The federal government has ordered immediate commencement of palliative works on the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Road to address critical failures and restore traffic flow.

‎‎The minister of works, ‎Dave Umahi, gave the directive during an inspection of the federal highway linking Lagos and Ogun states.

He said that although about 22km were assessed, active intervention would focus on about 18km of the most distressed sections of the road.

Mr Umahi said that the federal government was already handling about 60km on the corridor and they were being executed in phases based on urgency.

He attributed the road’s failures to unresolved concession issues and misjudged engineering parameters during an earlier construction.

The minister said that the repair would begin immediately, mostly at night, targeting sections that prevented free movement of vehicles.

According to him, low-lying failed areas will be reconstructed with concrete to ensure durability.

Mr Umahi said that the Ota-bound carriageway suffered more severe damage than the Lagos-bound carriageway.

‎He said that a second phase would involve full resurfacing, replacement of bridge expansion joints, and installation of solar streetlights.

The minister gave the assurance that the concessionaire would operate and maintain the road as soon as works on it would be completed.

(NAN)