Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In a heartfelt statement, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed deep concern for the suffering and challenges faced by drivers on the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway, alluding to the road’s deteriorated state. Akpabio recounted his own experience of being immobilized in a two-hour traffic jam while end route to the 2023 Yewa Cultural Festival in Ilaro, Ogun State.
The Senate President made these remarks during the culminating event of the Yewa Cultural Festival, which took place in Ilaro, situated in the Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
Akpabio, joined by 70 fellow senators, emphasized his decision to personally drive to the event was driven by his desire to witness the daily challenges faced by people on the road. He recounted that the journey from Lagos to Ilaro took his team more than two hours to complete.
He further emphasized the Senate’s commitment to providing essential assistance to the Ogun State Government for the reconstruction of the road and other badly maintained federal roadways within the state.
He said: “When I was coming, I decided to pass through the Lagos-Abeokuta, Papalanto-Ilaro road to experience the pain you people are facing on the road.
“I spent about two hours in traffic along Papalanto-Ilaro road because two tankers fell on the road. I really sympathise with you. I went through what you people are passing through on daily basis.
“I am giving Governor Abiodun the Senate support in rehabilitation of these important roads.
“I was determined to go through the road that you go through. Now, I have seen what you have been seeing. From today, I prophesy that your roads are done.
“Yewaland has the greatest number of industries that local government can ever have in Nigeria, just five local governments.
“Therefore, we recognise the need to use the best set of contractors to do your roads because of the wear and tear. I assure you that we will be working with our brother, Dapo Abiodun. Your lives will not be the same again.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, expressed deep concern for the suffering and hardships faced by commuters traveling the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway due to its lamentable condition. Akpabio shared his personal experience of enduring a two-hour traffic delay while en route to the 2023 Yewa Cultural Festival held in Ilaro, Ogun State.
These remarks were delivered at the grand finale of the Yewa Cultural Festival, a remarkable event that took place in Ilaro, situated in the Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State on Saturday, October 14, 2023.
Accompanied by a contingent of 70 senators, Akpabio emphasized his determination to drive to the venue to gain firsthand insight into the daily challenges faced by road users. His team, like many others, spent more than two hours navigating the arduous journey from Lagos to Ilaro.
In his commitment to addressing these issues, Akpabio pledged that the Senate would provide the vital support required for the Ogun State Government’s efforts to reconstruct the road and rectify the deplorable state of other federal roads in the state.
Akpabio conveyed his personal experience, stating, “When I was coming, I decided to pass through the Lagos-Abeokuta, Papalanto-Ilaro road to experience the pain you people are facing on the road. I spent about two hours in traffic along Papalanto-Ilaro road because two tankers fell on the road. I really sympathize with you. I went through what you people are passing through on a daily basis. I am giving Governor Abiodun the Senate support in the rehabilitation of these important roads.”
The Senate President, who was honored with the chieftaincy title of ‘Fiwagboye’ of Yewaland by the Yewa Traditional Council, also used the occasion to encourage the youth to steer clear of drugs and fraudulent activities, assuring them that their lives would improve when they embraced a clean lifestyle.
Furthermore, Governor Abiodun appealed to the Senate to advocate for the transfer of the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Road to the state, emphasizing its critical importance to the socio-economic development of Ogun State. He shared that it took him three hours to drive from Abeokuta to Ilaro, underscoring the state’s commitment to securing the transfer of the road project.
Abiodun also revealed that discussions were in the final stages for the reconstruction of the Abeokuta-Olorunda-Imeko and the Abeokuta-Iborro-Ilaro roads.
He said: “I also want to announce to you that I am currently concluding discussions with the Minister of Works on the reconstruction of the Abeokuta-Olorunda-Imeko road and the completion of the Abeokuta-Iborro-Ilaro road. This will complement the Imasayi-Iborro-Ayetoro road.
“Mr Senate President, it took me three hours to get here from Abeokuta. I am sure it took you just as much to get here from Lagos because of the deplorable state of Lagos-Abeokuta Road. Mr Senate President, please help us with the Federal Government to transfer this road to us. This road is very key to our socio-economic economic development.”