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The traditional ruler of Kweme Kingdom, Badagry, Sejiro Ogungbe-James says the Federal and Lagos State governments must join forces to complete the 64.8km Lagos-Badagry expressway in view of its strategic role as Nigeria’s gateway to the West African market.
Ogungbe-James, who spoke on Friday, said the timely completion of the road would alleviate the sufferings of motorists and commuters and further up the Nigerian market for patronage.
Motorists have continued to complain about the slow pace of work on the reconstruction and expansion of the Lagos-Badagry expressway, causing perennial gridlocks.
The road rehabilitation project was contracted to both Julius Berger and China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) 10 years ago, by the Lagos State government, with Julius handling the first phase spanning Orile to Mile 2, and CCECC taking the phase 2, from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko. The third and the last phase, Okokomaiko to Seme border has yet to be awarded.
“Badagry to Mile 2 shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes but the journey takes more than five hours or more because of the deplorable state of the road. The expressway which is the gateway to other West African countries is an eyesore and it is prone to accidents because of the state of the road.
“Urgent steps must be taken to address this problem because it is one of the major reasons that the ancient city is underdeveloped because the state of the road drives away investors,” said Ogungbe-James.
The monarch equally called on the Lagos State government to concentrate on developing rural areas so as to attract investors.
“We have three borders around our communities in which the government generates revenue but we have not felt the impact of the government at the grassroots.
“We hope that the new port which the government wants to build in Badagry would come to reality because such huge project would open Badagry to the global world.
“The government should focus on developing the rural areas as this will not only woo investors but it will also help in decongesting over populated cities,” he said.
The monarch, however, Ogungbe-James commended the state government’s effort at repositioning Badagry as a tourism hub of the country.
