NIGERIA: VICE PRESIDENT BRIGADIER SHEHU MUSA YAR'ADUA OPENS NEW EXPRESSWAY LINKING LAGOS TO IBADAN.

Record ID: 238165

  • Title: NIGERIA: VICE PRESIDENT BRIGADIER SHEHU MUSA YAR'ADUA OPENS NEW EXPRESSWAY LINKING LAGOS TO IBADAN.
  • Date: 20th August 1978
  • Summary: 1. SV & CU Crowd watch as Brigadier Shehu Yar'Adua arrives by car and is greeted by Ministry of Works and Expressway officials. (5 SHOTS) 0.19 2. CU Brigadier Shehu Yar'Adua speaking in English. 1.36 3. CU & SV Toll sign and Brigadier Shehu Yar'Adua cuts ribbon. (2 SHOTS) 1.42 4. CU, LV & SV Toll sign and Brigadier Shehu Yar'Adua paying toll at booth. (3 SHOTS) 1.54 5. CU Sign "Expressway clear". Official cars drive past. (4 SHOTS) 2.10 TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 2: YAR'ADUA: "The expressway which we are about to open is one of the finest of its type by any standard. Your convenience, comfort and safety have all been incorporated in the highest standard of its design and construction. It does seem however that the better the road, the greater the death toll. The reported deaths on highways rose from 4,537 in 1973 to 8,000 in 1977, giving us a daily average of about 22 deaths. We all know that these are caused by excessive speeding, lack of proper maintenance of vehicles, drunkenness and a complete disregard for highway rules and regulations. I hereby appeal to all road users, and in particular, motorists, to obey highway rules and regulations, to have more respect for their lives and show care and consideration for others. This country has paid very substantially for your comfort and safety on this expressway so please do not make it a one-way ticket to death. Initials JS/2130 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th September 1978 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LAGOS, NIGERIA
  • Country: Nigeria
  • Reuters ID: LVA7IZSUN1523HG986WNI0UO90DA
  • Story Text: A new expressway linking the Nigerian federal capital of Lagos to Ibadan 110 kilometres (70 miles) away was officially opened on Friday. The ceremony was performed by the Vice-President and Chief of Staff at Supreme Headquarters, Brigadier Shehu Musa Yar'Adua.

    SYNOPSIS: Work on the highway began four years ago. It was hoped to be finished a year ago, but because of the scale of the undertaking, the contracts were extended. It replaces roads which carried the heaviest traffic in the country. Brigadier Shehu Musa Yar'Adua praised the project.

    The Brigadier then formally opened the new highway, the first rural expressway in the country.

    The road cost a total of 170 million naira (nearly 266 million dollars). And to recover at least part of that cost, and to pay for its upkeep, road users will have to pay a toll. Even at the opening ceremony, Brigadier Shehu Yar'Adua led the way in paying for the service the new expressway offers.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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