Ikorodu Oga Radio can authoritatively report that Arab Contractors, the construction company handling the rehabilitation of the Ipakodo-Ogolonto road may have abandoned the project over unpaid funds.
This is unknown to many residents and motorists who recently heaved a sigh of relief over the opening of a part of the road to motorists.
Our reporter’s interaction with motorists who ply the route on a regular basis confirms the fears as it was revealed that traffic gridlock has returned to the road in the past few weeks, especially when it rains.
We also gathered that whenever it rains, some motorists spend as much as 2 to 3 hours to commute to and from Ogolonto, a distance of less than 5 minutes ordinarily, while some commuters are forced to trek whenever the waitiing becomes unbearable.
Further checks by our reporter revealed that the construction company left the site over three weeks ago over unpaid funds by the Lagos State Government to the firm.
When our reporter visited the site yesterday, it was discovered that the firm has moved all its major equipments away from their work yard located along the busy road.
Though efforts to get a formal statement from the construction giant proved abortive, a source from the company who pleaded anonymity neither deny nor confirm the information.
Our source simply said the fact that the firm’s equipment had been moved away from site should give us a clue that something must has gone wrong.
He however added that the company would move back to site and increase the pace of work once funds are released, an indication that the news was true.
This is calling on Ikorodu Division key stakeholders to prevail on the Lagos State Government not to abandon the road project, considering the suffering residents and motorists have gone through in the past, due to the deplorable state of the road.
This is apart from the fact that the Ipakodo-Ogolonto road is a major link road to many parts of Ikorodu Division Communities.
The road also plays host to the Nigerian Ports Authority, Ikorodu Lighter Terminal, Lagos State Ferry Terminal among other numerous private businesses.
