Groan As Lagos Roads Deteriorate
when its rains because its get flooded to the brim such that pedestrians cannot even use the road.
Also speaking, a fashion designer in the estate (name withheld) said the road has been in total disrepair for the past four years and government has refused to do anything about it.
“Once it rains heavily and I am at home, I don’t bother coming to my shop, and if I am in the shop, I try to lockup as quickly as possible, so I don’t get trapped.
“So, a heavy rainy day for residents and business owners is shambles” she said.
A resident of Ijegun in Alimosho Council, Peter Anene, said the road linking Ikotun with Igando, which was “Government should have expanded the roads first before the BRT lane construction started.”
According to Ernest Ojelum: “All the roads in Isolo are complete disaster. Most of these potholes started small, but now they can swallow a small vehicle whole when it rains.
“Maintenance has always been our problem in Nigeria. It costs less to repair than to rebuild, but I guess it is a means of embezzling money for politicians. “Government should help us by at least covering up the potholes temporarily.”
Aliyu Effiong said: “Government should come to our aid. It is frustrating and exhausting, especially when traffic keeps one on the road for hours.
“I rarely drive to walk, because it is tiring, driving for hours. So, I board public busses, which is very stressful.” According to Promise Daudu: “I don’t really think the government is taking the issue of these bad roads serious. I honestly think the government should start working on it as soon as possible.
“Maintenance also goes a long way in preserving the lifespan of the roads.”
Thankgod Ukachi berated the government, saying: “Governments are not doing what they are meant to do. The roads are bad; too many potholes and we end up visiting the mechanics often, spending money unnecessarily.
“I don’t know if the government has special arrangement with Lagos mechanics, because this is too much. Government should interlock the roads, especially Community road in Abule-ado”.
Motorists plying the Odogunyan-ogijo road in Ikorodu area are bitter and wondering why the state government has seemingly abandoned them to their fate.
Quadri Akomolafe told Theguardian: “Look at this road yourself and tell me if this is meant for humans or animals. How can a major road like this be this bad for years and despite all our cries and pleas, this place is still like this?
“This same road spoiled my car, so I took my wife’s car and it is already making strange noises. I don’t know what to do again, as we are now at the mercy of commercial motorcycles.
“Anytime rain falls early in the morning, I’m not going to work that day and if the rain falls before the close of work, I usually stay with my friend in Bariga.
“The other day when rain fell, danfo buses were charging Odogunyan N300 and 0gijo N400. I couldn’t believe my ears, something that used to cost N50 and N100, respectively.
“This government doesn’t have our interests at heart at all. If this was the road to the houses of government officials or top politicians, will it remain like this till date? “In fact, there is a type of rain that would fall that even okada riders will refuse to ply the roads, afraid of falling into the gutters, and you will see people trekking enmasse. We are fed up with this situation.”
Meanwhile, phone calls and text messages sent to the mobile phone lines of the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, over this issue were unreturned and unanswered as at the time of going to press.