Federal roads of shame in Lagos
By Nnamdi Inyama and Seye Olumide
THERE has been no letting, over the years, in the lamentations of motorists over the poor state of federal roads in Lagos.
Detailed accounts of the hardship and distress Nigerians go through have been given, time and again.
The unending losses of lives and property, directly linked to the deplorable state of federal roads in the Lagos metropolis, have received deserving coverage in the media.
It has repeatedly been pointed out that, though no longer the federal capital, Lagos remains the economic and financial nerve-centre of the nation.
One of the nation's most important highways, the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway connects the Murtala Muhammed International Airport with two of the nation's busiest seaports - Apapa Quays and Tin Can Island Port.
The calls have been unrelenting, that the Federal Government ought to do something it needed not be reminded of- that indeed, rehabilitating such important roads in Lagos was simply the proper thing to do.
About four months ago, the Federal Minister of Works and Housing, Alhaji Hassan Lawal visited Lagos.
He came to see for himself the true state of the roads he must have heard and read so much about, and he was not disappointed.
He was reportedly trapped for almost two hours in a logjam as he headed towards Apapa to inspect one of the notoriously bad spots.
His visit raised hopes.
He even assured the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola that something would be done to rehabilitate the long-neglected roads.
Four long months after Lawal's visit, nothing has happened and hope has given way to despair.
In fact, the state of federal roads in Lagos has become more deplorable and as such more dangerous.
A worker in an oil-marketing firm at Apapa who lives in the Oshodi area, Badmus Ogholi, lamented to The Guardian: " The thought of going to and returning home from work is almost driving me crazy.
" On very bad days, I am forced to spend hours between where I live in Oshodi and my office in Apapa because of the traffic jam caused by bad roads.
" By all standards, I have a good job. But, I am not enjoying it. The stress is so much and my doctor has warned me. How can the government neglect such an important road?" he asked.
He said it was unfortunate that the Federal Government did not care enough about the roads in Lagos, "yet it has chosen to ignore the fact that except for oil revenue, so much more of whatever else the federal government earns comes from Lagos."
He pointed out that much of the Apapa-Oshodi and Apapa-Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road have deteriorated so badly, it is a shame to our country.
" The very bad spot can be found on Tin Can Island itself, at Ibafon, from Coconut Bus Stop to Sunrise, at Berger, and at the turn-off to Lagos-Badagry Expressway at Mile Two.
Other failed sections are at Rainbow Bus Stop, stretching towards Sanya for several hundred metres.
This spot, which has aggravates the pains of motorists, is also the scene of ghastly accidents as drivers plunge into potholes, especially at night.
Other failed sections are at Itire/ Berliet Bus Stop, six locations on the service lane between Ilasa and Five Star Bus Stop.
Ogholi wondered: "Why the Federal Road Maintenance Agency has not deemed it fit to rehabilitate those locations that have almost totally collapsed, including the stretch of service lane adjacent to the canal at Toyota Bus Stop."
To Philip Ajobena, a systems analyst, " The abandonment of federal roads in Lagos, particularly, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Road is a shameful development.
When I drive along the road, I wonder how we became a people without pride. I have travelled a bit and I cannot remember any other nation that has abandoned its international gateway as Nigeria has done."
Another federal road calling for urgent attention is the Agege Motorway where the many potholes cause traffic jam.
Motorists, yesterday, spoke of their concern to The Guardian over the bad spots on both sides of the road, which not only cause long hours of gridlock but also has claimed many lives.
The heavy vehicular movement from Bolade to Cappa every evening has been blamed on the bad spot at Bolade Junction, which slows movement on the expressway.
As at yesterday, when The Guardian visited the spot it was so obvious that urgent steps to fix the portion need be taken otherwise it may continue to widen and further compound the chaotic traffic situation traffic motorists faced everyday at the point.
The bad spot at Bolade Junction is even more worrisome and painful because high volume of vehicles trying to link the expressway from Oshodi Road and those travelling from Mushin, Cappa, Ilupeju and others are always trapped in the traffic not just for any other reasons but the bad spot.
Some of the traffic patrol officers at Bolade complained that the spot alone makes their job almost impossible.
One of them who pleaded anonymity said it would be impossible to find solution to the traffic problems across the Lagos metropolis except the bad spots on the federal roads are rehabilitated.
According to him: "There is no way traffic situation would improve in Lagos unless the bad roads are fixed.
We are doing our best to control the traffic but our best can only have impact if the road is repaired.
The volume of traffic on Lagos highways is the biggest in the country.
"When a vehicle slows down because of a pot-hole or stops at a failed section of the road, the ripple effect begins and all other vehicles behind stop and the traffic jam begins.
"It has become necessary that the federal government ends the years of neglect of Lagos roads.
"It does not make sense that roads in Lagos from where so much money accrues to the Federal Government should be neglected for much longer.
The rainy season is coming to an end and my prayer is that somebody will pay the roads the attention they deserve."
