The Federal Government has suspended the ongoing construction of the 12-kilometre Sagamu-Iperu Road, situated near the Sagamu Interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, over serious concerns regarding substandard work and structural safety. The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, issued the directive on Thursday after inspecting road projects in Lagos and Ogun States.
The government’s decision came after Umahi expressed strong dissatisfaction with both the pace and quality of work on the road. According to the Minister, there were critical flaws in key components, including the stone base and bridges, which raised safety concerns. He specifically pointed out rusted rods in the piers of several bridges, warning that if these defects were not addressed immediately, they could result in catastrophic failure, leading to potentially billions of naira in reconstruction costs.
“The Federal Government has directed that work should stop on the 12km Sagamu-Iperu Road by the Sagamu Interchange on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,” Senator Umahi said during his inspection tour. “I am giving the contractor seven days to come up with a comprehensive redesign and costing to rectify these issues, so that I can appeal to the President for swift action.”
Umahi highlighted the urgency of the situation, emphasizing that rectifying the defects now would be far less costly than dealing with a collapse later on. He pointed out that the road and its bridges must meet required structural standards before any further construction takes place.
In his statement, the Minister directed the contractor to replace the existing stone base with the correct mixture, using the proper milling equipment. He further stressed the importance of ensuring that both the speed of the project and its quality are in line with safety standards.
The Sagamu-Iperu Road serves as a vital link for communities in Ogun State to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, facilitating regional mobility and contributing to economic activities in the area. As such, Umahi underlined the importance of the project’s timely completion and its role in enhancing infrastructure in the region.
The halt in construction raises concerns about potential delays in the project, but the Minister’s directive reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring safety and quality in the nation’s infrastructure development.
The contractor has been given a strict seven-day deadline to submit a comprehensive redesign for the road project, with the aim of resuming work o
