President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, among others, have lauded the efforts of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, and HiTech Construction for their pivotal roles in the successful completion of the Oworonshoki-Apapa Expressway.
Representing President Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the significance of the 37-kilometre road, which commenced in 2018 and was completed in 2024.
He hailed the project as a triumph for all Nigerians, highlighting Lagos State’s vital role in the nation’s economic landscape.
“Lagos is home to all,” Akpabio stated. “I thank Mr. Dangote for coming up with this initiative, and in partnership with HiTech, they have delivered what can be seen as the Tenth Wonder of the World. Lagos is not the only state experiencing growth and development under the renewed hope agenda. I also congratulate the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for his passionate commitment to structural development across Nigeria.”
Mr. Dangote, reflecting on the road’s “extremely poor” condition before December 2018, noted that it significantly hindered the evacuation of goods and restricted market access, crippling the shipping and manufacturing industries and disrupting supply chains.
“Before the completion of this road, it used to take two weeks to reach the port, and in about 18 months, we lost over N60bn in demurrage,” Dangote revealed. “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.”
Utilizing the Executive Order 007 framework in the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, Dangote Group mobilized capital to refurbish the entire 37-kilometre stretch of the Apapa-Isolo-Oworonshoki road and expand it to 10 lanes. Dangote reaffirmed the group’s commitment to national development and prosperity and called for the scheme to be revisited to make it more viable for private sector participants.
“In this case, we have so far recovered only 40 percent of our investments, with the balance not due until 2027. We consider this project merely as Corporate Social Responsibility. We believe a more commercial interest rate recovery should be allowed in view of the high cost of capital in the Nigerian fiscal environment,” he said.
Engr. Umahi praised the Dangote Group for delivering a well-executed project and commended the quality of Dangote Cement used in the construction, which is evident in the road’s durability.
“I was once trapped for eight hours on my way to the airport, so I understand how terrible the road was,” Umahi said. “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; it’s a road that has been standing for about 40 years. To ensure our bridges last longer, I’m happy to announce that Mr. President has approved the ban on excavation of sands 10 kilometres from bridges across Nigeria.”
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, revealed that about 20 companies had relocated from the Apapa axis due to the road’s previous condition. “The state of the road was unimaginable. We are grateful to Aliko Dangote and 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,” Hamzat noted.
