Lagos: The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, announced that the Federal Government is set to commence palliative repairs on failing expansion joints along critical bridges on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The targeted bridges include the Kara, Arepo, and Magboro bridges, identified as urgent points for intervention.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs Kesha made these remarks to journalists on Saturday, following an accident involving an 18-seater commercial bus at the Arepo bus stop on Friday, which resulted in several passengers sustaining serious injuries. She attributed the accident to structural failure at one of the expansion joints.

Kesha expressed concerns over the deteriorating condition of these expansion joints, particularly around the three bridges, and assured that the Federal Government is actively addressing the issue. She mentioned that the initial step involves palliative works, with a contractor in the area already instructed to begin repairs over the weekend. These temporary measures are intended to precede full-scale rehabilitation, pending official approval.

Highlighting vandalism as a significant factor contributing to infrastructure deterioration, Kesha urged Nigerians to change their attitude towards public property. She emphasized that vandalism of public infrastructure benefits no responsible citizen and called for a collective sense of responsibility towards these assets.

Apologizing for any inconvenience and past accidents, Kesha encouraged the public to consider these facilities as their own and to report any acts of vandalism to law enforcement authorities. She stressed the importance of apprehending offenders to deter such behavior and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring safer roads. Kesha called for public cooperation to protect national assets and enhance road safety.