Following the lock down of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the early hours of Monday, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has deployed more men to rid the road of perennial gridlock.
Mr Hyginus Omeje, Lagos State Sector Commander of FRSC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his men would work with other traffic management agencies and the Ogun command of the corps to achieve free flow of traffic on the road.
NAN reports that the Lagos-bound section of the expressway still undergoing reconstruction by Julius Berger Plc was locked down on Monday for several hours from Mowe to the long bridge stretch at Wawa.
Motorists were trapped in the gridlock as early as 6.00 a.m. till 11.00 a.m. following a lone accident on the bridge involving a trailer.
Some Lagos-bound vehicles including that of security agencies were forced to drive against the traffic as a result of the gridlock.
“The Lagos Command will deploy more officers to join the Ogun Command and other traffic managers to work on the expressway to rid it of traffic jams as Julius Berger Construction Company resumes work.
“This morning, a truck fell on the long bridge and our men moved in to clear the road of the gridlock.
“A van loaded with pepper also broke down before the long bridge and coupled with the ongoing reconstruction work causing gridlock on the road.
“Many of the motorists were not cooperating with the traffic managers and they resorted to driving against traffic and there was a lock down on both sides,” Omeje told NAN.
The FRSC boss urged motorists to always cooperate with traffic managers to ensure free flow of traffic as the reconstruction of the expressway had commenced.
NAN also reports that the Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr Babatunde Fashola, had on June 10 directed the construction giants – Julius Berger and Reynold Construction Company (RCC) — to return to site to complete the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway with a promise to release funds to them.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had in July 2013 flagged off the reconstruction of the 127.8 km at a cost of N167 billion with a completion period of four years.
He said the project was withdrawn from Bi-Courtney Ltd for what he called evident non-performance by the construction firm. (NAN)