By Raji Rasak
Transport unions, commuters and residents of Lagos have cried out over the deplorable state of expressways, which were constructed by the Federal Government in Lagos State.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, they said that the deplorable state of the roads had become a daily nightmare for them.
NAN reports that these expressways are Mowo-Ikoga-Ado Odo, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway; Ikorodu-Itokin; Epe-Ijebu-Ode Express Road and Gbaji-Apa-Owode Expressway.
NAN correspondents, who monitored some of the roads, observed that the expressways were filled with potholes and water, due to lack of good drainage systems along the roads.
NAN also reports that some commercial drivers and vehicle owners always struggled to avoid potholes on these expressways, while plying them.
Mr Taofeek Yekini, the Zonal Chairman, Badagry Zone 3, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), said that the Mowo-Ikoga-Ado Odo Expressway, had continued to damage their vehicles on daily basis.
“Mechanics in Mowo and Ikoga have turned us to their ATM, because of the deplorable state of roads.
“One cannot ply the road twice without going to the mechanic’s for repair,” Yekini said.
Mr Adediran Ezekiel, the President, Ibile Drivers Association, Iworo-Ajido-Ikoga Zone, said that the Federal Government and Lagos State should send their representatives to ply the expressway, to understand the plight of the people.
“I will be happy if government can send someone with their vehicles, to ply the road and see what we are facing here.
“Honestly, If you are plying the road on daily basis, you should be ready to always change your tyres, shock absorbers and other motor parts,” he said.
Mr Kolade Lawal, the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mowo, said that during the rainy season, the expressway becomes a death trap of sorts to residents and motorists.
“When it rains, our drivers would usually drop passengers at Angel Gabriel axis of the road and turn back because they cannot go further.
“Another cab coming from Ikoga will then take them from that point and charge extra.
“Government should help us to fix the road, because we are really suffering,” Lawal said.
Mr Oladimeji Oribayo, a Civil Servant, and resident of Isiu Area of Ikorodu, urged the government to repair the Ikorodu-Itokin Expressway, linking Ijebu Ode in Ogun State.
According to him, the number of potholes have increased and this has resulted in motorists spending hours before getting to their destinations.
Also, Mr Mustapha Ajenigba, a member of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), said the road had turned to a death trap, because many accidents happened daily on the expressway.
Ajenigba called for quick intervention of the Federal Government, to reduce casualties on the road.
Also, some community leaders in Ojokoro Low Cost Housing Estate in Meran, Lagos, had sent an SOS to the Federal Government over the dilapidated state of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
NAN reports that the bad portion of the highway starts from the Ogun bound carriageway, around ‘U’ turn at Abule-Egba, all the way to Sango Toll Gate, which is the boundary between Lagos State and Ogun.
Mr Rasheed Ejalonibu, the Former Chairman, Ojokoro Low Cost Housing Residents Association, told NAN that accidents caused by one-way driving along the Abule-Egba to Toll Gate corridor were on the rise, with residents of the estate as major victims.
Mr Olubowale Kasunmu, the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman, Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development
Kasunmu said that the bad road had brought lots of inconveniences, in addition to avoidable accidents.
Also, some community leaders in Epe, also appealed to the Federal and Lagos Governments, to repair the Epe-Ijebu-Ode Expressway.
Mr Taofeek Ajetunmobi, a community leader in Epe, said that the deplorable state of Epe Ijebu-Ode Road had contributed to high cost of transportation and delay in getting to one’s destination.
According to him, a two-hour journey could take more than four hours, adding that the government should fix the road.
Mr Sunday Oke, a resident of Apa in Badagry, urged the Federal Government to mobilise the contractor to go back to Gbaji-Apa-Owode Expressway.
Oke said that the contractor handling the project had abandoned work on the expressway since 2023.
“We are appealing to the government to mobilise the contractor, so that the expressway can be completed by the end of 2025,” he said. (NAN)
