Work Resumes On Agege Flyover

MICHAEL AKINOLA

Construction works resumed once again today on the Agege flyover bridge project after the construction company in charge, HiTec Engineering Ltd, withdrew their workers and equipment last week from the site.

Activities resumed on the site as early as 8am at the Women Development Centre end of the site. The resumption prompted the security men at the site to reinforce the no thoroughfare rule which was relaxed since work was called off last week.

P.M.EXPRESS correspondent who was at the site reports that business owners and residents within the neighbourhood expressed joy over the resumption of work. They also hoped that the work will be accelerated as to cover lost pace.

“We are happy that work has resumed on the bridge because we cannot wait for it to be finished. We are going through lots of stress due to the construction but we accepted the sacrifices because we know that we will all smile at the end”, Mr. Kola – a business owner along the construction site told P.M.EXPRESS. He added that everyone was afraid when the contractors started moving out their equipment last week as they thought that the flyover project was being abandoned.

There were conflicting reports on why the contractors pulled out last week. One source told our reporter that it was the inability of the State Government to pay for work done that prompted the stoppage. Another source said that the action was as a result of the instability surrounding the reelection bid of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

It was speculated that HiTech Engineering Ltd was dancing to the tune of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the estranged godfather of Ambode. It is believed that Asiwaju Tinubu has a considerable equity in the construction company.

Our efforts to get the official position of the government through the Ministry of Works proved abortive but a site engineer who wished not to be named confided in our reporter that the issue was more political than financial.
“I can tell you that the State Government had been paying for the work as and when due. The Governor was even here recently because he wants this bridge delivered as projected” he said.

Meanwhile the residents of Ijaiye Housing Estate located at Pen Cinema are still calling on the State Government to look into the issue of some residents of the Estate whose houses were demolished due to the construction of the flyover. They informed our reporter that 3 blocks of 6 flats each were brought down and up till now the government’s mortgage company, LBIC, who were the original builders and owners of the estate had not provided an alternative for the displaced flat owners as envisaged.