Horrors of Lagos- Abeokuta Expressway, puts residents on edge 

The Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway is one of the oldest roads in Nigeria, but has in recent times turned a death trap and source of concern and worry to residents and business owners who ply the route. The rehabilitation of the road has suffered several setbacks since it was awarded to Julius Berger PLC in year 2000. After the year 2000 attempt to rehabilitate the road  several other contractors have been awarded the contract only for them to later abandon it due to changes in government.

The road has over the years been used for political gimmicks and to score political points, more like for vote buying. And residents are tired of it all and have been calling on the government to find a lasting solution to the terrible state of the road.. Contractors on their own are often not always seen onsite and later they stop coming at all as a result of not being able to reach conclusive decision or agreement with the goverment because funds for the project are either delayed for a long period of time or not disbursed at all.

The despicable state of the Lagos- Abeokuta expressway has left residents and business owners within that axis with little or no choice but to make repeated calls on the government to repair the overly damaged roads. The road, anonymous sources revealed has been in a bad state for a long time and as such has had a damning effect on all users of the road over time.

Almost all media outlets have have donr extensive report on the bad state of the road with some television stations found documentary on it. It is a wonder to many how the road deteriorated to the current state it is, deep gullies, man-size pot holes etc.

As far back as Saturday March 23, 2022, a correspondent  who visited the road reported that most affected parts are some spots at Abule-Egba, Ijaiye and U- Turn areas, reaching as far as the old tollgate at Sango-Ota, throough to Ifo Ogun State and beyond.

Report has it that the road has been bad for more than seven years and is getting worse yearly especially after the raining season every year, as erosion washes away greater parts of the road.

A LASTMA official who only spoke on condition or anonymity stated that on an average, about 20 tankers fall weekly on the road due to the nature of the road and plenty vehicles break down on the road . She further stated that most vehicle owners have abandoned the road preferring to use the inner roads while the more daring ones drive against traffic which is an offence in the road safety regulation which has increased the rate of accidents along the route. The official revealed that the bad road has resulted in the congestion of the only lane that is still motorable in some places. She disclosed thst sometimes the government just poor granite on some areas of the road as palliative measure.

Two tricycle operators, around Abule Egba affirmed that the road affects them, as it causes theit vehicles excessive wear and tear thereby incuring more expenses for maintenance of their vehicles. One of the operators lamented saying, “Na every day we dey repair our keke, we don turn Mechanic now because our keke fit spoil anywhere because the road no good”

Businesses also are not free from the damages caused as a result of  the bad road, information gathered from Managers of two Fuel stations stated that they record lower sales as the road gets worse by the day. Adding that, they have resortef to begging commuters to buy petrol from them.

A Hotel and Events Centre Manager expressed dissatisfaction because, it was affecting her business and she loses money. She said “Our guests do not patronize us anymore as a result of the road because their girlfriends and wives don’t like coming to this side of the road to hangout or relax  we ladies like soft life and the road is affecting our soft life”.

The residents  have severally through the years appealed to the the government to come to their aid and do something about the road to their ordeal.

Recently, the State Government for the uptenth time promisef that the road would be repaired, most residents are waiting to see if the Government will actually fix the road or if it be another failed promise.

Efforts to reach the Ogun State Commissioner for Works, Ogun Commissioner for Works, Engineer Adebowale Akinsanya to get more details on when the road maintenance would likely begin proved abortive.