AGAINST the backdrop of the deplorable state of roads, residents of Oshodi-Isolo area of Lagos have expressed their concern, a situation that has triggered slow vehicular movement for commuters. As a result of incessant rainfalls, hence, inflation in the cost of transportation, scarcity of buses and also makes it difficult for commuters to arrive at their destinations in time. It will be recalled that on October 13, the Lagos State Government declared a state of emergency on Lagos roads and the immediate commencement of major construction works on major highways and some inner roads. The governor is said to have ordered massive construction on dilapidated highways and carriages within the state starting from Monday, October 14, 2019.
sion making the pot-holes big. Community Bell in an interview with Olusegun Ibiyemi, a taxi driver, who said that the congestion on the road has no particular timeframe. “Most mornings it is difficult to predict because of the traffic, the road is usually congested from 6a.m till 10a.m especially the road leading to Ikotun.
for the day,’’ she said. Students are not left out of the dilemma, Olamide Aina, a student said that the traffic situation compels him resume school late. These days I’m usually late to school, even though I wake up early, the traffic of recent is much,’’ he said. Chidi Njoku, a Civil Servant, said that when it rains, the pathway along community road to lord bus-stop looks like a river. Although, interlocks were engraved in the roads with the aim of making them smooth, the place gets flooded because of the poor drainage system. I doubt if the inter-locks will last with excess water going into them.” Omowunmi Lawrence, a fruit seller, also lamented that buses refuse to help convey her goods because they didn’t want to stand the risk of having a break-down due to the bad roads. Community Bell gathered that the road constructions have made some roads inaccessible, thus commuters have to go through alternative routes. Road construction is currently ongoing on Lukman Atobajeun street in Ajao Estate while another one is also taking place on Cele-Express road. Mr. Rafiu Adelaja, who refills cylinders says, “They brought some machines but nobody understands what is going on initially But of recent, they have been coming to work on the roads,the traffic is really bad now because Lukman Atobajeun street is the route that most people ply to work. But they cannot do so anymore, they now go through the Ogumba Mary street road thereby causing traffic.” Mr. John Ojogbue, a civil servant who is of the opinion that the construction is poorly managed said.
Community Bell gathered that a journey which should ordinarily last for 30 minutes takes two hours or more, the frustration of commuters is that they have to struggle with motorcycles to ply the pathways. Community Bell went round some of these roads, from Chemist to Pako road are ridden with pot-holes. When it rains, the state of the roads is worsened due to poor drainage system which leads to erosion
There was no notification that there would be a road construction, they simply came out of the blues and started working. There are no efforts to even re-direct the traffic along Oshodi-Cele road. now people have to spend N400 to transport themselves from Oshodi to Mile 2. Initially, it cost only N100 or N150,’’he said. Engineer Omotayo Emmanuel, a Civil Engineer was of the opinion that the construction are not durable. Some of the road constructions you see on the road are palliative measures otherwise known as quick fix which can only last for a short while. If only concrete is poured on the roads without reinforcement, the arrangement will wear out with time. Also, some of the construction companies that are awarded these contracts use substandard products, that is why it could be observed that some road repairs last for only two or three weeks before they wear out again. If standard materials are used for the reconstruction of the roads, we will not have to keep on repairing the same roads year after year. Unfortunately, the drainage systems are bad, normally there should be slopes on the roads so that water can be channelled into the drainage system but what you find is that a lot of them are blocked.
