All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has allayed the anxiety being nurtured by residents of Lekki-Epe axis, over the imminent gridlock expected from the operations of Dangote Refinery at the corridor.
To relieve the residents of the burden of gridlock, Sanwo-Olu said his campaign team had started discussions with Dangote Group and other developers in the area on the need for partnership in constructing a dedicated carriageway for the trucks, which would open to Ogun State.
The APC candidate made the disclosure at Yaba, last Wednesday, during his consultative meeting with members of Favourites Club of Nigeria. Sanwo-Olu was accompanied to the event by his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat.
The refinery project, which is said to be nearing completion, is located in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State. After completion, the residents fear there would be more pressure on the Lekki-Epe Expressway due to the looming influx of heavy-duty trucks to the area, which may compound the traffic situation.
But, Sanwo-Olu said his administration would immediately respond to the apprehension, if elected, stressing that there would be alternative route for the oil tankers and trucks that would ply the site of the refinery. He promised that commuters on Lekki-Epe Expressway will not be affected by the refinery’s activities.
He said: “We’ve been hearing people saying Lekki-Epe Expressway would be impassable when the Dangote Refinery starts operation. We are not going to deny that there would be pressure on this important highway.
But, we’ve started to respond to this anxiety, and we are already in talks with Dangote Group and developers around the axis to create a new dedicated highway for the trucks that would be plying the route.”
