The House of Representatives Committee on Works has lauded the country’s leading infrastructure development partner, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for “the excellent work” being executed by the company on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The committee members currently on tour of relevant federal capital projects under the committee’s oversight functions, visited Section 1 of the Lagos–Shagamu Expressway, awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Tuesday, and expressed the hope that the project would be completed by 2022.
Led by its Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Kabiru Bichi, the Committee members were conducted round the entire stretch of the project by a team of engineers from the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing led by its Controller (South West), Engr. Olukayode Popoola.
After necessary technical explanation of detailed project drawings at points along the project route by the Project Manager, Engr. Olaf Tham, the committee chair was full of appreciation for the quality and tremendous progress thus far accomplished by Julius Berger on the project.
According to the apparently satisfied chairman, Hon. Abubakar Kabiru Bichi, “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 complete the approximately eight kilometres remaining to fully deliver the LSE project as scheduled in 2022.”
Hon. Kabiru added that, “…we will continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to assist Julius Berger to achieve the project delivery date.”
Director South West, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr Adedamola Kuti while speaking with journalists at the end of the inspection exercise 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 breakdown 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.”
On Julius Berger’s team during the visit to the LSE project site were the Project Manager, Engr. Olaf Thamm, Commercial Manager, Loic Cognard, Project Coordinator, Engr. Mrs. Fatima Kosemani, Group Head, Media Relations Office, Prince Moses Duku and Media Liaison Officer, Emmanuel Isibor.
