Lagos-Ibadan Expressway still death trap, insecure – Motorists

Motorists and commuters have expressed dissatisfaction over the state and safety of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway five months after the Federal Government promised to make it better.

The government had on November 19, 2012, revoked the concession it granted  Bi-Courtney Highway Services on May 8, 2009.

Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, had said the government could not fold its hands and watch “the senseless carnage on this important expressway which is part of arterial route A1”. He added that the government had decided to embark on emergency reconstruction of the expressway.

Two firms- Julius Berger and RCC Nigeria Limited- which were engaged by the government,  began a palliative repair during the yuletide, raising the hope that succor was about coming to motorists and commuters.

However, the initial euphoria generated by the announcement and the palliative repairs have been dampened as it seems work has stopped on the highway, while it is gradually falling back into its usual state of disrepair.

Gridlock that was gradually becoming history before the government took over the road is now returning. Our correspondents reported that areas in Ogere Remo, Mowe and Ibafo end of the expressway are the most affected by the traffic snarl.

It was also noted that the road was falling apart again while no visible efforts are seen concerning repairs by the companies engaged by the government.

A commercial bus driver Moshood Abidola,  lamented the gridlock, accidents and robberies on the road.”

Abidola, who claimed to have been driving for 40 years, said, “The accidents we experience on this road are caused by its poor state. If the road is good, accidents will reduce.

“The condition of the road also affects our vehicles. There are also robberies because the road is terrible. Robbers take that advantage to rob us and our passengers. It has happened to us many times. One happened last Saturday.”

Another commercial driver, Olusola Akinyode, said it was surprising that despite its promise to make the expressway better, the Federal Government had allowed it to fall into a state of disrepair again.

He said, “There are many portholes on the road that if one is not careful, he may find himself in a ditch.

“There are also robbery incidents that I have witnessed as a driver. There are some days that robberies can happen four times in a day on the road.

Another driver, Alaba Jinadu, said since 1997 that he started plying the expressway, he had yet to see any improvement.

He said, “Government keeps patching the potholes, but this has not solved the problem. The potholes cause many accidents.

“When we heard that the Federal Government had awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the expressway to Julius Berger and RCC, we were happy. But now, we are yet to see changes. Initially, Julius Berger started working for a short time, and then stopped. There are excavations left unfilled by the engineers; these are very dangerous.

“The worst parts of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway extend from Remo tollgate to Ibadan. Along this damaged path is Dakeroro, which serves as hotbed for carjacking and robberies. Drivers and passengers often get waylaid because vehicles usually move too slowly on the road. A colleague of mine, Shakiru, was robbed and killed.”

Romanus Obuligbe, who commutes from Imo State to Lagos, said the patching of the potholes by the government has not remedied the problem, adding that “because of the bad road, I witness accidents at least three times a week.”

Noah Salami, a commercial bus driver at Ojota Park, who makes an average of two trips a day on the road, said, “What government contractors have done is to patch the road, but that is not enough.

“The job done by them (contractors) is very shoddy, so the road is bumpy. There are also some parts that were not done and this sometimes leads to traffic build-up along the road. The road also damages tyres and causes so many accidents.”

An officer of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Berger Park, Muslim Alao, urged the government to ensure the immediate commencement of comprehensive work on the road.

He said, “The road is a write-off. We want government to look into the matter and do something about it.”

A private motorist, Mr. Abimbola Akintayo, said, “The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has been known to be a death trap.

“It is a shoddy job that they are doing on that road; it seems there is no cohesion between the two contractors that the job was given to as they don’t work at the same rate and the quality of job done is also not the same.”

Security agents, who carry out patrols along the expressway, said bushes beneath the long bridge help hoodlums to commit crime.

A policeman attached to the Quick Response Squad told one of our correspondents that hoodlums always hide in bushes under the bridge.

The police officer, who craved anonymity, said movement of motorcycle riders on the bridge should be restricted because it is difficult apprehending them  whenever they engage in criminal activities.

He said, “The Warewa Long Bridge is the most dangerous because there is no activity on the bridge except vehicular movement. Also, the bushes beneath the bridge serve as a hideout for hoodlums.

A resident of Papa Olorunda Victorious Community, Sheni Daramola, said constant police patrols have helped in reducing robberies on the expressway. He however said the police should extend their patrols to residential areas off the expressway.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Command, Muyiwa Adejobi, disagreed that the expressway was unsafe.

He, however, said the bushes beneath the bridge pose a security threat.

Adejobi said some churches in the area as well as companies had promised to assist the police in tackling the problem.

He said, “Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church and some companies have promised to help trim the bushes. I am sure that by Wednesday (today), they would have started.

“We are not folding our arms and I can tell you that crime along the Lagos –Ibadan Expressway has reduced drastically.

“As regards the issue of thieves on motorcycles, we have not received such complaint from the public. Besides, Ogun State has no law prohibiting the movement of motorcycles on the expressway.”