The bad state of the Lagos/Abeokuta expressway has posed more threat to lives, businesses and economy than doing them any good. In an exclusive report on the state of the road on Saturday Dailyfamily show to you, the stress families are facing on a daily basis.
One of the dividends of democracy is to enjoy some basic social amenities and infrastructural provisions and in the event where a ruling government is not meeting up to the provision of the needed infrastructural need as promised in election manifestoes or as enshrined in the Constitution, then there may be the need to ask questions.
The dilapidated state of the Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway has been of a major concern to families, workers and business owners commuting the road on a daily basis. The fact that it is a link road connecting two states in the southwestern region of the country is a good reason why it should be considered a major project. But as at the time of this report, it is in a wrecked state which now calls for an urgent intervention of the federal government.
According to the United nation’s Millennium development goals, the environment must be sustainable and aid the commuting of human goods and services hence the stressed need to ensure this road is fixed.
The bad state of this Federal government road is gradually getting worse as the days unfold. Although a look at a recent appearance before the Senate, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the honourable Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola said the Lagos, Ota- Abeokuta Expressway will be considered for dualization. But then, extending beyond the second quarter of the year, this promises seems to be a long and awaited one.
The increasing menace the road is causing and the huge economic returns been loosed to the bad state of the road has even caused concerns for traders commuters and transporters.
In this exclusive report with DailyFamily a transporter plying the Ifo area of Ogun state to Iyana Ipaja axis of Lagos state that the resulting effect of the bad road has been more of a loss to them than gain.
In his word he said.
“The bad state of the road has reduced the number of trips we go per day. Instead of going three trips per day, some of us have reduced it to two. He further stated that the bad state of the Sango Otta road caused some people to get to their final destination at 12 midnight last Friday and it shouldn’t be like that”.
Further stating how important the road is to his survival the transporter who pleaded anonymity said;
“This road is our source of livelihood, and when the road is bad, there will be an increase in transport fare”.
He also added that;
“The bad state of the road is a threat to pregnant women as the potholes affect the well-being of their pregnant state”.
In another chat with a vegetable trader who identified herself as Mrs Adegbola, she said the traffic congestion is too much. and it affects customers from getting to patronize them on time while some eventually wouldn’t show up at all due to the unbearable stress encountered on the road. She further stated that hold-up at Iyana Ilogbo and Owode side of the road is just too much up to the extent that walking becomes difficult and at times to cross to the other side of the road likewise becomes an issue”.
“It affects customers from getting to patronize us on time while some eventually wouldn’t show up at all due to the unbearable stress encountered on the road. She further stated that hold-up at Iyana Ilogbo and Owode side of the road is just too much up to the extent that walking becomes difficult and at times to cross to the other side of the road likewise becomes an issue”.
Another trader, Mrs Oluwaseunfunmi stated that while the road was in its good form there were many sales but whenever rain falls, sales automatically drops.
They further called on the federal government to come to their aid as the pressure on the present state of the road is gradually killing businesses.
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