Work must continue on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

After the Federal Government had terminated the concession granted to the Bi-Courtney highway services to construct the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in 2012, they mobilised Julius Berger Construction Company and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) to take over the construction of the road and under this new arrangement, the Federal Government is to fund the project partly, while the balance is to be sourced from concessionaries.

In May, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Assembly saw to the signing of an agreement with a consortium of concessionaries expected to raise funds for the projects. However, report had it that Julius Berger and RCC stopped work on the construction of the expressway from the Lagos and Shagamu end of the road and this is as a result of the delay in payment for the execution of the contract.

The Federal Government should look into this matter and it should be handled appropriately. This would bring out positive results.  The construction of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway should not be postponed or handled with levity, many lives have been lost. The Federal Government should therefore look for means to source for funds to pay the construction companies involved in this project. This matter should be handled as quickly as possible so that it would not derail the plan to complete the project in 2018.

Faith Adeniyi

Ibadan.