Motorists lament over slow repairs of Sagamu–Ijebu Ode federal road

The Sagamu–Ijebu Ode federal road

Motorists and pedestrians have lamented the gridlock along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Expressway, blaming it on the slow pace of reconstruction work on the road.

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, had in February flagged off the reconstruction of the 60km stretch from Sagamu Interchange to Itele on the outskirts of Ijebu Ode, following years of public outcry over its dilapidated state.

Contractors reportedly moved to the site in April, beginning work from the Sagamu Express Junction.

But travellers told The PUNCH on Sunday that the progress had been painfully slow, forcing motorists into long hours of traffic and encouraging wrong-way driving to avoid bad portions of the road.

A journalist, Joshua Oduneye, while welcoming the intervention, said the pace was discouraging.

“We are happy President Bola Tinubu listened and ordered the reconstruction, but since April or May, the kilometres covered are not encouraging. The road is terrible, and that has led to accidents and vehicle damage,” he said.

A Lagos–Ore driver, Olayinka Israel, shared the concern.

“Yes, it is concrete work, which takes casting and reinforcement, but the government should hasten the process. We are suffering here,” he said.

Another road user, Adedayo Adewale, who works at a private university along the corridor, said he had looked forward to smooth travel when work began.

“But four months after, the progress has been too slow,” he lamented.

From the Interchange, only one lane of the dual carriageway has been partly paved, though work was ongoing during The PUNCH’s Sunday visit.

Treasurer of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Sagamu, Segun Stainless, said the slow pace had worsened traffic.