The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has said the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway construction will be completed in 2022.

He said this during an interview on Bond FM on Sunday.

Fashola explained that the delay in the completion of the project was caused by the government’s inability to shut down the bridge totally.

He revealed that the Third Mainland Bridge was faster because the government had the opportunity of shutting it down totally, while the case of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is different.

 He added that the 80 kilometres of the 127-kilometre road had been completed, urging road users to be patient with the government.

 “As we speak, 80km has been completed. Some of the parts of the road used today have been completed.

“We cannot shut the road totally. The number of vehicles passing the road is not less than 40,000. We can’t shut Lagos-Ibadan road like that. The road should be completed in 2022. The construction will end in 2022.

“The Third Mainland Bridge is faster because we had the opportunity of shutting it down totally,” the Minister said.

The reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was flagged-off in 2013 and was awarded to two firms.

Julius Berger is constructing section one which stretches from Ojota in Lagos to Sagamu Interchange, while RCC is working from the Sagamu Interchange to Ibadan.