The Federal Government on Saturday apologised to Nigerians over the gridlock on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, especially on the Berger-OPIC axis.
The gridlock in the last three weeks has been as a result of ongoing reconstruction work by the contractor, Julius Berger.
Robberies have also been reported on the road as a result of the gridlock.
Acting Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Engr. (Mrs.) F.F Oloyede, in a statement appealed to road users to bear with government and the contractor as the work together to find solutions to the gridlock.
The statement reads: “The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMWH) is not oblivious of the current Traffic Gridlock being experienced by road users around the Berger-OPIC Axis along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as a result of the ongoing reconstruction works on the road.
The Government feels the pains of the people, especially residents of Lagos and Ogun States who are at the receiving end of the inconveniences due to the gridlock and sincerely apologize for the inconveniences caused while at the same time promising to make necessary improvements in the traffic management system on the road in other to alleviate the sufferings of the road users.
To this end, the Federal Ministry of Works has concluded plans with the contractor to suspend the works for today Saturday 27th August, 2022 in order to plan and make provisions for required improvements in traffic management on the road.
The Government however, wish to remind the public that the same road that is being reconstructed is also being used to accommodate traffic through dedicated diversions and therefore wish to appeal for the cooperation of all road users with the Contractor and Traffic Management Officers to allow for free-flow of traffic at all times, even while the reconstruction works are ongoing. To this end, we appeal to deterent road users to desist from driving against traffic and obey all dedicated road diversions along the road in order to prevent unnecessary delays on the road.
There is also provision for tow trucks along the road should in-case of any breakdown, road users should be patient by not driving against traffic and obeying stationed road traffic officers in order to allow for free flow of traffic.
In conclusion, it is a known fact, that there is no pain without gain. It is thus our utmost belief that the general public would be the ultimate beneficiaries of the world class road infrastructure that the Government plans to deliver through the ongoing reconstruction works on the road. We therefore appeal for the cooperation of the general public towards this end.
God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!”
