SPECIAL REPORT: Amidst inadequate funding, Buhari’s road construction projects across Nigeria continue (1)
October 10, 2018Oladeinde Olawoyin, Cletus Ukpong and James Eze

As the sun slowly baked his skin, Saliu Babamale navigated his way slowly through Akerebiata road, a few kilometres away from Shao garage, on his way to the Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Birni Gwari expressway.
Mr Babamale, 42, is a commercial driver plying the Ilorin-Jebba commercial route. The time was 12.40 a.m. and he told PREMIUM TIMES in a chat that the trip was his second trip of the day. A few years ago, he would still be wobbling through his first trip at that period of the day, he explains.
“Help us thank Fashola (minister) and Buhari,” he said, brimming with smile, “they are the ones that saved us on this road by rehabilitating it.”
Mr Babamale is not alone in his undisguised show of love for Messrs Raji Fashola and Muhammadu Buhari.
Many commercial drivers and commuters who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES admitted that business and commercial activities have never been the same since the government finally constructed the road, after many years of abandonment.
“So many people died on this road when it was dilapidated,” said another driver, who identified himself as Alhaji Karimu. “We appreciate the government for a job well done.”
The Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Birni Gwari expressway is one of the numerous road projects the Buhari administration has embarked on since it came to power in 2015. But while the Ilorin-Jebba section of the road has since been completed to the delight of road users, the same cannot be said of other sections of the road from Jebba through Mokwa, all the way to Birni Gwari.
PREMIUM TIMES findings revealed that one major challenge being faced by contractors working on the road and other road projects across the country is funding. This is in addition to peculiar concerns like insecurity, among others.
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
The Lagos-Ibadan expressway is regarded as one of the most crucial road networks in the country. Plans to rehabilitate the road, for years, have always been subject of controversies with successive governments unable to successfully reconstruct it.
When the Buhari government came to power, the road was one of its major areas of focus and it received commendable attention especially between 2016 and 2017. But when PREMIUM TIMES moved round the two sections of the road in a recent inspection conducted in June, there were no visible presence of contractors on the road.
On the first section of the road––the Lagos-Sagamu section––our reporter observed that there was no major construction work from Lagos through Berger, all the way to Wawa, Arepo, and Magboro. However, at Oremeji area of Ibafo, a few construction workers were seen working on a drainage.
“The work pace is very, very slow,” said John, an inter-state commercial bus driver. “They just resumed even; they left the road totally already, until two weeks ago.”
A construction engineer who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES but asked not to be named because he had no permission to speak to journalists, said there wasn’t enough funds to continue the project as envisaged when the government began the reconstruction.
“About a year ago, we were working at full pace but, as you can see, work has reduced due to funding issues,” he said. “Many of our people have been told to leave sites until recently.”
PREMIUM TIMES also observed that the rehabilitation of the road into three lanes stopped at Aseese village and there was no major construction work ongoing at NASFAT. From Pakuro village, through Mowe junction, up until Sapati, there was no major construction work either.
Although from the front of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG), up until Sagamu interchange, the road had been well paved, there was no construction worker on site. “They said they didn’t pay them their money so they all left,” said Akintunde Badmus, a commercial motorcyclist who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES.
Meanwhile, o

Lies

All talk and no pictures make FG a bad liar.

Useless people all over the place

I didn't bother reading. If buhari likes let him keep himself, SE will still not vote for him.

story for the kids

Lolzzz .. Abeg is Jebba-Mokwa in d South East or is d OP confused?

Even if Buhari Tared their roads with gold, they would still hate him. It's useless clothing a pig, it would always find it way to the mud.

Wetin concern SE in this news?

Sirjamo:
Even if Buhari Tared their roads with gold, they would still hate him. It's useless clothing a pig, it would always find it way to the mud.

This lazy afonja did not read the news

Sirjamo:
Even if Buhari Tared their roads with gold, they would still hate him. It's useless clothing a pig, it would always find it way to the mud.

Nbote:
Lolzzz .. Abeg is Jebba-Mokwa in d South East or is d OP confused?

They started with lies, the more they lied, the more they are confused.