The Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, has debunked newspaper reports that the construction work on the Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail has been suspended over right of way issues and a flyover bridge at Ijoko, Ogun State.

Adegbite said in a statement on Tuesday that the Ijoko flyover bridge has not only met the standard regulation of 5.4 metres headroom, it has also saved the Federal Government the additional cost of constructing a new bridge across the railway crossing at Ijoko.

His words: “According to Standards and Regulations in Nigeria, bridges must have a standard clearance of 5.4 metres. So the bridges at Apapa Oshodi Expressway, Bank Anthony Way, Lagos, and the new bridge being constructed by the Ogun State Government at Ijoko have all met the standard clearance.

“While the Federal Government is thinking of closing level crossings along the new standard gauge line, Ogun State government has provided the solution at Ijoko level crossing by the constructing of the overhead bridge. With the construction of the bridge, Ogun State government has saved the Federal Government the cost of providing this infrastructure.”

The commissioner explained that in order to accommodate electric power for the standard gauge trains which is envisaged in the future, there is need for an additional one metre clearance taking the minimal required to 6.2metres.

Adegbite pointed out that Ogun State government constructed the Ijoko bridge to stop the frequent deaths of pedestrians and traders by moving trains on the railway crossing.