Youths in Badagry, Lagos, on Sunday blocked the Gbaji-Owode-Apa road protesting the road’s deplorable state, which had been approved for reconstruction in 2018 by the federal government.

The youths, in their hundreds, blocked the expressway preventing motorists and motorcycle riders from plying the road.

They appealed for the speedy completion of the road.

David Aladeotan, the leader of the protesting youths, said the road was approved for reconstruction in 2018 and awarded to one SmithCrown Construction Ltd.

According to Mr Aladeotan, from 2018 to date, the contractor has not covered one kilometre of the project, which is about 13 kilometres.

“In less than a year now, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will come to an end, we have to come out to appeal to him and Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister for Works and Housing, to fix the road.

“We can no longer rely on the assurance from our lawmakers and others that it will be fixed, this is almost five years now, and the contractor has not completed one kilometre,” he said.

Another youth, Oluwasegun Adande, said the road’s deplorable state had affected the socioeconomic and academic activities of the people living in the area.

Mercy Ibrahim, a lady residing in Gbaji, said the residents were full of joy when it was announced on the radio that the road would be reconstructed.

The Gbaji-Owode-Apa Road was among the 14 road projects approved for reconstruction by the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 13, 2018.

The FEC approved N185.2 billion for the 14 road projects, out of which N4.37 billion was approved for reconstructing the Gbaji-Apa-Owode road.

The contract was awarded to Smithcrown Nigeria Ltd. Lagos with contract No. 6454. 

(NAN)