The Lagos State government has postponed the planned eight-month rehabilitation work on the Lekki–Ajah corridor, earlier scheduled to commence on Saturday, November 15, 2025, and end on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
No particular reason was given for the postponement, but a statement from the state government signed by Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Commissioner for Transportation, says a new commencement date will be communicated in due course.
“While preliminary activities will continue till end of the month, full rehabilitation works will not begin until the revised schedule is announced,” Osiyemi assured.
He revealed that the state government appreciates the understanding and patience of all road users as it remains committed to improving road infrastructure and ensuring safer, more efficient transportation for all.
The commissioner had, in a previous statement, disclosed that the project, with preliminary works already in progress, would be carried out in two phases to minimize traffic disruption.
Phase 1, according to him, would commence from Lekki 1st Toll Gate to Lekki 2nd Toll Gate and the work will be done in seven sections.
BusinessDay had noted in an earlier report that, in recent time, commuting on the Lekki-Ajah Road has become a nightmare for the users, adding that besides the poor condition of the road, indiscriminate parking on the road by truck drivers has worsened driving experience.
The report noted further that due to the gridlock on that corridor, transport fare has surged such that from Ajah to Jakande now costs N1000 and further down to Lekki costs N1500, up from N800 and N1000 respectively.
Beyond all these, the paper also raised concerns on the negative impact the rehabilitation work would have on Detty December, stressing that it would unsettle and diminish the sparkle that defines that season.
Detty December in Lagos is a vibrant celebration filled with parties, concerts, and cultural events, marking the festive end of the year. It also involves a lot of movement from one corner of the city to another, which is why the rehabilitation work is of much concern.
Osiyemi, told BusinessDay that the state government was conscious of the expected Detty December and its positive impact on the state’s economy.
Figures released by advisory firm, MO Africa Company Limited, which analysed data from November 19 to December 26, 2024, focusing on Lagos State, said nightclubs in the state raked in not less than N4.32 billion from different activities during the Detty December period.
Whether this informed the decision to postpone the rehabilitation work on that corridor or not remains a matter of conjecture.
