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By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Hon Sesi and his team at Gbaji-Apa-Owode Road inspection |
Engr. Chris Agbede, the MD/CEO of Smithcrown Nigeria Ltd, the contractor handling the Gbaji-Apa-Owode Road, has clarified that the ₦6 billion allocated for the road is for rehabilitation, not reconstruction contradicting earlier claims by Hon. Sesi Whingan, the House of Representatives Member for Badagry Federal Constituency.
The revelation came on Monday, April 14, 2025, during an inspection visit to the ongoing rehabilitation work. Agbede stated that the contract, awarded years before Whingan’s election, was always meant for repairs, not a full rebuild.
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This directly contradicts a March 27, 2025, press statement by Hon. Whingan, where he announced securing a ₦6 billion budgetary allocation for the road’s "reconstruction" in the 2025 national budget.
In his statement, Whingan had described the funding as a "landmark achievement", claiming it would bring "long-awaited relief" to residents after years of neglect. He also recalled promising in September 2024 at ASCON that the road would be redesigned to modern standards and even mentioned in October 14 2023 at Special Dinner and Colloquium organized by Badagry Federation Forum for Development, that it would be reconstructed with concrete for durability.
However, Agbede clarified that previous allocations never exceeded ₦150 million, making meaningful progress impossible. He emphasized that the current ₦6 billion is strictly for rehabilitation, not a complete overhaul.
During the inspection, Hon. Whingan acknowledged the "initial misconceptions" but reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the project’s completion. He explained that the contract terms were set before his tenure, though his intervention secured the ₦6 billion budget boost.
The 30.6km Gbaji-Apa-Owode Road, a critical link between Nigeria and Benin Republic, has been in severe disrepair for over a decade. While residents expected a full reconstruction, the latest clarification raises questions about the project’s true scope.
Peter Dansu the head of Whingan’s media team who spoke to News Peddlers on the matter said "that road can best be described as "reconstruction". Although the contractor’s terms of engagement specify “rehabilitation,” they explained that the scope includes the complete removal of the existing asphalt base and the re-tarring of the entire road, along with drainage construction in certain sections between Gbaji and Owode.
In this context, the difference between the "reconstruction" referred to by the MHR’s media team and the "rehabilitation" currently being mentioned is primarily a matter of terminology. While the contractor is not expanding the road beyond its current width, the contract clearly states that the existing base will be removed and the road entirely resurfaced, as funds become available."
He emphasized that, the distinction between the “reconstruction” described by the MHR’s media team and the officially termed “rehabilitation” is essentially semantic.
"It’s important to note that the project was awarded long before the current MHR assumed office."
Regarding the MHR’s proposed redesign "yes, he did mention it during the stakeholders' meeting, and it was indeed his initial intention. However, in the process of pursuing that redesign, it became clear that the cost would be so high that continuing along that path would significantly delay the project's completion.
"This would mean prolonged suffering for commuters already enduring poor road conditions. Therefore, he made the pragmatic decision to align with the already approved rehabilitation contract, which, as explained above, will still result in a road of significantly improved quality." he added.