The Federal Government has ordered the immediate commencement of night-time palliative repairs on the Lagos–Ota–Abeokuta Road in a bid to address critical failures and restore smooth traffic flow along one of Nigeria’s busiest transport corridors.
The directive was issued by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, during an inspection tour of the federal highway linking Lagos and Ogun states on Monday, according to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Umahi said the intervention followed a detailed assessment of about 22 kilometres of the road, with urgent repair works focusing on approximately 18 kilometres identified as the most distressed sections.
He explained that although the Federal Government is already handling about 60 kilometres along the corridor, the rehabilitation is being executed in phases, based on the severity of damage and urgency of intervention.
The minister attributed the recurring failures on the road to unresolved concession arrangements as well as engineering shortcomings during earlier construction, including misjudged design parameters that failed to adequately account for traffic load and soil conditions.
According to NAN, Umahi directed that immediate palliative works should begin at once, largely at night, to minimise disruption to traffic and quickly address sections of the road that currently hinder free movement of vehicles.
“The Federal Government has ordered immediate commencement of palliative works on the Lagos–Ota–Abeokuta Road to address critical failures and restore traffic flow,” the minister was quoted as saying during the inspection.
He disclosed that severely damaged and low-lying portions of the highway would be reconstructed using concrete to enhance durability and withstand the heavy traffic volume on the route.
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Umahi noted that the Ota-bound carriageway has suffered more extensive damage than the Lagos-bound side, making it a priority in the ongoing repairs.
He further assured road users that once the rehabilitation works are completed, the concessionaire would be responsible for operating and maintaining the highway to prevent a return to the current state of disrepair.
The Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway is an 81-kilometre federal highway connecting Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to Ikeja in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub.
The road serves as a vital link for commuters within metropolitan Lagos, adjoining communities in Ogun State, and travellers moving between the South-West and other regions of the country.
Traffic pressure on the corridor has continued to rise over the years, with estimates indicating daily usage of more than 250,000 Passenger Car Units (PCUs). The constant strain from heavy traffic, combined with longstanding structural deficiencies, has contributed to repeated failures along the route.
In October 2023, the Federal Government approved the redevelopment of the Lagos–Ota–Abeokuta Road under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI).
At the time, Umahi explained that the initiative allows state governments or private concessionaires to reconstruct federal roads, recover their investments through tolling over an agreed period, and subsequently remit proceeds to the Federation Account.