Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Bold step to infrastructural rejuvenation
By the time the new contractors handling the re-awarded failed portions of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway deliver the work, it is expected that the project will lessen economic losses associated with accidents and congestion, reduce travel times and strengthen the South-West regional economy. And indeed, boost the economy, as it improves regional competitiveness and national productivity.
This optimism was expressed last weekend at Shagamu interchange by Mike Onolememen, minister of Works, during the flag off of the reconstruction and expansion works on the section 1 & 11 of the road that will cost government about N167billion.
Onolememen said the Federal Government would collaborate with the private sector to ensure that the project is adequately funded in order to bring it to quick completion within 30 months, far ahead of the scheduled completion period of 48 months.
For the second time in four years, the Federal Government has awarded contract for the failed sections of the expressway.
Need for re-award of contract
Onolememen recounted the sad story of the road (human and material losses) which prompted government to cancel the concession and re-awarded the contract. He explained that government had to terminate the concession agreement with Messrs Bi-Courtney entered in 2009 because of the inability of the company to make progress after four years.
According to him, Bi-Courtney was to “develop the section between Ojota old Toll Plaza in Lagos and old Toll Plaza in Ibadan, a distance of approximately 105km under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for enhanced quality of service to all users of the highway in tandem with international standards. However, four years later, no real progress was recorded while the road users wallowed in hardship and constantly at risk of accident on the road.
“The frequent carnage on the road by September 2012 and the frequent loss of lives and man-hours was detrimental to the economy, and urgent action needed to be taken to remedy the situation. The Federal Government consequently terminated the concession agreement between her and Bi-Courtney for failing to comply with the provisions of the concession agreement.”
Economic importance of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
At the event, the Works minister highlighted the place of the expressway in the economy of the country. Waxing historical, he recalled that the Lagos – Ibadan road was the first expressway to be constructed in Nigeria and was commissioned in August 1978.
“It is part of Arterial Route A.1 linking Lagos, the commercial centre of Nigeria through Ibadan to the Northern part of the country. The Expressway traverses three South Western States of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo. It commences at Ojota Interchange through Shagamu Junction, Ogere and terminates at Ojoo in the city of Ibadan, a distance of 127.6km. The expressway is also a major artery that connects Lagos, the host of major Nigerian Sea Ports, to other states of the federation, and forms not only a part of the Trans-Saharan Highway that links Lagos on the Atlantic Ocean to Algiers on the Mediterranean Sea, but also part of the Trans-African Highway that is linking the Atlantic city of Lagos to the Indian Ocean city of Mombassa in East Africa through Cameroon and Central Africa,” he said.
How Julius Berger, Reynolds won the contract
Touched by the deplorable condition of the road, the Works ministry carried out some intervention works on the expressway to reduce carnage and loss of man-hours that were detrimental to the economy. However, in order to provide a lasting solution to the condition of the road, the Federal Ministry of Works commenced the process for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the full reconstruction and expansion of the expressway.
Onolememen said: “After the opening and analysis of the bids, the Ministry sought and obtained Certificate of ‘No Objection’ from the Bureau of Public Procurement, (BPP) for the award of the contracts. Approval was granted for the award of the contracts in the total contract sum of N167billion with a completion period of 48 months to two competent contractors, namely Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and Reynolds Construction Company Limited, who emerged as successful bidders for Section I (Lagos – Shagamu Interchange) and Section II (Shagamu Interchange – Ibadan), respectively.”
Scope of work
The Works minister explained that section 1 of the contract (Lagos-Shagamu) will involve the reconstruction and expansion of Lagos-Ibadan Dual Carriageway, from Lagos to Shagamu (with a total length of 43.6km).
According to Onolememen, “the road commences at Old Toll Gate in Oregun/Ikosi-Ketu, Lagos State and terminates at Shagamu Interchange in Ogun State. The scope of works involves the reconstruction of the existing two lane carriageway in each direction and addition of a third lane to give 3-lanes in each direction. The carriageway width is 10.95m with adjoining 2.75m outer hard shoulder, 1.8m inner hard shoulder and a median.
“The pavement cross-section is made up of 150mm sub-base; 200mm crushed base, 150mm Macadam, 60mm asphaltic concrete binder course and 40mm asphaltic concrete wearing course. The works also include the construction of an Interchange at Redeemed Camp and five (5) pedestrian bridges, as well as the maintenance of 10 existing bridges, amongst other ancillary works.”
The minister, who profusely thanked the President, who performed the turning of the sod to signal the commencement of work, for his support and enthusiasm to see the project come to light, also urged the cooperation of governments of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States in the course of the execution of the project, explaining that the Section 11 of the project would commence from Shagamu to Ibadan.
“The contract work consists of reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan Dual Carriageway, from Shagamu-Ibadan. The road commences at Shagamu Interchange in Ogun State and terminates at Ojoo Interchange in Oyo State and has a total length of about 84.0km,” he said, adding, “The road is made up of a 2-lane dual carriageway of 7.3m for each direction, 2.75m outer hard shoulder, 1.8m inner hard shoulder and median. The cross-section of the pavement is made up 150mm sub-base; 200mm crushed base, 150mm Macadam, 60mm asphaltic concrete binder course and 40mm asphaltic concrete wearing course.”