Motorists plying the Sango-Ijoko-Alagbole Road as well as residents of the area are upbeat as the Ogun State government has commenced its reconstruction.
Addressing journalists on Thursday while touring the project site, the commissioner for works, Mr. Ade Akinsanya said the road will be drivable by December, subject to weather condition.
He said the administration of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun not only abandoned the road but also failed to compensate persons whose properties were demolished.
The commissioner further said the project had been divided into six segments due to lack of funds.
He said one side of the road would be done in the immediate while work on the other will be executed when funds are available.
Meanwhile, he said contracts had been awarded for segment one from Sango and segment six from Akute adding that work on the segments was going on simultaneously.
The commissioner also said a N300 million contract had been awarded for the reconstruction of the remaining four segments by making them drivable before their complete rehabiliation.
“The Sango-Akute Road is a 32-kilometre road awarded by the previous administration and unfortunately abandoned. What we are doing now is that instead of six lanes, we have re-scoped the road and our contractor is moving to the Sango-Ijoko area, working on that and of course the Lagos end.
“The segments one and six have been awarded. Included in the work is the palliative work that will ensure that from phase 2 to phase 5 should be motor-able all the way from Sango to the Yakoyo end.
“The state governor was here about three weeks ago to inspect these projects and we have been on this inspection tour since yesterday,” the commissioner said.
He said the projects were being financed through the financial ingenuity of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“As his Excellency said, we have challenges in terms of funds but these are essential roads we need to do and we are finding ways to get them done.
“I am likewise thanking his Excellency, for always doing whatever it takes to help whenever we go to him,” he added.
Akinsanya said some of the road projects will bring about even development in the state, while money invested in them can be recovered through internally generated revenue
“Everything is on the table and one of the things we need to look at down the road which is the question of how do we recover the money we invested on this road one way or the other?
“One thing is that probably when the road is done and development comes to the area, there will be increase in the internal generated revenue and at the same time the maintenance of cars, health and others will be improved and we are going to do what is needed by using the criteria of the average daily traffic,” he said.
Habib Haruna, former spokesman for the erstwhile governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was also on tour of the project, commended the governor, commissioner and the state government for working hand in extremely close relationship even development in every nook and cranny of the state.
“I am impressed because I saw a governor that is working, purposeful and pragmatic in managing the affairs of the state.
“I am also happy but not surprised because he has a commissioner for works and infrastructure who knows his onions and is super enthusiastic on his job.
“We all can see and cannot deny the fact that these projects are taking place all over the areas of the state and I think the government should be applauded for doing such genuine work,” Haruna remarked.
