The hope of motorists for the repair of the Emzor/Aswani Road has been dashed, as the contractor handling the project has reportedly abandoned the site a month after the scheduled completion date.

The Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) flagged off the project in December 2024, following a decade of unheeded calls and appeals to the state government for its rehabilitation.

The less-than-500-metre road was commissioned amidst pomp in an elaborate ceremony attended by Henry Ajomale, a member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), traditional leaders (Baales), and other political figures in the state.

The project was expected to be completed in May 2025, with provisions for drainage and streetlight reconstruction. However, when The Guardian visited the site, the contractor was absent, construction equipment had been removed, and there was no sign of recent activity aside from a drainage plank installed at the beginning of the road. The drainage on both sides remains incomplete, and only about 200 metres of the road had been partially constructed before work ceased.

A tricycle rider, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed frustration over the delay, stating that the road closure was affecting their ability to transport passengers and navigate the area.

During the flag-off in 2024, the chairman of the LCDA, Bayo Olasoju, had assured The Guardian that the construction would last six months, with a view to delivering a world-class road.

Despite initial confidence in meeting the timeline, the project’s current status remains uncertain.

In response to The Guardian’s inquiry, the Deputy Press Secretary of the Council, Damilola Kushimo, attributed the delay to the rainy season but assured that work was ongoing, with the contractor currently handling interlocking blocks.