The Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has assured of its commitment to ensuring improved roads infrastructure, adding that it is determined to make all geopolitical zones of the country part of the ongoing roads networking project.
Funsho Adebiyi, Director, Highways, South West, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, who gave this assurance in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, also disclosed that funds from the Sukuk bond and other funds have been made available and shared for road projects across the six geo-political zones.
Adebiyi who was in Ibadan on inspection tour of federal roads across the South West states, debunked claims that the federal government was paying more attention to roads in the Northern region than the Southern states.
“National road projects are spread out based on reports and the status of the road network; therefore it’s impossible for any zone to be left out,” he said, pointing out, however, that differences in topography, soil condition and other things in the North and South are giving people the impression that government is constructing more roads in the Northern zone.
“For example, the budget for 100 kilometers road in places like Borno or Kastina will not complete 10 or 15 kilometers in Bayelsa state,” he said, adding that every state in the southwest presently has felt the presence of the federal government regarding road construction and rehabilitation.
Among ongoing road projects are Lagos -Ibadan sections I and II, handled by Julius Berger Construction Company and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), respectively. Others are the new Oyo Ogbomosho road dualisation, being handled by RCC, and the Ogbomosho -Oko-osogbo road, being handled by Dutum Construction Company.
“We also have the Ila Orangun -Ora-ilale Ekan Meje road; Efon Alaaye Erinmo Iwaraja road; Ibadan -Abeokuta road, handled by Kopek Construction Company, and the Shagamu Ore road, handled by RCC,” Adebiyi added, saying, “I am impressed with the level of work done on the inspected roads and I guarantee that they will stand the test of time.”
Commenting on the Lagos -Ibadan Expressway, Adebiyi said that government had set aside a dedicated fund that would finish the ongoing construction work and there would no longer be any delay.
He advised road users to obey traffic laws and regulations, saying overloading and other traffic offences reduce the lifespan of roads. He also warned residents of communities along roads to desist from drying farm products on such roads.
