The newly completed Oworonshoki-Apapa Expressway is a vital route that will contribute to the growth of the economy both in Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general, President Bola Tinubu has said.
Tinubu who commended the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for his selflessness in actualising the road project, said the importance of Lagos State to Nigeria makes the road very vital and beneficial of all Nigerians.
President Tinubu who was represented by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said the 37-kilometre road, which commenced in 2018 under the former administration and completed in 2024, was a win for all Nigerians.
“Lagos is home to all. I thank Aliko Dangote for coming up with this initiative and in partnership with HiTech have delivered the Tenth Wonder of The World,” he said.
Speaking on the “extremely poor” condition of the road before December 2018, Alhaji Dangote said the road “severely hampered the evacuation of goods and restricted access to the markets, paralyzing the shipping and manufacturing industries and disrupting supply chains across the entire economic landscape.”
“Before the completion of this road, it used to take two weeks before we get to the ports, and in about 18 months, we lost over N60bn in demurrage…The successful completion of this project is an example of the positive impact that can be achieved when the public sector collaborates with the private sector.” Dangote said
“Utilising the visionary framework of Executive Order 007 in Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, the Dangote Group has been able to mobilise capital for the complete refurbishment of the entire 37 kilometers length of Apapa-Isolo-Oworonshoki road and its expansion to 10 lanes,” the Dangote Group President added.
Dangote said the Group was privileged to partner with the Federal Government in the transformative efforts, reaffirming its commitment to national development and prosperity.
The scheme, he said, must be revisited to make it more viable for the private sector participants, pointing out that with this project the Group has so far recovered only 40 percent of its investments, with the balance not due until 2027.
Describing the project as not merely as the Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility, Dangote said they believed that a more commercial interest rate recovery should be allowed, given the high cost of capital in the Nigerian fiscal environment.
In his remarks, Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi also commended the Dangote Group for delivering a well-executed project, adding that the value seen on the road was a testament to the quality of the Dangote Cement.
“I was once trapped for eight hours on my way to the airport, and so, I understand how terrible the road was. We are celebrating this project today, because it was well done and a display of new technology. It is fully completed with solar-powered streetlights.
“In the same vein, the Third Mainland Bridge wasn’t just another rehabilitation work, a road that has been standing for about 40 years… to ensure that our bridges last longer. I’m happy to announce that Mr. President has approved the ban on the excavation of sands 10 kilometers from bridges across Nigeria.”
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat revealed that about 20 companies had relocated from the Apapa axis of the state owing to the condition of the road.
“The state of the road is unimaginable. We are grateful to Aliko Dangote, HiTech for the excellent job they did. It used to take over seven hours to drive from one end of the road to the other, it now takes around an hour,” he said.
