Residents and motorists plying Mafoluku area of Lagos State have lamented the poor state of roads in the area and its negative effects on their businesses.
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The roads in the area have remained in bad condition for years despite promises by Oshodi local government council to fix them.The recent downpour and lack of a good drainage system have worsened the already dilapidated roads.
   
The current Chairman of Oshodi Local Council, Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede, had in 2022, embarked on road rehabilitation. But he stopped without giving reasons for the action. 
   
Consequently, the condition of the roads has continued to deteriorate with vehicles breaking down, leading to extortion by street urchins. Some residents, who spoke with The Guardian, lamented that all pleas to fix the roads were rebuffed.
   
A resident on Alhaja Azeez Street, Abimbola Toyin, said she was tired of the poor state of the roads, and wished that the relevant authorities would come to their rescue.
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“My car’s shock absorber and shaft have been changed twice within a year because of wear and tear caused by the roads. 
 
“Most roads in this area feature plenty of potholes, making it hard to navigate and causing gridlock. Another resident, Oduntan Oloorenioluwa, lamented that the deplorable state of the roads was a major factor contributing to his lateness to work.  Oloorenioluwa said he gets to work almost 20 minutes late every day.
 
For Bola Ejiga, it is a double tragedy for residents, who patronise commercial motorcyclists as the state of the road has increased the risk of accidents.
 
She said: “I have been in a near accident as a result of these roads twice. In one instance, a commercial motorcycle I boarded while going to work was over-speeding when it got into a large pothole, threw me off and left me with injuries.”
 
An automobile mechanic, who pleaded anonymity said: “In fact, about 90 per cent of roads in Mafoluku are bad. It is worse during the rainy season as everywhere would be waterlogged, affecting even pedestrians.”
 
The Guardian’s efforts to speak with the council boss or the communications officer proved abortive, as officials of the information department declined to comment and also prevented access to the chairman.
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