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Fashola kicks off Ikorodu-Shagamu road reconstruction

By Seye Olumide and Kehinde Sobowale
22 May 2018   |   3:34 am
It was a moment of joy for millions of commuters and those whose daily activities fall within the Ikorodu and Shagamu axis of Lagos and Ogun states, as the Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola...

• Residents decry poor state of Old Ewu Road in Oshodi
It was a moment of joy for millions of commuters and those whose daily activities fall within the Ikorodu and Shagamu axis of Lagos and Ogun states, as the Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; the lawmaker representing Lagos East, Senator Gbenga Ashafa; Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, among other dignitaries yesterday kicked off reconstruction of the N20 billion Ikorodu-Ogijo-Mosimi-Shagamu expressway project.

Before the project take-off, there had been a long history of agony, traffic and accidents on the 30 kilometers stretch of road almost everyday, which has led to numerous deaths and loss of property worth millions of naira over the years.

Despite promises from previous administrations to fix the road and open up the corridor as alternative to the ever-busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the residents’ hopes were rekindled when the minister gave the assurance the project would be completed within the specified period.

Speaking at the event, Fashola reiterated government’s commitment to complete the job within the specified duration, adding that Arab Contractor, the construction company handling the project, is a tested hand that will do the best of job.

Ashafa, who is also the chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, reminded the audience of how long the road had been neglected and the interest President Buhari has showed in seeing the road reconstructed when the issue was brought before him. He disclosed that the project had already received the needed funds, “so, the issue of abandonment does not occur.”

Dabiri-Erewa on her part urged the National Assembly to speed up passage of the budget so that funds would be released to the ministry, to be able to execute more projects.Meanwhile, residents of Old Ewu Road in Mafoluku, Oshodi area of Lagos, have expressed pain and anguish over the dilapidating state of the road.
Old Ewu Road, The Guardian gathered, is the longest road in Mafoluku and an alternative route to the busy Muritala Muhammed Airport Road.

A resident of the area, simply identified as Mrs. Sobola, lamented that she has been going through pain since she moved to the neighbourhood 25 years ago. According to her, “the road has never been tarred since its inception. Road users endure a hectic time navigating through the bad portions to get to their destination and have resorted to wearing rain boots whenever it rains. 

Another resident, Mr. Femi Daniel, said: “Our road is very bad. It destroys our engine and commercial vehicles are no longer plying the road for fear of their vehicles being damaged. The state government is trying but they can do more and extend their good works to the community by repairing many of the inner-city roads to ease our plights. We cannot keep living like this. This area is always waterlogged when it rains.”

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