The Federal Government has begun palliative repairs on the dilapidated sections of the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, inspected the palliative works on the about seven kilometers damaged portion of the road, on Monday.
Kesha said that the length of the entire road within the Lagos axis was 18km, noting that only the badly damaged sections would be attended to.
Kesha said: “We are here to see the status of the road.
“You all know that this road has been bad for some time, and the ministry has been trying its best to work in conjunction with the concessionaire.
“ I have brought news men here before, and I have told them that why this road is the way it is now is because it has been concessioned, and you know there was a transition from the old government to the new government.
“We are trying to perfect the document, trying to see what the old government did to the concessionaire so that this new government can take it up from there, and then it looks as if it is taking all the time,” she said.
Kesha said that the Federal Government did not want to wait any longer.
“The honourable minister has directed that we come here and do, at least, palliative works pending when the issues will be resolved.”
The controller said that the palliative works would involve filling drum holes, laying stone bases and applying a binding layer to ensure a smoother road surface within the next two weeks.
She said, “ We have drum holes here and not potholes, so we are going to fill all the drum holes.
“We are already putting boulders after which a stone base will be put on top of it.
“Then, we have a binding layer to bind all those elements of road together. Then, we will have a smooth riding surface in the next 14 days.’’
She expressed Federal Government’s commitment to providing relief to motorists and commuters plying the road.
Mr Olaniyi Ilorin, a representative of the residents of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, thanked the Federal Government for the palliative repairs.
While acknowledging the importance of the palliative works, he called for a more comprehensive solution.
Ilorin urged the ministry to consider full reconstruction of the road to ensure durability.
He also expressed optimism that the palliative repairs would be completed within the stated timeframe and that further steps would be taken to address the road’s structural issues.
Ilorin emphasised the importance of a well-maintained road to community development. (NAN)
