It will be considered in next phase, says council
These are not the best of times for residents, business owners and motorists in Lagos State and environs due to the deplorable condition of roads in parts of the state, especially Oshodi.

They are calling on the authorities to end their nightmare on major roads in the metropolis, particularly the Mafoluku-Beesam Road, which they lament had been neglected for years.

The road links Mafoluku and its surroundings to the Murtala Mohammed Airport and Ikeja, but has suffered neglect; hence, calls for repair.

Business owners report losses due to low patronage, as their customers dread the bad roads.

The deplorable state of the road starts from Abolaji to Beesam tollgate, Murtala Mohammed Airport Road, Ikeja, Lagos.
Residents told The Guardian said their cry had been ignored and they were left to fill potholes with pebbles.

A resident, Okike Michael, said he and other residents, including the founder of Brasol International Limited, Ibraheem Salu, spent millions of naira on palliative measures on the road, but that their efforts need the backing of the government for a lasting solution.

He said: “I spent N8.2 million on the road when I moved to the area in 2022, and individuals have been coming together to do some things after the road went bad again. We always look for pebbles to fill portholes so people can use the road.

“Politicians, who come around for grassroots meetings, have failed to pay attention to the state of the road.”

Also, a commercial tricycle rider, Michael Opeyemi, said: “The road has been in a terrible condition for over two years. We have called on government officials and we were told that the road might have been left in that condition due to toll being collected at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Access Plaza, as the repair might reduce the number of vehicles using the tolled road.

“This road is affecting a lot of people negatively. It is common to see vehicles breaking down at intervals on the road, you won’t know where to navigate when it is raining because floods normally cover potholes, causing vehicles to tumble. Many riders do not ply this road at night.”

On his part, a resident and businessman, Daniel Ijeh, said: “Whenever it rains, both pedestrians and motorists struggle to move. The state of the road is affecting commercial activities in every aspect. Those who own shops along this road are living at the mercy of God, they find it difficult to pay for shop rent because the road has reduced the number of persons patronising their businesses.

“We have been promised several times that the road would be fixed, but they are yet to fulfil the promise. I thought they would use the opportunity of the election to repair the road to win the support of the people.

Years back, we know that even if it’s a fire brigade approach, politicians will fix roads to entice people.

But now, they don’t care; politicians are now using the money for service delivery to buy whatever they want to buy during the election; they no more care about service delivery.

“Local council workers come to our shops to collect levies but they ignore the road.”

Sikiru Popoola said: “This road is in a terrible state and we struggle to use the road whenever there is a downpour. Many roads are linked to Beesam, but motorists cannot ply them because of the state of these roads. We have been appealing to the government to fix the road but we are yet to get a response.”

When The Guardian reached out to Oshodi Local Council, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Gbenga Soloiki, said the road was being considered for repair.

“Projects are being prioritised because of the money available, but I am assuring the residents that in the next phase, the road will be considered. The road was mentioned in one of the stakeholders’ meetings. I am sure the council engineer has been there to assess the road.

“The chairman is not ignoring any part of the council. Development will get to everywhere but it’s a gradual process,” he added.