The committee expressed optimism that the job will be delivered in 2022, following what it described as an impressive work and, therefore assured that it would through parliamentary intervention ensure that funds for compensation for the project right of way are made available to  achieve the delivery date

Speaking during the oversight exercise, Chairman of the Works Committee,  Hon. Abubakar Kabiru Bichi, stated that the construction firm has done a lot towards finishing the job

He noted that the committee will work tirelessly to ensure its completion and as such, pending issues like paying compensation for the project right of way will be addressed immediately

Bichi said,“From what we are seeing on the project site in the course of our committee’s visit and inspection of the ongoing works, Julius Berger has done a lot and is almost completing the job. We will go back to Abuja to work on the issue of pending compensation for full acquisition of project right of way to enable the contractor to complete the approximately eight kilometres remaining to fully deliver the LSE project as scheduled in 2022”.

He added that the House of Representatives will continue to partner with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to assist Julius Berger to deliver the project on record time for commissioning and as a legacy of the Buhari administration

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Hon. Kabiru further expressed happiness with the cooperation the project stakeholders, especially the host communities have given and urged to continue to cooperate with the Ministry and contractors to achieve the project

” We are happy the project stakeholders are cooperating, and we urge them to continue to cooperate with the Ministry and the contractors to achieve this strategic and priority project of the President Buhari administration.”

In his remarks, the Director, South West, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engineer Adedamola Kuti, explained that the contractor was working according to project specification and  ensuring  delivery at the deadline

He stated that this was despite the challenges of breakdown vehicles, steady daily traffic, traffic gridlocks often caused by breakdown vehicles at its diversion points

Kuti said, “Operationally speaking, Julius Berger is doing excellently well and working to the planned schedule of works to deliver the LSE on time despite obvious challenges. We are all aware of the fact that the road carries heavy and steady traffic 24/7. Also, vehicles break down oftentimes at diversion points and cause traffic gridlocks; that is not the fault of Julius Berger; and it is only when the traffic outward Lagos gets to Shagamu that it diverts to Ibadan, Benin and Abeokuta.”

He, however, assured too, that Julius Berger will deliver as planned