SECOND Republic Senator Ayo Fasanmi yesterday asked the Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) to ensure the completion of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway rehabilitation.

Describing the road as the busiest in the country, the octogenarian said the 126.5-kilometre road is critical to national economic interest.

Fasanmi, an All Progressives Congress (APC) elder, hailed President Buhari for assigning ministers from the Southwest to challenging portfolios, assuring that they will deliver.

The elder statesman, who spoke with our correspondent on phone, said Fashola, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Minister of Solid Minerals, and his Heath, Communications and Finance counterparts; Prof. Isaac Adewole, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu and Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, will live up to expectation as change agents.

Urging Fashola to fight the infrastructure battle nationwide, he said his antecedent as former governor of Lagos State motivated the President to give him the arduous tasks.

He said: “Lagos/Ibadan Expressway is a challenge for Buhari and his team. The Minister of Works is up to the task. In fact, our ministers from the Southwest – Fayemi, Shittu, Adewole, Adeosun and Daramola, are great assets. The region has confidence in their ability. They have performed in positions of responsibilities before as governors, administrators and politicians.

“For example, Fahsola is a man after my heart; hardworking, unassuming. He deserves the portfolios, having raised the level of governance in Lagos to a high pedestal. These ministers will actually change, perform and excel.”

Fasanmi urged Nigerians to support the administration in its drive for change.