As residents question project durability

BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO

Residents of Ojo Local Government Area have expressed concern over the durability of the Ariyo (Mile 10)-Ira-Muwo bridge, an alternative road for the 10 lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway, following a failed portion of the yet to be commissioned bridge.

The residents lamented that the failed portion clearly shows that the bridge which was yet to put into use must have been poorly constructed by the builders, Messrs Moreno Marinas Lagoon Plc.

They argued that the pier- a vertical structural support between two spans of a bridge -was already losing balance, thus, forcing a section of the bridge to tilt at the junction where the Ojo lagoon flows into the Mile 10 lagoon.

The state government had last year re-awarded the construction of the phase 1 of the project to Lopek Engineering and Construction Ltd at an estimated cost of N1.2 billion, six months after revoking the contract due to the slow pace of construction work and inability of the contractor- Messrs Moreno Marinas Lagoon Plc, to meet its contractual obligation.

As a result of the development, the residents of the mostly affected communities-Ira, Muwo, Tedi, Ariyo and Abule-Oshun, demanded that the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola direct Lopek, to embark on extensive check on the entire bridge to detect other cracks that may not be visible at the moment.

The citiizens explained that they were not concerned about the delivery date- March 2nd, 2014, as stipulated by the contract anymore, because it had already elapsed three months ago.
They emphasized that their main concern is to have a good road project that could serve them and the unborn generations of the community.

The road when completed will serve as an alternative road for motorist when the ongoing expansion works on the ever busy Lagos-Badagry express road reach Abule-Oshun axis of the road.
Chairman of the Muwo Community Development Association, CDA, Mr. Isiaka Mutairu lamented that the previous contractor, is yet to pay the seven-months wages of the community youth engaged for the construction works.

Mr. Matthew Onifade, another resident said that there is the need for the new contractor to carry out complete check on the entire work done by the previous contractor, saying; “Doing that, will help reveal if there was any, cracks or portion that require reinforcement.”

Another resident who identified himself as Baba Abibat complained that the bridge is yet to be put to use but it was already tilting.
He however appealed to the state government to direct the contractor to also expedite action on the construction of the drainage channels because the rainy season had just started, adding; “Our children cannot have easy access to their respective schools.”

Govt react
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat said that the government has seen the faulty portion and the correction has started.
Hamzat explained that the process of correcting the portion is technical.

According to him, “In order to correct the failed portion, Lopek, the new contractor, has begun to realign the piers. And will construct the abutments.”