The Ogun State Government has begun rehabilitation work on the failed portion of the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway near Sagamu, aiming to alleviate the current traffic congestion.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, accompanied by members of the state executive council, made an unscheduled visit to the affected area.
He emphasized the road’s significance as a major link between Lagos and the South-East and South-South regions, according to Channels TV.
The governor explained that previous administrations had awarded the reconstruction project, but contractors only completed a portion from Benin to Ijebu-Ode’s outskirts due to insufficient funds.
Governor Abiodun has brought the issue to the attention of the Minister of Works and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, seeking federal intervention.
In the meantime, state officials are working to create a new drainage system to redirect water away from the road, and the damaged section has been filled with hardcore material to make it motorable.
If the federal government does not commence reconstruction within two days, the Ogun State government will take ownership and repair the section.
Governor Abiodun assured that his administration is committed to finding a lasting solution to the road’s challenges.
The Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway is a critical artery for the movement of goods and people, and its rehabilitation is expected to bring relief to commuters and boost economic activities in the region.
“This is a federal road, and it is probably the most important road to Southern Nigeria because it evacuates traffic carrying goods and people from Lagos to Ogun State and to the South-East and South-South parts of the country; it is a major arterial road,” he said
“The reconstruction of this road was awarded several years ago by previous administrations. However, sadly, that reconstruction was started from the Benin end of this road.
“Sadly and curiously, from what we have been told, the budget was not sufficient to allow for the completion of this road to the Sagamu Interchange. It stopped short of reaching Ijebu-Ode, somewhere around the outskirts of Ijebu-Ode.
“What we are seeing today is what our masses are suffering from. In the last three to four days, this road was totally impassable because, for some reason, there is a drainage that goes underneath this road that is meant to drain water coming from a canal, that drainage is completely blocked, and that is the cause of this problem.”
Governor Abiodun also mentioned that he informed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu about the need for the Federal Government to address the state of the road.
“Let me confirm to you that last week Thursday, I also brought the issue of this road to the attention of Mr. President. For the avoidance of doubt, let nobody think that Ogun State has not been responsive.
“Knowing fully well that the Federal Government has many critical roads to deal with, and as a responsive state government, we deployed our Ministries of Works and Environment to this site. What they have done is identify the immediate cause; they found out there is a construction that has blocked the drain.
“I have requested from Mr. President that the Ministry of Works can immediately award this road to a reputable contractor, and I know they are working on it.
“However, Mr. President has also instructed me that if we do not get the attention as quickly as we want, the Ogun State government should go ahead and take ownership of this section and repair it,” he added.
