For motorists and commuters who ply the Isolo-Ikotun road in Lagos, a journey that should take only a few minutes has become an ordeal that could last more than an hour.

Residents and other road users have appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works to resume and complete the long-delayed reconstruction of the road, which has become increasingly difficult to navigate, particularly during peak hours.

The Federal Government commenced work on the road in 2022 and was expected to complete the project by May 2024. However, more than two years after the scheduled date, only some sections have been completed, while work on the remaining stretch has stalled.

The reconstruction of the Mushin-NNPC-Palm Avenue-Isolo-Ejigbo Road was approved by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2022 for N11.2 billion. The project was designed to address traffic congestion and deteriorating infrastructure along the busy corridor and was expected to be delivered within 12 months.

Although the contractor completed both sides of the road from Iyana-Isolo to Isolo General Hospital in June 2025, and less than 200 metres of the stretch from the Isolo-Oke-Afa Canal to Mobil Filling Station, Oke-Afa, in October 2025, work subsequently stalled.

About 100 metres of the road from Oke-Afa Bus Stop was tiled in early 2026, but the contractor later stopped work, leaving motorists and commuters to contend with potholes, damaged sections and worsening traffic congestion.

The situation is particularly frustrating for commuters travelling between Oke-Afa and NNPC Bus Stop. A journey that should take less than five minutes can now take an hour or more, especially between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.

For motorists, the poor condition of the road has also translated into frequent vehicle repairs and damaged tyres.

A motorist, Israel Jacob, told The Guardian that traffic congestion usually begins around 4:00 p.m. and continues until about 10:00 p.m.

“The road is destroying our vehicles. Trucks fall off the road at times. We don’t only regularly go to the mechanic to fix mechanical issues; our tyres also get damaged because of the bad road,” he said.

Jacob appealed to the government, saying, “They started it; they should complete it.”

Another road user, Mercy Okechukwu, described the road’s condition as unacceptable for a major route serving densely populated communities.

“The road is too damaged. The potholes are a concern because of the busy nature of the road,” she said.

According to her, motorists and commuters spend hours on a journey that should take only a few minutes, while frequent vehicle repairs have added to the financial burden on residents.

Okechukwu noted that although some portions between Isolo and Oke-Afa had been rehabilitated, the stretch from Oke-Afa towards Ikotun remained in a poor condition.

“The road has been in this bad condition for over 15 years. We hope the road will be fixed soon,” she added.

Responding to the concerns, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, said the road would be completed alongside the bridge project.

Dare said, “The road will be completed alongside the bridge. I have requested that officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) be deployed to the area for traffic management,” he said.

“I just sent a letter to the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, requesting that LASTMA officials be mobilised to the place. We want to start work on the Oke-Afa Bridge,” Dare added.