Those stalling Lagos-Ibadan highway project are ignorant —Shonibare

CHAIRMAN of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere in Lagos State, Chief Supo Shonibare, has accused those behind the cash crisis stalling the Lagos-Ibadan expressway of ignorance on the importance of the road.

Shonibare, who spoke with Sunday Tribune against the backdrop of the suspension of operations by the firm handling the Ibadan axis of the project, said the highway was strategic to the economic life of the country as the major link between the nation’s economic hub, Lagos and other parts of the country.

Reports indicated that the firm announced that it was abandoning work on the road because of an outstanding debt of N8 billion.

The decision of the Senate to reduce the initial estimate for the project in the Federal Government budget, of more than N30 billion to N10billion by the Senate triggered a face-off between the upper chamber of the National Assembly and the Minister of Power, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

Shonibare said it was sad that those in government were yet to come to terms with the importance of the road to the overall interest of the entire citizenry.

“It’s a great pity that those in government do not appreciate the critical infrastructural essence of the Lagos- Ibadan, Lagos- Benin expressways to the economic wellbeing of the entire country.

He explained that it was naïve for any individual or group to perceive the project as beneficial only to the South-West geopolitical zone of the country.

“Successive administrations, for decades, have not appreciated strategic economic need to ensure the completion and to also sustain maintenance of vital artery routes for both the productive and economic wellbeing of the entire country.

“Imports and Exports come through this route. Lagos is also the economic nerve centre of the entire federation. All the six zones in the federation have common collective interest in ensuring that this project is placed in priority to other federal road projects.

“It’s a great misconception to see this project as a South-West project; as all critical transportation of goods and services for the entire country ply this route,” he said.