Angry residents of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State on Wednesday stopped the convoy of the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, demanding explanation for his failure to fix the Abeokuta-Ota-Lagos Expressway.
The governor, while pleading with the residents, blamed the Federal Government for frustrating his administration’s efforts at reconstructing the road.
It was gathered that the residents trooped to the Sango-Idiroko highway to express their displeasure over the state of roads in the area.
Another round of protest by angry residents of the state led to the governor’s stopover at the Joju Bypass of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway after the initial protest at the Sango-Idiroko highway.
While apologising for the deplorable conditions of the roads, Abiodun pleaded with the residents to exercise patience pending when his administration would find a solution to the problem.
The governor said he made several efforts to speak with the Federal Government over possible takeover of the roads for reconstruction, adding that he did not get approval.
Abiodun was forcefully stopped while embarking on a campaign tour of the area ahead of the forthcoming council poll scheduled for Saturday, July 24.
Ogun and Lagos states in 2019 submitted a proposal to the Federal Government, seeking the handover of the Abeokuta-Ota-Lagos Expressway for joint reconstruction.
The governor lamented the non-readiness of the Federal Government to speedily attend to the road despite his several appeals for its rehabilitation.
Abiodun said, “I pleaded with them to handover the road to us for rehabilitation, but they refused and insisted that they would do it.
“You can also see the presence of Julius Berger Construction Company at the old Toll Gate axis of this expressway. But we told them to come and fix these failed portions in order to reduce these sufferings, but they wouldn’t listen.
“I will bring the honourable minister of works and infrastructure down here so that he can physically see things for himself. If, however, they still refused to do it, then we will do it ourselves.”
