In response to the crippling traffic gridlock and hardship faced by commuters, the Ogun State Government has commenced the reconstruction of the failed section of the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway near Sagamu.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, who made an unscheduled visit to the site on Sunday, called for swift action to restore the road’s functionality, noting its critical importance to the country’s economic and transportation network.
The Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway is a key artery connecting Lagos through Ogun State to the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria. Its worsening condition has caused significant disruptions to motorists, traders, and businesses who rely on it for daily operations.
Governor Abiodun expressed his deep concern over the deplorable state of the road, stating, “This is a federal road, and it is probably the most important road to Southern Nigeria because it evacuates traffic carrying goods and people from Lagos to Ogun State and to the South-East and South-South parts of the country. Its current condition has caused untold hardship to the masses.”
Abandoned Reconstruction and Federal Inaction
Governor Abiodun revealed that the reconstruction of the road was initially awarded by previous administrations, but the project was abandoned midway due to insufficient funding.
The work commenced from the Benin end but halted around Ijebu-Ode, leaving the critical section near the Sagamu Interchange in a state of neglect.
“The reconstruction of this road was awarded several years ago. However, curiously, the contractors could not complete the project. The funding stopped before the interchange, and the road has been left in this terrible condition ever since,” he explained.
In the past week, the road became nearly impassable, causing extensive delays and frustration among motorists. Governor Abiodun noted that the problem was exacerbated by a blocked drainage system beneath the road, which led to severe flooding and further damage to the roadway.
“For the past three to four days, this road has been completely blocked. The drainage system that is supposed to carry water from the canal is blocked, causing this chaos,” he said.
Ogun State’s Swift Response
In a bid to ease the suffering of motorists and ensure the road is passable, Governor Abiodun disclosed that officials from the State Ministries of Works and Environment had been deployed to address the situation.
“Our Ministries of Works and Environment are already working to create an alternative drainage system to redirect the water, and we have started filling the bad portion with hardcore materials to make the road motorable,”* he assured.
The governor also stated that the condition of the road has been brought to the attention of key federal authorities, including the Minister of Works. The federal government has promised to look into awarding a contract for the full rehabilitation of the road or, at the very least, providing palliative measures to ease the current challenges.
Engagement with the Presidency
Governor Abiodun confirmed that he had raised the issue directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging for immediate intervention.
“Let me confirm to you that I personally brought the issue of this road to the attention of Mr. President last Thursday. I requested that the Ministry of Works take swift action by awarding the contract to a reputable contractor,”he said.
The governor further added that President Tinubu had instructed Ogun State to step in and take full responsibility for the repairs if federal intervention does not materialize in time.
“Mr. President has made it clear that if we do not get a timely response from the Federal Government, Ogun State should go ahead and take ownership of this section of the road and carry out the repairs,”.he disclosed.
Ogun State Prepared to Take Over Reconstruction
Governor Abiodun set a two-day deadline for the Federal Government to commence serious reconstruction work on the expressway. Should there be no visible progress within this timeframe, the Ogun State Government has vowed to take full control of the situation.
“If within the next two days, there is no clear evidence that the federal government is moving forward with serious reconstruction efforts, Ogun State will take over this project and carry out a total reconstruction of this section of the road,” the governor declared.
The Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway remains a critical link for transporting goods and people across southern Nigeria. The swift action by the Ogun State Government to address the road’s immediate issues is a temporary relief, but the full reconstruction of the road is crucial for restoring normalcy and supporting economic activities along the corridor.
All eyes are now on the Federal Government as residents and commuters await decisive action to permanently fix the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway.
