Sanwoolu denies promising to clear Apapa gridlock within 60 days of assuming office

Lagos State's Governor Babajide Sanwoolu has denied promising to decongest the Oshodi-Apapa expressway within his first 60 days in office saying all offered was to review the matter within two months and come up with recommendations.

During the recent gubernatorial election campaigns, clearing the Oshodi-Apapa road that leads to the port was a major issue, as it has now become one huge car park. Die to the absence of a rail link at the port, trailers going to collect containers now line the road rendering it impassable to other motorists.

Also, as a result of the number of heavy vehicles on the road, it has deteriorated dramatically, becoming pot hole-ridden and flooded. While campaigning, during a public debate, Governor Sanwoolu, then the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, promised to sort out the road within 60 of assuming office if elected governor.

Yesterday, however, Governor Sanwoolu denied making the promise, saying his government would carry out a review of previous activities on the road within 60 days. Speaking after holding a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on plans to develop Lekki and Badagry seaports, he added that the reconstruction of the stalled Lagos-Badagry Expressway will resume within the next two weeks.

Governor Sanwoolu said: “From time to time, one must also see one’s boss and it is also an honour to have an audience with Mr President. Yesterday’s visit is essentially to brief him on the few initiatives that we are planning to do in Lagos and to get his buy-in and his concurrence.

“Our discussion bothered on areas around development of Lagos and collaboration with the federal government that requires His Excellency’s approval and support. That is what I have come to brief him about and it is essentially to improve the quality of life and business in Lagos.

 “I was on that Lagos to Badagry road two days after I was sworn-in and have been there twice now in about two weeks. The commitment we got was that the contractors would move into site before the end of this month and I believe that we should be closing out the discussions with the contractor over the weekend."

He added that certain false claims had been circulating in the media that he promised, during the electioneering, that he would decongest the road within his first 60 days in office. Governor Sanwoolu explained that what he said was to promise that his government would carry out a review of previous activities on the road within 60 days.