SAGAMU – A 260-meter road project sponsored by Senator Gbenga Daniel as a constituency initiative has been controversial after the Ogun State Government discovered significant design flaws and procedural violations. This led to an immediate halt and a directive for a complete revision.
The state’s Ministry of Works has exposed that the project, located on Paddy Arikawe Oye Igbimo road in Sagamu, was commenced without official approval and that the engineering designs submitted by the contractor, Minim and Tonye Nigeria Limited, “fall below specifications.”
This development casts a shadow over the effectiveness of the constituency project, a key part of the senator’s representation, revealing a project mired in irregularities before it could properly begin.
According to an official letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Engr. Dr Yusuf I. O, dated September 22, 2025, the state government identified multiple critical issues:
1. Unauthorised Commencement: The contractor began work on the state-owned road without seeking or obtaining the mandatory approval from the Ogun State Government, a serious breach of regulatory protocol.
2. Vague Project Scope: The government noted a lack of transparency, pointing out that while the total road is 3 kilometres long, the contractor failed to specify which exact 260-meter portion was approved for construction, raising questions about project planning and oversight.
3. Substandard Design: The technical specifications proposed by the contractor were deemed unacceptable. The state government rejected the proposed use of weaker Grade 20 concrete, demanding a higher Grade 35 or 40 for the road pavement. It also faulted the proposed thickness of the concrete and stone base, insisting on more robust standards for durability.
The letter reveals a stark discrepancy between what was proposed and what is required for a quality public infrastructure project. The government has now mandated the contractor to “substantially revise the engineering designs” and “ensure transparency in all submissions.”
Further scrutiny of the project’s profile shows that the approved 260-meter phase is just a small fraction of a larger, yet unapproved, plan. While Senator Daniel’s office has publicised a 3-kilometre project, records indicate that only this first phase has state approval. A second phase is “awaiting federal approval,” while the remaining two phases are described as “mere suggestions,” suggesting the full project may never materialise.
It raises serious questions about the oversight and management of constituency projects by Senator Gbenga Daniel’s office. The Ogun State Government’s intervention has effectively stopped the project, demanding a full and transparent redesign before any work can continue.
