Lagos communities lament failed roads, blame govt neglect

Residents of Alakuko in the Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area and Olutosin Ajayi Street in Ajao Estate, in the Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, have lamented the terrible state of three major access roads in the areas.

The residents of Baale Animashaun and Powerline roads in Ifako area had earlier raised the alarm over the poor state of the roads, calling on the government to intervene.

During a visit to the community on Thursday, PUNCH Metro observed that vehicles entering and exiting the area struggled to navigate the damaged portions of the roads.

The stretch of Baale Animashaun Road was riddled with large potholes, forcing motorists to drive slowly.

Speaking to our correspondent, a resident, Tunji Adio, said the road had gradually deteriorated without any intervention from the state government despite repeated outcries.

He said, “The road has been like this for years with no single intervention from the government. It is an access road that connects many communities in our local government, but the government has not attended to it for once. You can see how terrible and big the potholes are.”

A tricycle rider said the damaged road had affected them, calling for government intervention.

He said, “The cup in the wheel of my tricycle gets damaged almost all the time because of the condition of the road. It is damaged again, and I don’t even have the money to fix it. How much do I make that I will be fixing the tricycle when I still need to deliver?”

Our correspondent gathered that residents in the community had taken it upon themselves to fill the potholes with granite.

“The owner of a newly-built hotel in our community bought some granite and filled the potholes, but with time, there was a downpour, and most of it was washed away. There are times when some people provide us with granite, and we use our tricycles to pack it. But the only solution is for the government to help us fix the road,” another tricycle rider, who did not want his name in print, citing personal reasons, said.

Residents also made similar complaints about the Powerline Road, while equally citing abandonment by the state and local governments.

A trader who identified himself simply as Chidi told our correspondent that the road had damaged private cars.

“Private car owners now find it hard to take this road. Most times, their car bumpers get removed, and they will have to put them in the trunk.”

A resident, Matthew Adeleye, lamented that the deplorable road had resulted in security concerns, especially at night.

According to him, security operatives also take advantage of the failed portions to arrest motorists.

“In the night, these terrible potholes constitute an avenue for criminal activities. Criminal attacks are not uncommon because there is no way you can move fast. Also, these are places where you will meet the police and FRSC. They stay right inside those deadly potholes. Instead of advocating the repair of the road, that is where they arrest people and extort motorists because everyone has to slow down.”

The residents, however, reiterated their call for immediate government intervention.

They noted that the community had suffered neglect despite the state government’s reputation for road maintenance.

In the Ajao Estate area, our correspondent watched as residents lamented as they navigated the collapsed Olutosin Ajayi Street end, leading to the police divisional headquarters.

A resident, Lawrence Yakubu, said, “Look at the state of this road. Is this what should be seen at an estate less than five minutes’ drive from the country’s international airport? Have you also seen the police divisional headquarters over there? How can you expect them to rise up to the occasion of fighting crime when there is no road here?

“The street after this one, Fatai Irawo, is in a similarly collapsed state. Why has the government neglected fixing these roads to make life more livable for us?”

He called on the state government to come to their aid, given the failure of the Isolo Local Council Development Area to do so.

PUNCH Metro sought the reaction of the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, but the spokesperson, Adesina Odunuga, could not be reached as calls made to his phone were not responded to. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.