The federal government has expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of the Sagamu-Iperu Road in Ogun. The federal controller of works in Lagos, Olukorede Kesha, expressed satisfaction during an inspection tour of the project on Monday.

She noted that the project originally began around 2013 under a contract awarded to Reynolds Construction Company Ltd.

Ms Kesha said the contract was eventually terminated due to slow progress, especially after evaluation by the current administration.

Ms Kesha added that to keep the road functional during the transition, Hitech Construction Company was brought in to handle urgent repairs, especially on a critical section which had been washed out and rendered impassable.

She said that intervention restored accessibility while a more comprehensive plan was being finalised. Ms Kesha added that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway expansion was strategically phased.

The official noted that Julius Berger handled the main 46km stretch up to the Sagamu Interchange, which included major flyovers and bridges.

Ms Kesha said that some parts, such as access ramps at the Lotto Interchange, remained incomplete due to compensation issues.

She explained that the government re-awarded the outstanding portions of the project, including bridges, ramps and underpasses, to CBC Global Civil and Building Construction Nig. Ltd.

Ms Kesha also mentioned that the project’s scope had been expanded to cover an additional 12km from Sagamu to Iperu Junction. According to her, funding availability will determine how far the work can go, as the government is considering extending the project further to the Iperu-Ijebu Ode section.

She said the project’s best part was upgrading the road from a two-lane to a three-lane carriageway. She said this would include the use of both inner and outer shoulders for added durability and safety.

Ms Kesha restated the federal government’s commitment to long-term work quality, saying that instead of a standard stone base, CBC would use a stone base mixed with cement to withstand the area’s heavy traffic.

“This will be topped with reinforced concrete, a technique successfully used on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. We want to replicate the durability we achieved on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. The idea is that, for the next 50 years, we don’t have to come back to fix this road. We can keep moving forward,” she said

Ms Kesha disclosed that the 12km Sagamu-Iperu stretch was expected to be completed within a year.

(NAN)