Dark highways fade away in the centre of excellence

There are a few roads in Lagos residents and visitors love to pass through at night, one of such will definitely not be the Airport Road through the flyover bridge at Toyota bus-stop to Charity on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.

Mrs. Rita Arogaba says she loves to drive at night on the Victoria Island-Lekki highway because it reminds her of her days in London. “It is a well-paved road and beautifully lit at night. The light scares away many felons who hide by dark roadsides at night to attack motorists, especially ladies who are alone in vehicles.”

She then goes on to relate her experience sometime ago at Toyota Bus Stop on Apapa-Oshodi expressway at about 8:00p.m., while she was stuck in the traffic.

“It was a Tuesday when the famous Aswani Market traders poured onto the road at the same time as automobile spare-parts traders from Ladipo, a multi-billion naira spare parts market on the opposite side of Aswani market. Just before getting to Five Star bus-stop, someone tapped at the window and ordered me to wind the glass down.

“To show that he was serious, the husky man showed me the nuzzle of a pistol. I had no option than to obey and frantically hand over my bag containing money, bank documents, phones and sundry items to the lone man, who walked away joyously. Since then, I am always fretting while driving on pitch-dark highways.”

Lately, the dread of driving late at night, especially on many highways on mainland Lagos, is giving way to some ease, all thanks to the Light Up Lagos campaign assiduously embarked on by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on many major highways, including Murtala Muhammed Airport Road inward 7 & 8 Bus Stop to Charity, Local Airport road, Agege Motor Road, and Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

Residents of Ipaja, Ayobo, Ishefun, Aiyetoro among others have given kudos to the state government for bringing the light up project to their area. One of the residents living along the axis, Ibrahim Mucas, said the light has made a lot of difference in the area.

My fear is the hoodlums that always tamper with good things. There are some areas in Lagos that beautiful overhead bridges were constructed, but it is so embarrassing that some people would go there and cut the railings

“Apart from illuminating the road, the beauty at night occasioned by the light is quite scintillating. Anyone who loves beauty would preserve the presence of light in this part of Lagos.

“However, my fear is the hoodlums that always tamper with good things. There are some areas in this Lagos that beautiful overhead bridges were constructed, but it is so embarrassing that some people would go there and cut the railings. My plea is for the government that has begun this beautiful work to also provide security that would resist every attempt of vandalism,” he said.

Another resident, Mr. Ola Aremu, said the streetlights are a welcome development in the area. “The night the light was commissioned, I felt was travelling through Victoria Island or Ikoyi because of the beauty the light added to the road that has just been rehabilitated. The amazing thing is that there is even no propaganda about the roads being a federal roads or a state road.

“One advantage of the light is that it helps drivers to see farther into the distance without straining their eyes. Occasionally, one comes across broken down vehicles on the road and the light now helps drivers not to run into them.”

A resident living in Oshodi, Mr. Solomon Enilolobo, said the streetlight on Airport Road has addressed the problem of insecurity in the area.
“People travel at night and move a lot on this road but it is always with trepidation because of the darkness that envelops everywhere. Even the emergence of petrol tankers didn’t help matters, but with this light now, people can move any time without fear of being attacked.”