THREE weeks after the attention of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Works Minister, Mike Onolememe, and his Information counterpart, Labaran Maku, was drawn to the deplorable state of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, there is still no respite in sight for motorists.

The rains have washed away palliatives on bad spots, as the ever-busy axis becomes a no-go area to motorists.

While FERMA flaunts its achievements in Abuja and other parts of the country, the same cannot be said in this circumstance, especially since the Ministry of Works took over rehabilitation from Julius Berger Plc, early this year.

Horrible potholes mar the road from Ile-Zik, through Iyana-Ipaja, Ile-Epo, Ijaiye, Salolo, Adura, Ajegunle to the tollgate. This has resulted in frustrating gridlock and daily loss of precious hours.  A journey from Oshodi to Sango, usually 30 minutes, now lasts three hours.

With its emergency intervention -‘Operation Zero Potholes Programme’- to put all federal roads in good conditions, FERMA, in March, gave the impression it was fixing bad spots on the axis. Their efforts, from start, drew criticism from members of the public who cited lack of expertise and reliance on manual labour to repair a road of such importance. The critics, it appears, are right, as the newly ‘rehabilitated’ areas have succumbed to the rains.

Sometime ago, the Owode/Iyana-Ilogbo area was repaired. Unfortunately, the Iyana-Ilogbo end, which measures about 120 metres, is now in a deplorable state. Another saddening observation is that worst affected sections are left undone, as less damaged areas get ridiculous priority.

The stretch opposite the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), close to Alimosho Local Government Secretariat is, at the moment, an eyesore. Though FERMA erected a signpost, saying it is working in the area, some potholes are nearly 8ft wide and 4ft deep. Many vehicles, meanwhile, have run into some of these ‘rivers’. FERMA should have prioritised this!

In Salolo, close to Adura bus stop, the story is the same. A ditch at the middle of the road, coupled with an illegal U-turn, take the blame for a traffic gridlock that often gets to Meiran or Ijaiye, depending on time of day.

Worst hit is the area opposite Sango Motor Park. Motorists on the 50-metre stretch are often glued to the spot for as much as 40 minutes. Last Tuesday’s heavy downpour did not help matters, as pedestrians and commuters were stranded for hours.

Motorists have decried damage to their vehicles as FERMA and the Federal Ministry of Works continue to trade blame on responsibility for repairing the road.

An aggrieved motorist, Sola Emmanuel, said the shameful state of the road indicates government’s lack of concern towards the plight of the masses. He called on state governments to repair the road, if the Federal Government remains witless.

A trader, Madam Abike, lamented high cost of transporting goods along the road, as bus operators hike prices, alleging need to repair damage to their vehicles.

The Guardian visited FERMA’s office in Ogun State to speak with agency boss, Alexander Mazoya. He was said to have travelled out of the state for a workshop.

An official of the agency in Lagos, however, said that the agency has put in place palliatives in Abule-Egba, Ajegunle, Abule Taylor and other areas in Ogun State.

Asked the amount allocated for maintenance of the road and who the contractors are, he said: “I work with FERMA, I don’t know all these things. But if you call the Federal Controller of Works, he can tell you everything. If you need correct information, go to the Federal Ministry of Works.”

The Minister of Works, and Information, might need to visit the road to see, firsthand, a remarkable ‘dividend of democracy’.