Determined to stop the incessant carnage, road crashes and loss of lives along the Ogun section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Ogun state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has held a meeting with the Federal Controller of Works, Umar Bakare and the representatives of the contractor handling the reconstruction of the Expressway.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Kunle Somorin on Sunday disclosed that the meeting was held at the Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya was quoted to have explained that the meeting facilitated by Abiodun, was to map out strategies to reduce carnage on the expressway as a result of accidents, such as the recent tanker explosions at the Ogere section.
The statement read that the Commissioner said based on the directive of the governor, there would be changes on the road signs, improvement of the traffic management, while the pace of work will increase.
The statement read, “The Commissioner disclosed that the best part of the road will be open to traffic during the yuletide season, adding it will be fully completed in January 2022. According to Akinsanya, Governor Abiodun is determined to prevent a reoccurrence of Ogere inferno which claimed five lives and destroyed property worth millions of naira.”
The Federal Controller of Works in the State said that the contractor was fully aware of the need to ensure adequate traffic signs on the road and disclosed that the contractor was committed to improving traffic management on the road.
Bakare who also disclosed that the contractor handling the project has requested for sensitization of the public on the need to be careful on the road which is now a dual carriageway added that reinforcement would be needed along the stretch where construction is currently going on.
“The representative of the contractor, Engr. Yuri who is the Area Manager has promised that the whole stretch of the road will be completed before the end of January 2022. He also promised that towards the end of the year, that section of the road will be partially completed and totally opened to traffic, so that there won’t be any lock jam during the yuletide season. The contractor has committed to improving their traffic management and they have also requested for further sensitization of the public on the construction work going on and in respect to road signs. And they also requested for additional reinforcement within the stretch where work is ongoing at Ogere where we have a lot of trucks, tankers and all sorts of articulated vehicles that usually park on the road,”