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Lagos-Ibadan Road, Second Niger Bridge To Be Ready By December – Babatunde Fashola

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3 years ago

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The minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, says the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the Second Niger Bridge will be completed by Decemeber 2022.

Fashola said this on Sunday in an interview on Channels Television.

He also said the roads will be tolled, noting that the completion date for the Lagos-Ibadan expressway was subject to challenges that have slowed down work.

“The expected completion date now will be in the last month of this year. We are hoping that we will be done before Christmas and that is subject to a lot of variables,” Fashola said.

“As we speak now, somewhere between Ojo, the Oyo state government is constructing a drilling facility. So, that has slowed our work considerably, in spite of the fact that the contractor is now working at night. So, just two days ago, Governor Makinde and I were talking because I called him a week ago that look, we need to make a choice, which do you prioritise the drainage or that road? And he said the road is what affects, but we can’t dismiss the need for the drainage. So, he called me back to say look, he has a solution now. He’s worked with the contractor, talked to them and we’ll discuss it in this new way.

“So, these are some of the challenges.”

Fashola, who hinted at the situation of the road prior to the current administration, said the Lagos-Ibadan expressway was in a terrible condition.

According to him, part of the reason the project had taken this long was because of a lack of funding from past governments.

“Let me also say that over the years, at the time, we took $2 billion to go and pay creditors in 2005 this road was bad. People used to sleep on it. So let us dimension that completion. The road is built in sections. That road has no less than 40,000 vehicles every day that’s the traffic road count that we did, so you can’t close it down. So, what we do is to close sections of one side, divert traffic to the other side. Complete about 10/20 kilometers and then reopen it and move traffic back,” he said.

“Now what you might not know and it is important to share this the construction material likely comes from Ogun state. So, whether you’re constructing the Lagos section or the Oyo section, you have to go and move laterite cross tools, and all of that, they move in the same traffic. So, thousands of daily truck trips. And that road is being excavated to about a meter or more deep, so, we’re essentially first removing bad material from unsuitable material, filling up and then constructing the road. So, I don’t think it is slow. What has happened is that over the years government has not funded it sufficiently.

“So, we factored it this year subject to some of these challenges that I’ve told you. Governor Makinde and I will resolve that pretty soon.

Fashola, while admitting that the road will be tolled, said it will eventually be “handed over to the concessionaires who NSA is talking to to bring in more financing.”

According to him, the road will “two to three” tolling plazas.

“One on the Lagos end, one in the Ogun end. And I think the other one, in Ibadan which is what we used to have there before traditionally,” he added.

Meanwhile, speaking on the completion date for the Second Niger Bridge, the minister assured Nigerians that the road would be opened for use by December 20222.

“We’re planning also before Christmas to open that (Second Niger Bridge) to public for use, because that’s when there’s a large movement. Hopefully by Christmas, it should also be open. That was the last meeting I had with the contractor I think about three weeks ago. There are challenges of course, as you might know, but the main bridge deck is finished,” Fashola said.

“The toll plazas have been built.”

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BIG STORY

BREAKING: Remains Of Late President Buhari Arrives In Katsina [VIDEO]

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7 hours ago

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July 15, 2025

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The body of former President Muhammadu Buhari has reached Katsina State for his official burial ceremony.

Contrary to the initially scheduled arrival time, the former president’s remains landed at exactly 1:59 pm, shortly after President Bola Tinubu arrived.

The aircraft carrying Buhari’s remains landed at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport, where President Tinubu was expected to receive it before it would be transported to Daura for the burial.

Members of Buhari’s family also arrived at the airport, including the visibly emotional former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who was seen among the crowd.

Aisha Buhari and her children, all dressed in black, were accompanied by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.

Contrary to earlier reports suggesting the body would be flown in as cargo, Buhari’s remains arrived aboard the presidential jet, which also carried his family and a delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

 

More to come…

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BIG STORY

Amaechi Wears Turban To Buhari’s Burial In Daura

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7 hours ago

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July 15, 2025

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Rotimi Amaechi, who previously served as the minister of transportation, attended the funeral of former President Muhammadu Buhari in Daura, Katsina state, wearing a turban.

Buhari, the former president and head of state, passed away on July 13. His burial took place in his hometown, Daura, amidst national mourning.

Amaechi wore the cultural headgear to the ceremony held in honour of the late leader.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, Buhari’s remains were transported from London to Nigeria aboard the presidential jet.

Why Is Amaechi Wearing A Turban?

Amaechi received the title of Dan Amanar of Daura — which translates to “trusted son of Daura” — on February 5, 2022, as an acknowledgment of his contributions to the transport sector.

At that time, Silas Zwingina, a former deputy majority leader in the Senate, dismissed suggestions that the turbaning had political undertones, instead calling it a cultural show of gratitude by the Daura Emirate.

Zwingina stated that the Daura Emirate traditionally honours those who have made significant contributions to the development of the area.

He said it was unrelated to politics and urged people not to attach unnecessary meanings to the gesture, noting that Amaechi’s completed projects in Daura and across Nigeria stood on their own.

Amaechi’s turban has previously stirred controversy. In 2022, Musa Saidu, a leader of Arewa in the south, asked him to refrain from using the turban during political campaigns.

Saidu said the turban carries strong Islamic significance and should not be used as a political symbol.

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BIG STORY

What Buhari Told Me About President Tinubu After Fuel Subsidy Removal — Katsina Governor Radda

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8 hours ago

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July 15, 2025

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Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State shared details of his conversations with the late former President Muhammadu Buhari following his retirement, including a discussion on President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove petrol subsidy at the start of his administration.

While addressing reporters at the late president’s burial in Daura, Radda recounted his interactions with Buhari after he left office in 2023. He described gaining insights from Buhari’s leadership and patriotic values during this period.

He said that once Buhari returned to Daura after completing his term in 2023, they were able to engage more frequently, which allowed him to benefit from the former president’s wisdom and humor.

Radda mentioned that their conversations often focused on the challenges facing Nigerians and national service.

He shared that Buhari once told him, Your Excellency, go and do your best and be honest as a leader. You cannot satisfy Nigerians; only God can do that. He added that Buhari often spoke about the burdens he faced in office but felt relieved after retirement.

According to Radda, Buhari also said, I pity Bola (President Tinubu) for what he is doing. He is a brave man for removing the fuel subsidy. When I was president, whenever I made an attempt to remove the subsidy, a lot of people would give me too many reasons not to do so. But Bola did it immediately. If he had consulted people, he could not have removed the fuel subsidy now.

Radda emphasized that this was one of the conversations with Buhari that will stay with him. He said Buhari’s passing has left a significant void in Katsina State that will be difficult to fill.

President Tinubu ended the petrol subsidy on 29 May 2023, the day he assumed office after Buhari. He said the move was necessary to support economic growth and advance national progress.

He also stated that the Nigerian economy had long been underperforming due to various structural issues that hindered its development.

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