#EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu To Flag Off Epe-Ibeju Lekki Highway Reconstruction As Protests Linger (Video)

By Babatunde Kaka and Zainab Olanrewaju

• The thoroughfare receives attention as protesters paralyse vehicular activities on Lekki link bridge

Agitations for the total reconstruction of roads leading to Epe gets a new boost as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is set to flag off the reconstruction of the Epe-Ibeju-Lekki highway.

The flag off which is billed to take place on Sunday 25th October 2020, is subject to the activities of #Endsars protesters whose agitations in the state have taken its toll on free flow of traffic. In fact, the palpable tension has forced the State Government to shut all schools.

In a communique sighted by Ekohotblog, the Governor spoke through his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat in a virtual meeting organized by a coalition of concerned Epe youths with a view to finding lasting solutions to deplorable state of the roads.

The meeting which was a combination of physical and virtual means was well attended by top government officials from Epe, was moderated by Mr. Fatai Adebanjo. Notable among the attendees are; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Obafemi Kadri Hamzat, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructures, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, Chairman, House Committee on Works, Hon Abiodun Tobun, Sesan Ogundeko Esq, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Audit Service Commission, Hon Lanre Odubote, Hon Adeniyi Saliu, Chairman Eredo LCDA and a host of other well meaning indigenes of EPE.

The moderator, Adebanjo Fatai inundated the Deputy Governor and the Special Adviser to the Governor who represented the Lagos State Government in the meeting, with yearnings and agitations of Epe residents and road users.

He stated that all the roads leading to EPE are in a state of comatose due to washing away of bitumen, sharp sand and granite, which have not only caused pot holes on the roads but deep fractures at the centers of the roads.

“The people of EPE find it very difficult to exercise their Fundamental Right to Freedom of Movement as enshrined in Section 41 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights due to the deliberate neglect and sheer abandonment of all the roads leading to EPE by the Lagos State Government”.

The moderator further narrated his personal experience and that of other persons who ply the roads in question on a daily basis. He also lamented the avoidable accidents that have bedeviled those roads due to their deplorable conditions. Moreso, informed the gathering about the physiological trauma, discomfort, pains and stress usually experienced while plying the roads such as Lekki-EPE Expressway from Ibeju Lekki to EPE, Ikorodu-EPE Expressway and EPE- Ijebu Ode Expressway.

Responding to the agitations, Hon. Abiodun Tobun, Member Lagos State House of Assembly, Epe Constituency I addressed the gathering in view of efforts made in the past on the dilapidated roads.

“I have written letters and several phone calls to the Governor to intimate him about the sufferings of my people. I must assure you that the government really have us in mind and in plans and as such, we should be rest assured that the roads will be catered for. Governor Babajide Sanwoolu is coming to EPE on Sunday to flag off the Ibeju Lekki-EPE road construction”, he said.

Similarly, Hon Sesan Ogundeko stated that the current government has better plans for the people of EPE, which shall materialize in due time.

In a swift response to the agitations of the people, the Deputy Governor and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works stated categorically that the Lagos State Government is very articulate with the intention to ensure that construction works begin earnestly on roads. It was however disclosed that the financial implication is herculean in task.

“The contract for Lekki-Epe Expressway highway from Ibeju Lekki to EPE has been awarded through Public Private Partnership PPP and you should be expecting a total of 6 carriage to and fro, two for cars and other incidental vehicles and one for Trucks.

The Governor and some other members of the State Cabinet would be joining the Governor on Sunday 25th October 2020 to flag off construction work from Ibeju Lekki to EPE. It should also be noted that it will be a concrete based road construction “, he averred.

The Deputy Governor further stated that the intention of the Governor to flag off the construction work on Sunday is subject to the current Endsars protest which has caused untold hardship to Lagosians owing to arbitrary road blockage across the State.

The Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat also informed the gathering that Ikorodu-EPE Express Road is a Federal Government road and without approval of the Federal Government to cede the road to the State, the State cannot actually carry out major reconstruction work.

They stated that the Federal Government had instructed that palliative be carried out on the road which has commenced and will materialize with time.

In his response, the moderator however informed the Deputy Governor that the ongoing Federal Government palliative is not enough stating that the Lagos State Government can through the Lagos State Public Works ensure that the palliative is well monitored and supported to substantially ameliorate out the sufferings of road users plying the road. This was noted by the Deputy Governor and the Special Adviser.

On Ijebu-EPE Expressway, the Deputy Governor noted that the Government is aware of the part of the road from Mojoda to the boundary of Ogun State which also needed urgent attention of the Government. He stated that talks are currently ongoing with the contractor with the intention to move back to site. In addition, he stated the need for the Lagos State Government to finally engage the Government of Ogun State with a view to sorting some financial obligations, after which the road will be completed.

The Deputy Governor and the Special Adviser among other things assured the gathering that after flagging off the Ibeju Lekki-Epe Expressway from Ibeju Lekki to EPE, more developments would be accommodated in Epe. He pleaded with the people of Epe to be calm and exercise more patience with the Government as Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Rounding up the meeting, the Deputy Governor in his closing remarks appreciated the youths who initiated the meeting and admonished them to strive to engage and constructively interface with the government through virtual means considering the current trend in the state. He also implored the youths to continue interfacing with the Government through a peaceful means.

Fatai Adebanjo Esq appreciated the Deputy Governor, the Special Adviser, government officials and all others who attended the virtual meeting as it was an avenue to further constructively engage the Government before a total showdown.

It was unanimously agreed in the meeting that a 7 man committee be constituted consisting of members of the public and stakeholders to follow up on the promises made by the Government and always give feedback to the people on the level of fulfillment of the promises.

As things stand, this is not the first time the government of Lagos State is making promises as regards the roads. It is hoped that this is not another “audio” road reconstruction promise.

See Video On State of Road in Epe: