Fed Govt Awards N167b Lagos- Ibadan Expressway Contract

By Franca Ochigbo, The Nation

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

WORKS Minister Mike Onolememen yesterday said the Federal Government has awarded the N167 billion Lagos-Ibadan Expressway contracts to Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Limited.

The firms, who emerged the preferred bidders for Section 1 (Lagos- Shagamu Interchange) and Section 11 (Shagamu Interchange – Ibadan) are to deliver the road in 48 months.

In a statement, Onolememen said the ministry has sought and obtain certificate of ‘No Objection’ from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for the award.

He said: “The government had earlier entered into concession agreement with Messrs Bi-Courtney in 2009 to develop the section between Ojota old plaza in Lagos and old toll plaza in Ibadan, a distance of approximately 105 kilometres under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for enhanced quality of service to all users of the highway in tandem with international standards.

“Four years later, no real progress was recorded while the road users wallowed in hardship and constantly at risk of accident on the road.

“The frequent carnage on the road by September 2012 and the frequent loss of lives and man-hours was detrimental to the economy.

“An urgent action needed to be taken to remedy the situation which led the Federal Government to consequently terminate the concession agreement between her and the concessionaire for failing to comply with the provisions of the concession agreement

“The 127.6-kilometre expressway traverses three South-Western states of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo. It commences at Ojota interchange through Shagamu junction, Ogere and terminates at Ojoo in Ibadan.”