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These are definitely not the best of times for Lagos motorists and commuters following the deplorable state of roads in the metropolis.
The situation is further exacerbated by the rains, which had exposed the hitherto hidden state of the roads.
With the subsidy removal and its attendant impact on hike on cost of motor spare parts and petrol, motorists are calling for Lagos State government to declare a state of emergency on road rehabilitation.
According to them, though some of the roads were undergoing rehabilitation, they were abandoned after elections, by the same government that won the election and should continue from where they stopped.
Some of the roads that required urgent attention include: St. Finbarr’s road, Chemist bus stop, Akoka, Yaba; Olarenwaju Street in Ilaje, Bariga; Gafaru Street, Ikotun; Aswani Market Road, Isolo; Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)-Idi-Araba Road; failed portions of Agege Motor Road; Oshodi-Mushin link Road; road to the Oshodi Bus Terminal one and PWD Bus Stop Railway cross, linking to Ikeja GRA,
The Guardian investigation also gathered that most streets in the metropolis, like Aregbe, Olushi, Oremeji streets in Isolo; Abolaji, Osundeyi and Oladeinde streets in Mafoluku, Oshodi; Ojo-Ola street at Ejigbo; some parts of Agege, Iyana Ipaja, Mushin, Ojodu Berger, Ajangbadi and others are currently in a state of despair.
The rains, which pounded the mega city few days ago, further exposed the roads, while many residents attributed non-constitution of the Executive Council and non release of funds to the state’s Public Works as responsible for the poor state of the roads.
When The Guardian visited Gafaru Street in Ikotun area of Lagos State, it was gathered that despite undergoing drainage construction, commuters and motorists are finding it difficult to maneuver.
The site supervisor, Hazeez Musa, said the drainage construction was awarded by the state government to “Stone Works Nigeria Limited Company, since September last year, adding that the drainage construction was meant to be completed within a year.
Musa said the 20 by 20 metre drainage would help in combating flood and gully erosion menace in the area.
He said upon completion of the drainage, the state public works would commence laying asphalts on the road.
An operator of a secondary school at Gafaru Street, Ikotun Lagos, lamented the deplorable condition of the road, stressing that many schools have shut down as a result of the poor state of the road.
At Oshodi, a resident of Abolaji Street in Mafoluku, Oshodi, Habeeb Salaudeen, decried the condition of the road.
He, however, urged the state government to come to their rescue in fixing the street and neighbouring streets in Oshodi.
A businesswoman who sells food items and provisions at Ejigbo, who identified herself as Madam What Else, complained on how the deplorable road had affected small scale businesses in that area, as customers within and outside the street find it difficult to access the gully erosion-ruined road.
Also, commuters plying Aswani road, in Isolo Lagos, have lamented the deplorable state of the road.
Right from the entrance at Five-Star Bus Stop on the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway, and down to Emzor Pharmaceutical Company, that leads to Aswani market, the road has been left unattended to by Lagos State Government.
Many motorists now avoid it due to ‘deadly’ potholes and pools of water, saying it even got worse during the rainy season, leaving them miserable.
Speaking with The Guardian, a tricycle driver, Musa Oyekunle, expressed displeasure over the road, saying, whenever it rains, the road gets flooded.
“That road used to spoil our tricycle and I do take it to the mechanic two or three days in a week just because of that road,” Oyekunle said.
Another driver who pleaded anonymity, claimed that since he has been working on that road, the road has never been repaired.
Also, residents have complained that the failed portions of Oshodi-Mushin link Road are widening with hoodlums capitalising on it and wreaking havoc on unsuspecting motorists and commuters in the area.
The road links Agege Motor road from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Oshodi-Oke office, and transverses Terminal One of the Oshodi Transport Interchange corridor.
Motorists and residents of Idi-Araba area of Lagos and its environs have lamented the poor state of Itire road, which connects them to Iyana-Itire Bus Stop along Apapa/Oshodi Expressway.
According to them, potholes are worst at Masalashi Bus Stop, close to College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL) junction, as they cause gridlock on the road, especially during rush hours.
One of the residents, Mike Bakare, lamented the man-hour commuters spend on the road due to its poor state. He said residents of the area have written several letters to the Local Council, informing them about the poor state of the road, but there has been no response. “We need government to repair the road and also put an end to the traffic people face when going to work or returning home.
“We are all taxpayers, government should address this issue so that the road will be better again,” he said.
A businessman in the area, Dele Fadipe, lamented that the poor state of the road has affected his business negatively, as transporting goods through the road has become a nightmare.
When contacted, the General Manager of Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), Lateef Ayodele Somide, said the state through the Agency is focused on repairing all deplorable roads in the state.
Somide said: “Currently, we are working on major and strategic roads in Lagos. After fixing all major roads, we will move into inner roads. Be rest assured that our goal is to ensure all bad roads across the state are rehabilitated.”
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