By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Lagos—SOME 72 hours after Lagos state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode directed relevant government agencies to immediately move to provide palliative work on the deplorable portions of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, repair work is yet to commence on the road.

Last Friday, Ambode during an unscheduled inspection tour of the road, directed the state’s Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and other relevant agencies to move immediately to site and fix the deplorable road.

The directive by the governor was greeted with loud ovation from residents and motorists who were worried that after, the agencies were still footdragging.

The governor during the inspection expressed dissatisfaction at the deplorable state of some sections of Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, saying the road was too strategic to the economy of the state and therefore cannot be ignored.

He specifically inspected the bad portions of the road between Berlett and Ilasa, and Cele Bus stop inward Oshodi.

He did not only directed the officials of the Ministry of Works to immediately move to site, but also ordered that palliative measure be put in place to alleviate the sufferings of motorists who have been complaining about the deplorable state of the road through various means.

Mr. Kayode Ojo, a motorist along the route, however, urged relevant agencies to move to site immediately because the rains have started and further delay will worsen traffic situation on the axis and its attendant result on both air and sea port activities since the road leads to the air and seaports.

However, a source at the Lagos Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the governor’s directive saying, it will be obeyed soon.
“But don’t forget, moving to site is premised on clement weather because works can move to site when it’s raining and this is rainy period,” the source stated.

The state government through the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, sometime in April said it commenced palliative work but the effect was not felt by motorists.

The Special Adviser/Chief Executive Officer, LSPWC, Mr Ayotunde Sodeinde, an engineer, while commenting on the development earlier, said the work is not a one off job as the corporation would continue to carry-out periodic maintenance of the road, until the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA commences its reconstruction.

FERMA Co-ordinator, (Lagos-West) Kehinde Afolabi, was quoted as saying that the bad portion of the road would be reconstructed from the 2016 budget when it is eventually passed.