FEDERAL Controller of Works, Lagos, Mr Godwin Eke, yesterday said the Federal Government was set to begin rehabilitation of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and other federal roads in Lagos.
Eke told newsmen when he inspected the highway that Julius Berger had submitted cost estimates for the repair of the Ilasamaja/Berliet/Iyana-Itire sections of the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway.
He, however, said the Federal Ministry of Works was waiting for approval of the 2016 budget to begin the repairs.
Eke said site inspection became necessary “to assess the current situation of the highway.”
The controller apologised to road users on behalf of the Federal Government, stating that all failed sections would receive priority attention.
He appealed to users of Apapa-Oshodi Expressway to be patient and said government was pained by the hardship faced by motorists due to the bad portions of the road.
Eke said government was also set to begin the rehabilitation of all federal roads in the country.
“The Ilasamaja/Berliet/Iyana Itire sections of this Apapa-Oshodi Expressway are in deplorable condition. We have made some proposals and designs on how to fix the highway and other federal roads in Lagos, but it is tied to the 2016, 2017 and the 2018 budgets.
“The minister, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has given his word that Apapa/Oshodi Expressway and all other federal roads in Lagos and throughout the Federation will be fixed soon.
“We are assuring the public that as soon as the budget is passed, we will mobilise the contractors to site to begin repairs on these critical sections, that is, the Ilasamaja/Berliet/Iyana Itire sections,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that boulders had been used to fill some of the craters on the Oshodi-bound carriageway of the highway around Iyana-Itire Bus stop.
Crushed stones were also used to fill various potholes around the Ilasa and Berliet Bus stop areas.