see contractors back to site and working fully early next year,” he said.
The senator urged Nigerians to be patient and drive carefully on the ever busy highway currently undergoing rehabilitation, particularly, during the Yuletide. He assured of speedy completion of the project before next year runs out.