Lagos-Ibadan Expressway completion date reportedly extended

The end-of-year set for the completion of the reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan expressway may be extended, an official of Ministry of Works has said.

Reconstruction project of the road commenced in 2013, to be completed in 2017, but it was later moved to end of 2018/early 2019 as a result of the increase in scope of work.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Adedamola Kuti, told journalists that the Federal Government did not envisage some of the activities currently going on along the road when it was awarded.

“The end of 2018 is no longer feasible; what we have is that the government has awarded additional work that is not part of the original contract. When the contract was first awarded, we did not take into consideration the religious organisations that are springing up rapidly in the area,” Kuti said.

“So now, we have to make provision for toll gates, flyovers and plazas, among other additions. So, the completion date has been extended. We need additional one year to complete the work that has been added,”

Reacting to complaints by motorists, Kuti said the rainy season had contributed to the difficulties experienced on the roads.

“This is construction work; the pace of work is usually slower during rainy season. Once a material is wet, you must allow it to dry before it can be used,”
“Instead of people to complain about the pace of work, they should consider the fact that the contractor is on site and we are moving,”

Kuti also spoke on the rumoured closure of the road, saying that there would only be diversion to enable the contractor to work faster.

“Nobody is going to shut down the road at any time; normal work will continue with diversion,” Kuti said.

Nigeria’s minister for Power, works and housing Babatunde Fashola had earlier said the additional work would cover flyover and pedestrian bridges as well as toll plazas for that section in order to accommodate the changing nature of the road.

About N64.108bn was approved by the government a few months ago for additional work on section one of the road being handled by Julius Berger.