Abeokuta – Ogun State Government has commenced rehabilitation work on the Sango-Ijoko-Alagbole road, abandoned by the previous administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
The government under the administration of Amosun had planned to make the 32-kilometre road six-lane, with three lanes on each side.
However, the Amosun administration, abandoned the road after demolishing hundreds
of houses and other structures along the road.
Since then, the road has been in deplorable state, forcing some residents to relocate and seek accommodation elsewhere, while those who could not move have to contend with harrowing experiences on daily basis.
But, the state Commissioner for Works, Engr Ade Akinsanya said the state government will make the road motorable again by December this year.
This, he said is however, subject to good weather condition, especially heavy rainfall.
Akinsanya who spoke while on tour of the road on Thursday, said the road rehabilitation project will be executed in six phases due to paucity of funds.
According to him, one side of the road will be rehabilitated for now, while the other side will take off when money is available.
He said that contracts have been awarded for segment one from Sango and segment six from Akute with work already going on simultaneously.
According to Akinsanya, a N300 million contract has been awarded for the partial repair of the remaining four segments so as to make them motorable before their complete reconstruction.
“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 motorable all the way from Sango to 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,” he said.
Akinsanya noted that the Amosun administration, apart from abandoning the road, also failed to pay compensation to people whose properties were demolished.
The commissioner also spoke on how some of the projects were being financed through the financial ingenuity of Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“As his Excellency said yesterday, 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 said.
Akinsanya said some of the road projects will bring about even development in the state, while money invested in them can be recovered through enhanced Internal Generated Revenue (IGR).
“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 (IGR) 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 (ADT),” he said.
A journalist, publisher and former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Akinwunmi Ambode, former Lagos State governor, Habib Aruna, who was on the tour, commended Governor Abiodun, the commissioner and the state government for working hand in glove in an effort to ensuring that even development get every nook and cranny of the state.
He said: “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, hence.
“We all can see and cannot deny the fact that this projects are taking place all over the areas of the state and I think the government should be applauded for doing such genuine work.”
