Motorists lament as potholes worsen across Lagos communities
Motorists and residents have lamented the deplorable condition of some roads across Lagos State, saying worsening potholes have made movement difficult and contributed to traffic congestion.
The affected roads include Shasha Road in Alimosho Local Government Area, Ikosi Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area and Goddylove Road in the Egbeda area of the state.
On Shasha Road, motorists said several portions, particularly around Jimoh, Ajako and Moshalashi, had been riddled with potholes for months, alleging that the affected sections had been neglected by the relevant authorities despite their deteriorating condition.
A road user, Fatai Akanro, said the potholes had continued to worsen, making the road difficult to navigate.
He said, “This road has been in this condition for months, and nothing has been done to address it. The potholes are getting bigger, and motorists have to struggle to pass through the affected areas.
“This has made movement difficult for everybody using this road.”
Another motorist, who identified himself simply as Kunle, said efforts to repair the road had been inadequate, noting that granite had only been dumped on some of the affected portions.
“This is what they did recently, and that has not brought relief to us. Only some parts were filled with granite stones while others were abandoned,” he claimed.
During a visit to the area on Tuesday, PUNCH Metro observed that vehicles approaching the Jimoh Bus Stop section of Shasha Road from Dopemu and Akowonjo slowed considerably as motorists navigated the potholes.
Further towards the Moshalashi end of the road, motorists encountered additional potholes, with some drivers moving into the opposite lane to avoid the damaged sections and oncoming vehicles.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Michael, said the condition of the road had made driving hazardous.
“Sometimes, drivers have to slow down or move to another part of the road to avoid the potholes,” he said.
Another motorist, Kunle Philips, lamented the cost of maintaining his vehicle due to the condition of the road.
He said, “I am a regular user of this road, and this started small even before the rain got to this point. But the government neglected it and allowed it to become this bad.
“I have spent so much fixing my vehicle due to my frequent use of the road.”
Similarly, motorists plying Ikosi Road in the Ikosi-Isheri LCDA decried the deteriorating condition of some sections of the road, saying the potholes had contributed to traffic congestion, particularly during rainfall.
One of the road users said, “When it rains, we find it difficult to navigate the road because the potholes would have been filled with water and no vehicle wants to risk driving into them.
“In the process, vehicles move at a slow pace, and this eventually causes traffic on the road.”
A tricycle rider, Semiu Adaba, said some sections of the road had deteriorated to the extent that they contributed to gridlock and increased vehicle maintenance costs.
“The situation has become worse. The road has collapsed in some places, and this is contributing to the gridlock we experience here. I have spent much money fixing and replacing the cup of the wheel of my tricycle over time,” Adaba said.
Another motorist, who requested anonymity, said the road had been in poor condition for a long time and needed urgent attention.
“It only got worse because of the rain. It needs immediate attention from the government, at least now that it has got to this level,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents of Goddylove Road in the Egbeda area also lamented the poor condition of the road, alleging that the affected section had been neglected.
During a visit to the area on Thursday, PUNCH Metro observed that the section linking Ogunlana was riddled with large potholes and craters, making movement difficult for motorists.
A motorist who spoke with our correspondent appealed for urgent intervention.
“This road has been like this for a long time with no attention from the government. We need you to help us talk to them for intervention. We are paying tax,” the motorist said.
Another resident, Olabisi, said the road served as an important link for residents and motorists in the area.
He said, “Apart from the Egbeda-Akowonjo Road, this is also a major road linking residents of Akowonjo and Shasha to the Idimu-Ikotun Road.
“If this road is fixed, it will make movement easier for people living in these areas and also reduce the pressure on other roads.”
The residents called on the Lagos State Government and relevant local government authorities to rehabilitate the affected roads.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, and the Executive Chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area, Akinpelu Johnson, could not be reached for comment, as calls to their telephone lines were not answered. Text messages sent to them had also not been replied to as of the time of filing this report.
to like, bookmark, and comment.
Comments
Join the conversation:
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.