BY: NewsPeddlers
The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola has appealed to residents along Lagos–Badagry expressway to desist from stealing materials for road construction.
Speaking at the inspection of the road under a heavy downpour, Fashola said that the sad development is one of the numerous challenges they are struggling with in their pursuit to deliver the project by the first quarter of 2023.
“We plan to deliver the project by the first quarter of 2023 but we are contending with many challenges such as rainy season, motor traffic, community issue and stolen of our materials at the site.
“Our Engineers at the site reported to us that some residents are stealing the
construction materials to build their own house, claiming that it’s their share of the national cake. That is not good because this road is for the good of
everybody.
Fashola expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, saying the progress was largely a result of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation tax credit, “the main problem of Lagos – Badagry road has always been funding, but that has been substantially addressed with NNPC tax credit. So the contractor is progressing as you can see.
“We have about 16 kilometres completed on one lane, the plan is to finish that side and divert the traffic so that we can work on the other side. As you are all aware, Agbara to Igboelerin is covered by Federal Roads Maintenance Agency while Lagos State is responsible for Eric Moore to Agboju.
“If you recalled, we hosted Minister from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic about two weeks ago, this route is part of Lagos Abidjan high way which is a total of about 1,048 kilometres. This is a very strategic investment that the federal government is making as our contribution to West AFRICA Trade and Lagos State.
“Traditional rulers along
this road are commending President Buhari administration for the intervention
saying that the journey that used to take them about 3 hours has been reduced
to about 10 minutes and as you can see, work is still ongoing. Aside from
saving time, it has also promoted easy-of-doing-business. That is the
progressive idea of Buhari government and our party, improving the human
condition.”
SOURCE: VANGUARD