The users of the Lagos-Ibadan Highway have requested the intervention of President Bola Tinubu to complete the reconstruction of the 150-kilometer road that began more than 12 years ago.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had suspended the reconstruction of the road in 2013.
A substantial part of the end of the Ibadan road was abandoned for almost two years just to observe some skeletal works there on Friday.
The construction is generating fears in the minds of numerous road users on whether the road will be completed before the end of President Tinubu's first mandate.
The registered number of accidents on the road has also generated serious concerns among road users.
At some point in 2023, more than 25 people lost their lives at the AGBOWO end of the highway in Ibadan. Four days ago a truck loaded with gasoline exploded in the same place. The truck driver lost his life while the motorist received medical attention at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
Registered accidents, according to road users, are because vehicles deviated to the highway side, which is full of potholes.
The president of the commercial taxi drivers (Micra) in the area of the local government of Akinyele, Mr. Kehinde Lamidi, in an interview with Saturday Tribune, described the end of the Ojo-Iwo highway as a deadly trap.
“Many people have been sent to the early grave due to the deplorable state of the road, as well as the diversion that causes motorists to drive in one sense.
“Three days ago there was a fatal accident in the Agbowo area. I met that the driver of one of the trucks lost his life while the waiter received medical attention at the UCH.
“The deplorable state of the road has left many of our drivers without work. The maintenance cost is killing.
“We call on the federal government and President Bola Tinubu to help us and guarantee a rapid completion of the project.
“The current administration has begun well. Our prayer is that this ends well, ”said Lamidi.
A taxi driver who identified himself as Alhaji Semiu Adesina said: “The state of the road has regularly called several mechanical workshops of the State.
“It will hardly spend a day without fixing our cars. The cost of motor spare parts shoots day by day.
“We don't know who is responsible for the delay that is being experienced in the completion of the project, to the federal government or the contractors? But our request is that the federal government does what is necessary guaranteeing the completion of the project to reduce the killing. ”
In addition, Bamidele Emmanuel appealed to the federal government to accelerate the measures to finish the road project.
He said: “At the end Iwo Road/Eyoo of the Lagos-Ibadan Highway in Ibadan, accidents are recorded daily.
“We are driving in one sense. Most truckers do not respect taxis drivers, which is why we continue to register accidents daily.
“Not only that, the unique lane to which we are restricted due to the current works is full of potholes.
“The contractors, instead of focusing on the road, are busy with the sewer and the median.
“We are tired of the snail speed with which the works go. Today, contractors will mobilize workers to the place, tomorrow they will no longer be.
“The federal government must be sensitive to our difficult situation and guarantee a rapid completion of the project.
Another user of the road and general director of First Charity Company Limited, Pastor Adrounmu said: “The current state of the Lagos-Ibadan highway is terrible.
“The former president Goodluck Jonathan awarded the reconstruction of this road in 2013 and until today it is not finished.
“It will hardly spend a day without accidents on this road, especially between Ibadan Tollgate and the end of the road in Ojoo. Three days ago there was an accident that involved three trucks at the end of the Agbowo road. It was fatal.
“Death was recorded while the three trucks affected were reduced to ashes. Accidents are due to the unfortunate state of the road. The road needs an urgent intervention of the federal government ”
It was deduced that the intermittent behavior of contractors on the site is attributable to the question of variations in the cost of the project.
While contractors demand an upward review of the cost of the project, the federal government insists that this will not happen, although the cost of construction materials has increased astronomically.
Richard Adelev, an engineer who supervises the project, belongs to the Federal Ministry of Public Works. In a telephone conversation with Saturday Tribune, he said that the contractors had not moved from the site.
“Contractors are working on the Lagos-Ibadan Highway. You can go there and verify, ”he said.
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