| Hakeem Balogun Road |
In recent months, some residents have expressed displeasure over the state of roads across the metropolis, which prompted PUNCH METRO to do two-series story on the deplorable conditions of the roads.
But due to the negative publicity that the stories generated, the state government has now come up with a new integrated approach to rehabilitating existing roads.
Under the new approach, three critical agencies of the government are now involved in the rehabilitation and management of the roads simultaneously. They are the Lagos Public Works Corporation, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure and the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority.
PUNCH METRO gathered that the idea was to ensure that the three institutions would complement one another.
The Executive Chairman, LPWC, Mr. Gbenga Akintola, said, “Essentially, the ‘zero tolerance for potholes and craters’ programme embarked upon by the government can only be meaningful if the three organisations work hand-in-hand with one another.”
Findings show that work has begun on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, part of Agege Motor Road, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway (Lagos end) and Ikorodu Road, as well as some neighbourhood roads.
It was gathered that under the new approach, asphalt would no longer be used to patch roads that are susceptible to flood, but instead, interlocking stones are now being used, while roads that are prone to erosion and flooding will now have stone base, with fibre mat laid underground to prevent early deterioration.
Akintola said, “Based on the expert advice, and the current engineering practices in road management, some identified spots will require different materials. Indeed, there is no excuse for waiting for favourable weather before embarking on road maintenance.
“The mandate from Governor Babatunde Fashola is that, as much as possible, all roads in Lagos must be in a better state.”
Some of the residents, who spoke with our correspondent, advised the government not to wait till the roads become impassable before embarking on their rehabilitation, noting that a routine maintenance programme should be put in place to ensure all-year round management of road infrastructure.
Mr. Musibau Adeagbo, a resident of Ijeshatedo said, “The governor should direct the relevant agencies of government to evolve an all-year road maintenance programme.
“He should also look with pity on the suburbs instead of concentrating on the highbrow areas of the metropolis because most roads in the suburbs are in an appalling condition.”
A resident of Idimu, Mr. Kayode Odugbesan, lamented the deplorable state of roads in Isolo-Ikotun axis, saying that plying the road was stressful.
He said, “People who stay around here have been suffering. To get out of Idimu through Isolo in the morning is hellish. The stress is even more when returning in the evening because from Iyana Isolo to Idimu, it takes an average of two and half hours to get home, a distance that should not take more than 10 minutes ordinarily.
“The slow pace of construction work on the Jakande Estate Road has compounded the problem because all vehicles going into the estate and those coming out are forced to use one lane, and the lane is in a shambles.”
Another resident of the area, who declined to give his name, urged the state government to compel the local government and local council development authorities to compliment its efforts by taking care of roads within their domain.
“It is only when this is done that what the state government is doing at present can be meaningful,” he added.
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