The Federal Government has announced plans to commence palliative repairs on several deteriorating expansion joints along critical sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
This was revealed by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, during a press briefing on Saturday.
The announcement followed a road accident involving an 18-seater commercial bus at Arepo bus stop on Friday, which left several passengers seriously injured. Kesha attributed the crash to structural failure at one of the expansion joints.
She identified Kara, Arepo, and Magboro bridges as key points requiring urgent intervention, noting that the joints on these bridges have significantly degraded, with visible signs of structural distress.
According to Kesha, a contractor already engaged on the expressway has been instructed to begin palliative maintenance this weekend as an interim solution, while the government processes approvals for comprehensive rehabilitation.
She further highlighted the negative impact of vandalism on public infrastructure, stressing that such acts have accelerated the deterioration of essential structures. “Some of these failures result from acts of vandalism,” Kesha said, urging citizens to view public assets as collective property and to report any suspected sabotage to the authorities.
Expressing concern over the inconvenience and safety hazards caused by failing infrastructure, Kesha reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing road safety and infrastructure resilience. She appealed to the public for support and vigilance.
“Damaging public property does not benefit any responsible citizen. Let us regard these facilities as our own property,” she stated.