7th July, 2010
Murmurings and curses are not far from the lips of Lagosians because of the poor state of roads in the Lagos Metropolis.
It seems that the Lagos State government is satisfied with the development and rehabilitation works that it has carried out on some of the roads in the state while many are in very appalling state. The situation gives the impression that government has collapsed at the local level or it is non existent. A responsive government at the local level won’t allow roads to get so bad to this level without providing parliative measures. We wonder whether councillors in the affected areas do not report to their council bosses the unacceptable state of roads in the areas where they live.
As for the local governments and the governments of the Local Council Development Areas, the consensus among many Lagosians seems to be that they have failed dismally in many areas, including the rehabilitation of roads.
Currently, even roads in some highbrow areas like Ikoyi and Victoria Island have been largely neglected. In Ogba area, these roads: the Retail Market up to Ogba Bus Stop, Wempco, Acme, parts of Ijaye road and others are in deplorable shape. Parts of the hitherto smooth College Road are in their worst state.
Other areas where we have so many bad roads include Ayobo, Meiran, Alagbado, Aboru, Ipaja, Egbeda, Idimu, Ejigbo, the axis between Ojo barracks and Iyan-Iba on the Mile-2/Badagry expressway. Motorists have complained bitterly that the roads cause serious traffic gridlock as well as damage to their vehicles daily.
The members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have also decried the poor state of roads in Lagos. According to them, many of the new roads have collapsed three years after they were constructed.
Nevertheless, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele said that the government was aware that many roads need attention. He said that work was going on them.
It is, however, doubtful whether Lagosians can be assured by Bamidele’s comment, as there is no sign that most of the roads are being rehabilitated at all.
We hereby call on the Lagos State government to fix these roads with the urgency it deserves to save the people from the harrowing experience they are currently facing.
The government should also bring to book the contractors handling road rehabilitation in the state as it appears they are just doing shoddy jobs and getting paid for them.