The Federal Government has expressed intentions to terminate the contract of Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) for the Osun-Ogbomosho road due to an extensive 18-year delay in completing the project. Minister of Works David Umahi announced this decision during a recent joint inspection of several major road projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Lagos-Ota Expressway. Umahi emphasized the unacceptable length of time the project has taken, stressing that RCC has failed to deliver results despite nearly two decades of oversight and investment. As a result, citing the principle of “effluxion of time,” he indicated that the contract could be annulled to move forward with alternative plans to address the road’s completion.
In addition to the Osun-Ogbomosho road, Umahi raised concerns about the contractor responsible for phase 2 of the Lagos-Ibadan Sagamu road, which remains incomplete. The minister noted that while Julius Berger successfully completed its section, RCC has not fulfilled its obligations regarding the remaining portion of the expressway from Sagamu to Ibadan. Umahi warned that this contractor is also at risk of termination if they do not resume work and finish the outstanding three kilometers within a specified timeframe. He has issued RCC a seven-day ultimatum to return to the site, planning to follow this with a warning letter if compliance is not achieved.
The state of the Lagos-Abeokuta federal highway, which has suffered from neglect for over eight years, was also addressed. Umahi reported that the Ogun State Governor had taken the initiative to award a section of the highway for repairs, with work currently in progress under the guidance of President Bola Tinubu’s directive, which permits state governors to undertake road projects as necessary. Although 18 kilometers of the roadway are still pending, significant progress has been made, with convoys rushing to procure emergency funding from the Minister of Finance to complete the remaining length and alleviate the plight of commuters.
Recognizing the urgent need for improvements amid public protests regarding the deplorable conditions of these roads, Umahi announced the procurement of funds to initiate palliative works on about 7 kilometers of the highway. He sought additional financial aid to address the remaining 11 kilometers, demonstrating the government’s awareness and responsiveness to citizens’ grievances regarding transportation infrastructure. The minister’s commitment reflects an overarching effort to revamp roads significantly in a time-expired manner while awaiting the finalization of more extensive construction processes.
In the effort to enhance road durability and condition, Umahi recommended utilizing concrete for the construction of the Lagos-Ota road. This suggestion is part of an attempt to ensure that the finished highways can withstand heavy traffic loads and deteriorating weather conditions in the long term. During the inspection, he highlighted the importance of solid materials, suggesting that changing materials can improve infrastructural longevity and reduce future maintenance costs. This forward-thinking approach appears to be aimed at investing in quality infrastructure that can serve the public more effectively.
Lastly, as part of the effort to expedite the ongoing construction, Umahi ordered the immediate clearing of buried refuse obstructing the runway of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. This decisive action aims to speed up roadwork processes, reflecting a broader strategy to remove barriers to progress in road construction. The overall message from the inspection is that the government is taking definitive steps to address the long-standing issues in road infrastructure, prioritizing completion timelines, financial planning for urgent repairs, and the implementation of quality construction materials to provide the populace with an improved transportation framework.
