13th November, 2012
The Federal Government has ordered Bi-Courtney Highway Services Ltd., the concessionaire handling the rehabilitation of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to complete the ongoing reconstruction work before Christmas.
Mr Tunde Ekunsunmi, Director, Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Federal Ministry of Works, gave the order in response to journalists’ questions at the end of an inspection of the road.
The company was to carry out the reconstruction work from Kilometre 32 to 45 (around Redeemed camp to Shagamu interchange),
Ekunsunmi said that the company was expected to lay asphalt on the stone base two weeks before Christmas, to ensure less congestion when people travel for the Yuletide.
“This is the time to ensure this road is put in the right shape because of people travelling in the next few weeks for Christmas. That is why we have come to alert them to work day and night to ensure that the road is good enough for the Christmas,” he said
He added that the ministry was satisfied with the progress of work done by the contractors, Messrs Borini Prono.
Ekunsunmi said that the contractor was working in line with general certification of both the ministry and international standard.
“I think they have done very good, bearing in mind the intervention of weather,” he said.
Dr Wale Babalakin, Chairman, Bi-Courtney, said that the company would complete the reconstruction of the road without much stress to users.
Babalakin said, “Our purpose is that we have made a covenant with Nigerians to deliver this road on time and we are determined that this covenant, we would live up to it.
“Nigerians should expect that this road would be completed on schedule and they would have a smooth road to travel on for Christmas.”