shortlisted for the reconstruction/
rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan
Expressway.
This is coming at a time that the traffic
situation at several bad portions of the road has
worsened due to the advent of the rains. And as
the condition of the road continues to
deteriorate, gridlock has become a constant
feature on both sides of the highway.
The names of the shortlisted firms, according a
source at the Federal Ministry Works, have been
sent to the Bureau of Public Procurement for
ratification.
The source said the BPP was expected to issue a
certificate of no objection, which would clear
one or two of the construction companies for the
project.
"Once the BPP has issued the certificate of no
objection, the ministry will present the name(s)
of the contractors to the Federal Executive
Council for final approval," the source said.
Although the cost of the reconstruction could
not be ascertained at press time, it was learnt
that the Federal Government would fully fund
the project.
The Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen,
had last year announced the termination of the
concession agreement with Bi-Courtney
Highway Services for the reconstruction of the
125-kilometre road, accusing the firm of serially
breaching the terms of the contract signed by it
and the Federal Government on May 26, 2009
under the late President Umaru Yar'Adua.
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and RCC Nigeria
Limited were immediately hired to take over the
job. The former was given the Lagos-Sagamu
Interchange end, while the latter got the section
between the interchange and Ibadan.
However, their remedial work was only to
prepare the road for the high volume of traffic
during the 2012 Christmas and the New Year
festivities.
Since the two contractors withdrew from the
road at the beginning of this year, motorists and
commuters have been encountering serious
gridlock and have been exposed to avoidable
accidents and robberies following the deplorable
state of the road.
But the ministry said it had to return to the
drawing board to prepare a fresh design for the
road and get contractors to bid in line with due
process guidelines.
The minister had said on a television programme
monitored in Lagos last week that the new
design would incorporate a fly-over at the
Redeemed Camp area to reduce traffic jam.
He said, "We plan to construct a flyover around
the area where we have a number of churches,
which usually lead to bottleneck, particularly
around the Redeemed Church.
"We have now introduced a flyover around there
to separate the traffic to the church and the
thorough traffic that is traversing from Lagos to
other states. That is going to solve the problem
around the Redemption Camp permanently."
Onolememen also said, "We opened the bids (for
Lagos-Ibadan Expressway) last year and we have
finally analysed the bids and they have gone to
the Bureau of Public Procurement for letter of
no objection.
"Once we receive the letter of no objection from
BPP, the project will be awarded and Nigerians
will once again see contractors in full swing."
Under the Design, Build, Operate and Transfer
agreement with Bi-Courtney was expected to
refurbish the road with N89.53bn and collect
tolls on it for 25 years in order to recoup its
investment.
The scope of work involved the provision of two
additional lanes in either direction between
Lagos and the Sagamu Interchange, making it
four lanes; the provision of associated facilities
for the security and welfare of road users, as well
as ensuring a free flow of traffic.
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