Lagos-Ibadan road not totally closed to traffic – FRSC Boss

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is not totally closed to traffic as claimed by the public.

Mr. Bisi Kazeem, FRSC Head Media and Strategy said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

Kazeem said that it was only a section of the road that was closed.

The statement said that the FRSC Cops Marshal Dr Boboye Oyeyemi “Contrary to the wide held belief among the public that the ever busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway has been totally closed.

“I want to clarify that it was only a section of the road that traffic is being diverted to the opposite side to enable the ongoing construction work along the road progress without hindrances.

“We are not happy with the hardships being experienced by the commuters, but we know that it is only a temporal sacrifice that has to be borne by people to allow for unhindered work on the road.”

Oyeyemi, appealed for patience, saying “when fully completed, the road users would heave a sigh of relief. ”

According to him, it is with an uneasiness that the approval for the temporal closure of the section of the road was given to the construction company.

He said that given the need to complete the road within the stipulated time and the volume of traffic being attracted along the route, the Corps was left with no option but to grant the request.

He said that it was not all the parts of the highway that was affected by the diversion order, but only five kilometer stretch before the interchange along the Lagos-Ibadan axis of the road.

He added that the Ibadan to Lagos axis of the road remains fully open to traffic except where those diverted had to share the road with oncoming vehicles.

Oyeyemi said this called for greater patience and tolerance on the part of the motorists in the collective desire to ensure orderliness at the spot.

He stressed that from the assurances given by the construction companies, he was convinced that the work is progressing according to schedules and would be completed within time limit.

He added that the heightened gridlock witnessed on Friday was due to some religious programmes taking place along the route which contributed to the unusual traffic build up.

He assured that appropriate measures were being taken to reduce people’s hardships.

He also warned those that take advantage of the situation to drive against traffic, vowing that such offenders would not be spared if caught.