Deplorable Conditions of Lagos Roads

By Yemi Olakitan

From Alhaji Lateef  Jakande to Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and to the current Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwoolu, all Lagos state Governors have a penchant for good roads. Why is it that Lagos roads still remain in deplorable conditions?  The problem seems to have become a solution -defying menace that continues to rear its ugly head.  Does it have something to do with the materials used in constructing our roads or too much pressure on the roads due to high populations of Nigerians and other nationals from sub-Saharan Africa who have migrated here or is it the trailer and other heavy duty vehicles constantly plying our roads that made Lagos roads permanently appalling?

AN24 goes on a fact finding mission:   A trip through Ketu-Ojota  and Mosalalashi roundabout in Ipaja to Ogba road in Agege, Lugard Avenue in Ikoyi to Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, Aguda in Surulere to Oba Akran Road in Ikeja, NNPC intercession in Ejigbo to inner city roads in Isolo and Mafoluku, and  Oduduwa Crescent in Ikeja GRA to Anthony Village and Mende,  shows that Lagos streets are an image of bad roads and dangerous water filled bowls that can break the backs of men,  punctured tyres, even cause accidental deaths.

In a chat with AN24, Mr. Samuel Adeola, a Legal consultant who stays in Fagba, Iju- Ishaga axis said the roads in Fagba are okay but he called the Lagos state Government to come and repair Pipeline road, which he described as very bad.  That is the road that gives everybody problems in Fagba. According to him, the state government should employ road maintenance workers that will permanently work on road repairs before it gets worse.  ‘‘Bad roads usually start with little, little potholes here and there but when these small potholes are not repaired immediately; they grow wide and become big craters. It’s a case of a stitch in time, saves nine. This is why I believe that we need permanent road maintenance workers in Lagos, we shouldn’t wait until the roads have become very bad and everyone is complaining before we take actions.’’ he said.  On why the roads gets bad as soon as they are repaired, Adeola said, the Lagos State Government should try other alternatives to Bitumen, one of which is Concrete, a hardened product made of Portland cement, aggregate (stone), reinforcing steel, and water which he said is the most common alternative to bitumen (asphalt) for hard surface road construction. He said, our government must learn from the developed world, what are the things they are doing differently to make their roads last longer. We cannot continue to do things the same way and expect different results.’’

 In Ajao Estate, Ashafa Afariogun Street, Lateef Salami Street, Baale Shekoni Street and many more, Lagos roads have suffered damage or outright collapse.   Ajegunle is certainly one of the worst scenarios. Orege Mba Road is also bad. The entire stretch of Ikotun-Ejigbo-Isolo road has failed at different points including the NNPC intersections opposite Ejigbo LCDA Headquarters, Hostel-Ile-Iwe portion, Jakande roundabout, Oke-Afa intersection, and Ejigbo junction. Along this route, the road is not motor-able and the streetlights have stopped working.

In the Agege local government area, most roads are an in worrisome condition, from Agege Market to Pero Pharmacy and Ogba Central Mosque.  There are also many uncompleted projects of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration in Agege market especially the overheads bridges. Many of the pedestrians’ bridges on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway are left uncompleted, whether in Ikorodu or in Ibeju Lekki, inner-city roads are all in sorry shape. Drainage channels are no longer functioning, resulting in the flooding of communities and homes, even with the lightest of showers.

In a chat with Mr  Kolade Olaniran, a Lagos resident and builder, he said, ‘‘Most Lagosians who have the opportunity to talk to the media about Lagos roads usually  talk about their immediate community first, permit me to talk about where I live, I live in Oko-Afon, along the Badagry Expressway, I can tell you that our roads are very bad. We have potholes and craters everywhere especially in the inner streets. I have seen construction workers on the expressway recently, a sign that the Sanwoolu Administration has started working but I doubt he will be able to have the much desired impacts because I haven’t seen anyone on our streets. To me, these are the roads that matter the most, because, before you move to the Badagry Expressway, you must drive through the inner cities first.  We have potholes, craters everywhere and don’t be deceived by them during the dry season. You should come during the raining seasons. It’s like having lagoons at every junction. It’s that bad. The Lagos state Government should do the expressway first, that’s right, but they should not forget the inner city roads. They are equally deserving repairs.’’ He said.

However, reports reveal, the Lagos State Government has began the construction of the ten-lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway, 10 years after it was conceptualized by former governor, Babatunde Fashola.  Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, in a statement, stated that the return to the road will bring life to the axis and relief to commuters who daily experience hardships on the road.  The project handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), covers specifically the Agboju to Trade Fair segment as well as the rehabilitation of the Eric Moore – Mile 2 stretch.  He explained that Lagos State is handling Eric Moore to Agboju while FERMA will do four-lane maintenance to Agbara, the Federal Government has awarded Agbara to Seme as a six-lane Highway.  Mr Hamzat further commended the co-operation of the Federal Government and assured that both State and Federal Agencies will be present along the road up to Seme border.  The Lagos-Badagry project which is approximated to 60km long from Eric Moore to Badagry consists of two major intermodal transport schemes namely Lagos-Badagry Expressway project and Lagos Light Rail Mass Transit project.  According to the General Manager, Lagos Office of CCECC, Mr Bill Bian the Corporation will ensure that the project is completed on schedule.

Furthermore, Motorists plying Lagos-Abeokuta expressway also lamented the bad state of their road.  Musiliu Adepetu  a trader in that axis, said, the Lagos state Government under Akiunwunmi Ambode did well by expanding the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway but more work needed to be done in the area of maintenance of the said road. There are craters that damage vehicles and cause serious traffic congestions on that road that needed to be fixed. He also requested an overhead bridge at the Toll-Gate Iyana Ojuore junction, he opined that it will bring relieve to motorists by reducing traffic congestions.

Other reports reveal that Ogun and Lagos States governments have requested for the handover of the Lagos-Sango Ota-Abeokuta expressway for reconstruction, rehabilitation and management.  Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun said, he and Governor BabaJide  Sanwo Olu had put the request in writing, which he personally presented to President Buhari.  He expressed satisfaction that the President too had seen the propriety of their request to take over the strategic road to bring succour to motorists, travelers and residents on that road. Governor Abiodun explained that the road would be commercialized and tolled for easy maintenance to ease movement of people and goods as well as drive development to Ogun state.  “We all know that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is ongoing and the truth is that the road won’t be completed until December of next year. I met with my counterpart, Sanwo-Olu and we decided that as a matter of urgency we need to take over some road, which includes Epe-Ijebu road, Ikorodu- Sagamu road and Lagos-Ota Abeokuta road so as to reduce the population of the people passing the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.’’ He said.  

Mr Lawrence Emiko, a night club owner at Lekki-Epe axis, spoke with AN24 on the state of roads in Lagos. He appealed to the Lagos state Government to carry out road constructions and repairs in the mid night, between the hours of 12am to 4am, as vehicular movements are not heavy at that time. According to him, the hardships Lagosians go through as a result of road repairs during the day are best imagined.  Speaking further, he said he was driving from Epe to Ajah recently and at a roundabout, he spent three hours on a trip that shouldn’t last more than 40 minutes under normal circumstances. Emiko said, the state Government should do something about it.

In another report, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that the LSPWC would be carrying out repairs of 116 inner roads across the state. This, he said, would be in addition to over 200 roads already rehabilitated by the corporation in the last three months. The governor said he was not unaware of the pain experienced by road users in the past few days, which was compounded by the persistent downpour. He appealed to residents to bear with the government while efforts were being made to assuage their pains and bring permanent relief to them.