Alleged Theft At Dangote ‘Quarry’ Stalls N72billion Apapa-Oshodi Expressway Reconstruction Project

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By DAPO OLAWUNI

Fresh indications have emerged that the construction works on the N72billion Apapa-Oshodi Expressway project is currently being stalled as a result of serious alleged thefts at Dangote Quarry site located in Osun State.

DAILY TREND has learnt that there was suspension of supply of raw materials by Dangote Group for the road project due to serious thefts at its quarry that forced it to be shutdown for the past six weeks.

This has made completion of the Sunrise-Mile 2 axis of the road difficult.

Managing Director of HITECH Construction Company, Mr Robert Turner reportedly confirmed this to members of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC) who held a meeting with him on Wednesday.

According to the Chairman, Policy and Practice Committee of NPCC, Mr Okechukwu Vincent, the Council was disturbed at the suffering of port users due to non completion of the road project, and the blockage of the already completed portion of the Tin Can to Sunrise axis.

After the meeting with HITECH Construction’s Mr Robert Turner, Mr Vincent said “We presented to him many consequences of the slow pace of work between Tincan and Mile-2 as they affect the port industry generally and the freight forwarding agents and transporters in particular

“He apologized for the adverse effects of the slow pace of work on the agents in particular and the port industry in general.

“He attributed the stoppage of work between Sunrise and Mile Two in the last six weeks to suspension of supply of raw materials by Dangote due to serious thefts at his quarry that forced him to close it down for six weeks now.

“He assured us that supply of raw materials would commence from Monday next week”

The HITECH boss also reportedly assured that in two weeks time, precisely middle of July 2022, construction works on Mile 2 axis of the expressway would have been completed.

The Mile 2 axis has been the major cause of terrible vehicular traffic between Coconut Bus stop and Mile 2.

HITECH gave assurances that the road construction work between Sunrise and Cele Ijesha would be completed by November 2022 which is five months time from now.

“We agreed to have a joint inspection of Mile Two to Coconut on Tuesday during which we shall identify the areas where kelvstones were used to block the finished portions of the road.

“He assured us that his Safety Manager who would be part of the inspection team would take prompt actions to remove them and create more exit points where necessary to facilitate vehicular and human movement.

“He expressed willingness to address a larger body of maritime stakeholders on these issues where and when necessary” Mr Vincent stated

The road project was awarded to Hitech Construction Company Ltd, an indigenous construction business, which began work on the Oshodi–Apapa Expressway rehabilitation in April 2019.

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