By The Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, on Friday, inspected the reconstructed Ikorodu/ Sagamu Road which is nearing completion.
Abiru, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries, was accompanied on the tour by officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, led by Engr. Adedamola Kuti, Director, Highway Southwest, Federal Ministry of Works and representatives of the Contractor, Arab Contractors, led by Area Manager, Huzem Monuir.
Until 2018 when the Federal Government approved its reconstruction, the 30-kilometre road had been in a deplorable condition for almost forty years due to neglect.
In fulfillment of his campaign promise, Abiru, on April 28, 2021, moved the motion titled, “Motion On The Urgent Need For The Rehabilitation Of The Ikorodu-Shagamu and Ikorodu-Itoikin- Epe Roads To Further Bridge The Infrastructure Gap And Enhance Economic Growth In Nigeria”. The Senate unanimously supported the motion and approved the prayers for the roads to be urgently attended to.
He also met with the Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on how the affirmation can be implemented.
Abiru said, “The minister explained that the major challenge of the road was paucity of funds based on the yearly budget constraints. He however assured based on the steps I had taken so far to include the funding of the road (Ikorodu Sagamu) under the Sukuk Financing Scheme, which is an assured funding scheme for road infrastructure.
“So, as you have seen as we journeyed on this road, the major improvements you saw from Sabo to LASPOTECH First Gate, Odogunyan, Ita-Oluwo, Ogijo, Gbaga, Sotubo, Mosimi, Thames Valley International School to Gbara Village are the fruitful results of those efforts we made.
“According to the contractors, the work progressed from 25% to 75% in less than a year due to the Sukuk Funding I facilitated through the Honourable minister. I want to express my profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister for Fashola for allocating the highest sum of the Sukuk 4 Bond they raised in December 2021 to Ikorodu/Sagamu Road.
“From Eyita, around Sabo Ikorodu to Gbara Village, about 22 Km had been completed, remaining about 8 km to reach Sagamu.
“I remember in 2021 when we journeyed on this road, it took us 2 hours but today in less than 30 minutes, we have travelled to and fro and that is efficiency and that is what brings prosperity and the is the kind of focus we should have in meeting the infrastructural deficit we have in this country.”
Also speaking during the inspection tour, Engr. Adedamola Kuti, the Director of Highway Southwest, Federal Ministry of Works, noted that the road was partly concrete and Asphalt built to withstand heavy duty trucks that ply the road.
Huzem Monuir, Area Manager, Arab Contractors Company, thanked the Senator for his contribution to the fast pace of work on the road through the Sukuk Bond.
“We have achieved 50% progress in less than a year,” he said.
On Ikorodu/Itoikin Road, Abiru said the same motion had also brought the attention of the Federal Government to the deplorable state of the road.
“Based on the follow up representations to the Minister, a resolution to rehabilitate the road has commenced, but it has to follow necessary procedures of procurement and award of contracts as laid down by law.
“Again, I have been following up on the situation, and I can assure you that progress is being gradually achieved based on extant law on contract awards,” he assured.
