Amid controversy trailing the concession of Lagos Ibadan expressway to Bi-Courtney Highway Services, the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, yesterday said that the federal government would henceforth enforce the concession agreement.
The minister, who disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen after inspecting the ongoing repairs of the expansion joints of the Third Mainland Bridge, said the government had weighed all options and decided to enforce the concession agreement to fast-track the construction of the road.
According to him” One of the ways we have decided to go about fixing the Lagos –Ibadan expressway is to enforce the concession contract agreement entered into by the Federal Government and Bi-Courtney and the enforcement of the contractual agreement is on and I want to ensure Nigerians that the Federal Government will not shy away from its responsibilities.”
The minister, who said he was satisfied with the level of work done on Third Mainland Bridge, pledged that it would be concluded ahead of time given the increased spate of work on the bridge.
Onolememen, who was carrying out his second inspection visit to the bridge, said the visit was to monitor the progress of work on the bridge, and pointed out that the importance of the bridge motivated the government to award the repair work to Messrs Boroni Prono and Company Limited at a cost of N1 ,055 ,477 ,608.16 .
Onolememen commended Lagos State government and Lagosians for their cooperation over the repair project.