FG Opens Lagos-Ibadan Expressway For Use, Halts Construction On Section Two Of Project

Babatunde Fashola SAN, Works Minister

The Federal Government has opened the Lagos-Ibadan expressway for use by motorists during the Yuletide season, in fulfillment of its earlier promise to remove the barriers narrowing the use of the road.

The Federal Ministry of Works while removing the barriers earlier today (Monday, December 12, 2022) said the aim of doing that earlier than promised was facilitate better flow of vehicular traffic along the road in the Yuletide.

According to a report in PropertyMart, workmen used heavy duty equipment to remove crash barriers and other diversion points for free flow of traffic on the Opic U Turn section of the highway, a development that many motorists in traffic on the road at the time hailed as a relief for motorists plying the axis, already used to spending endless hours in gridlocks due to the construction work.

Supervising the re-opening around Opic, the Director, Federal Highways, South West region, Mr Adedamola Kuti said government earlier promised to re-open the highway to traffic on Thursday but brought it forward to ease gridlock.

According to him, because of the festive season, all obstructions on section one which spans Ojota in Lagos to Sagamu Interchange were removed.

“As part of our Ember Months programme, there was an announcement we made that all barriers at road construction sites will be removed by December 15 to allow for free movement this season.

“So, on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project, we have already attained a level to which we can allow those barriers to be removed,” he said.

“Therefore, rather than waiting till Thursday December 15, just as we did at the other section, from Old Toll Gate up till Otedola Bridge, which we opened to traffic last week, we have also completed this stretch up to the level where we can allow movement.”

Kuti added that all construction would also be halted on section two of the project which spans Sagamu Interchange to Ojoo in Ibadan on Thursday, to further boost movement ahead of the Yuletide, assuring that the contractors would return to site in January to complete the project, as the Works Ministry was targeting delivery by first quarter of 2023.

He said some unforeseen circumstances including heavy rainfall slowed down construction hence the new targeted delivery date in 2023, disclosing that the police and traffic regulatory agencies would take over the highway and thanked motorists for their patience during the period of construction.

On site to witness removal of the barriers was the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Lanre Bankole who assured of adequate security on the highway.

According to the Police Commissioner, the free flow of traffic would tame crime and criminality on the highway.

Bankole said highway trading compounding gridlock would also end.

“The opening of the road would certainly ameliorate the security situation in this area; hawkers will not have any place any longer,” he said.

Also among the road managers at the site during the removal was Assistant Corps Marshal Peter Kibo, the Zonal Commanding Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, in charge of Lagos and Ogun States who said the removal of the barriers was in anticipation of heavy traffic ahead of Christmas.

“We thank God today, Julius Berger decided to open this place even before the day that we planned, that was 15th of this month by the Federal Ministry of Works. “So that is a great achievement and a great relief for us and the motoring public. And we will continue to manage the road and traffic very well,” he said.

Kibo appealed to motorists to drive safely, observe speed limits and avoid reckless driving, warning that officers would enforce the laws to ensure people arrived their destinations safely.

TRACE Commander, Adeloye Babatunde who represented his boss, Corps Commander and Chief Executive, Olaseni Ogunyeni promised there would be synergy with other agencies to achieve hitch- free travels.
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