Lagos, Stakeholders Move To End Lekki-Epe Expressway Perennial Gridlock

Lagos State government has moved to tackle the perennial traffic congestion on the Lekki-Epe Expressway by commencing the rehabilitation of the final stretch of the damaged sections on the corridor.

This was disclosed yesterday by the special adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Engr. Olufemi Daramola, during a stakeholders’ engagement to mark the commencement of works on the rehabilitation of the damaged sections from Bonny Camp to Admiralty Way Junction and VGC Sections in Eti-Osa local government area.

Daramola said the stakeholders’ meeting to commence rehabilitation of the section further attests to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s resolve to mitigate the risks posed by the road’s poor condition and create a safer environment for all road users.

He emphasised that the immediate commencement of rehabilitation of the final section signifies the administration’s objective of completing the entire stretch of the strategic highway.

Daramola assured motorists of security and efficient traffic management during the rehabilitation process, solicited residents’ cooperation, and urged them to take ownership of government projects executed in their domain.

Speaking at the stakeholders’ forum, the chairman of the Victoria Island and Lekki Residents Association (VIIRA), Sir Akin Fadoju, said the residents and other stakeholders are in support of the state government’s efforts to rehabilitate the damaged section of the road.

Fadoju decried the environmental nuisances in the corridor, saying the biggest problem is the lack of a proper drainage system on the roads, resulting in flooding whenever it rains.

He urged the federal and state governments to collaborate on fixing the roads, noting that when completed, this would ensure smooth, seamless movement for commuters and motorists.

In demonstration of its commitment to further stimulate economic growth and open up the axis for greater development, the administration of Mr Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, had declared a state of emergency on this road, which culminated in the decision to upgrade the road using a more sustainable road pavement.

Thus, the Rehabilitation/Upgrading of Eti-Osa/Lekki/Epe Expressway from Eleko to Epe T-Junction in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area as Phase I (18.75km) was first awarded in November 2020 as a three-lane dual carriageway with a reinforced concrete pavement and ancillary facilities, and was completed and commissioned in February 2023.

To consolidate the gains of Phase I and fulfil the promise made by the governor during its commissioning, the state government awarded Phase IIA & IIB of the Eti-Osa/Lekki/Epe Expressway Project, spanning Eleko Junction to Abraham Adesanya, as a three-lane dual carriageway with a reinforced-concrete pavement and ancillary facilities.