Godswill Akpabio, Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, after going through the harrowing experience of motorists on Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway, has promised to give the necessary fillip through federal intervention so that the reconstruction of the deplorable expressway turned death trap can become a reality.
Akpabio disclosed this at the grand finale of the Yewa Cultural Festival with the theme: “Celebration of Culture, Tradition, Music, Cuisine and Dance,” held at the ultra-modern pavilion, Empire Field, Ilaro-Yewa, Ogun State on Saturday.
The senate president expressed particular displeasure about the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway by affirming that all official efforts should be put on deck to ensure the completion of the road.
Akpabio stated that he insisted on driving to the venue and actually witnessed the suffering motorists go through on the road every day. In the end, he ended up spending more than two hours to drive to Ilaro from Lagos.
Akpabio prophesied that the Senate would ensure prompt construction of the road.
According to him: “The 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is going to get the list of things you want us to do here.
“I saw the road, two trucks fell on the road, so we ended up spending over two hours on the road. I was determined to go through the road that you go through. Now, I have seen what you have been seeing. From today, I prophesy that your roads are done.
“Yewaland has the greatest number of industries that local government can ever have in Nigeria, just five local governments. Therefore, we recognize the need to use the best set of contractors to do your roads because of the wear and tear. I assure you that we will be working with our brother, Dapo Abiodun. Your lives will not be the same again.”
In his speech, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state pleaded with the Senate to prevail on the Federal Government to transfer the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Road to the state because of its importance to the socio-economic development of the state.
Speaking further, the governor corroborated the harrowing experience of the senate president on the road and the need for urgent federal intervention when he declared:
“Mr Senate President, it took me three hours to get here from Abeokuta. I am sure it took you just as much to get here from Lagos because of the deplorable state of Lagos-Abeokuta Road. Mr Senate President, please help us with the Federal Government to transfer this road to us. This road is very key to our socio-economic economic development.”
However, the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle in his royal remark commended the Senate President and the governor for attending the grand finale of the festival. He disclosed that the festival will be held every two years.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of an award of excellence on Governor Dapo Abiodun and the installation of the Senate President as the Are Fiwagboye of Yewaland.
