Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state said Tuesday that the state government has requested for federal government’s permission to dualise three major federal roads linking the state with Lagos state.
The roads are Ikorodu-Ogijo-Shagamu road, Epe-Ijebu-Ode road and Lagos-Ota-Abeokua road.
The state governor said this while briefing State House correspondents when he led a delegation of elders and leaders of thought from state on courtesy visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the roads would be dualised under the public and private sector partnership arrangement.
He said the request was purely for economic reasons and for the ease of connectivity and access for the citizens not just from the two states but from other parts of the country.
“Shagamu to Ikorodu is one alternative road that is parallel to Lagos-Ibadan express road. Epe-Ijebu Ode is another alternative road, Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta is another alternative road.
These are roads that lead to industrial corridor.
“Those roads, Shagamu to Ikorodu, Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta are federal roads. We appreciate what the federal government is doing particularly around the whole country but we know that there is limited funds available to put in all projects.
“Those roads are grossly underfunded. For example, Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta was contracted in 2001, this is 2019 that road is not completed. That road is on its fourth agendum, this year the budget for that road is about a billion naira. That road requires another N26 billion to complete and we know we cannot burden the federal government.
“So, we are graciously asking them, ditto for Shagamu-Ikorodu. Those roads are extremely important to us. If the Shagamu-Ikorodu road is given to us, it will ease the traffic that is going on the Lagos-Ibadan express way.
“If we construct Epe-Ijebu Ode road, it means people coming from East and from Ijebu no longer have to go through the Lagos Ibadan Express Way. Also if you look at the corridor that goes from Lagos-Abeokuta, if that road is indeed completed, it means all these roads will suffer less wear and tear. That same road goes to Agbara which is one of our biggest industry hub,” he said.
