Lagos residents urge FG to urgently reconstruct Lagos-Badagry Expressway

Some Lagos motorists have called on the Federal Government to urgently repair the Lagos-Badagry Expressway in order to mitigate their sufferings caused by prolonged gridlock.
The motorists who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews yesterday, said the condition of the road had been very `terrible and problematic.’
They specifically mentioned Alakija Bus Stop to the Volkswagen area, which they said were most problematic with potholes and gullies in most parts of the area.
A motorist, Wasiu Alao, lamented the deplorable state of the road and its effects on vehicles, saying, “This road is too bad now and plying it has become a nightmare and it is really having its toll on our vehicles. I see activities by the construction company but I urge them to expedite action so that we can have easy passage on the road.”
A civil servant, Moji Abbas, expressed similar frustration. “These days I leave home very early and return late due to heavy traffic. You can see for yourself the deplorable state of the road.
“I thought by now, construction work, which commenced during the time of former Gov. Babatunde Fashola, should have been concluded by now. We are really suffering on this road and I urge those involved to quicken rehabilitation work to lessen our traffic burden,’’ she said.
Another road user, Patrick Ogene, commended the government for ensuring that work resumed on the road.
“If construction work had continued at the pace it commenced in 2011, it would have been concluded by now. Though it is painful now but I believe when it is concluded, Lagosians will heave a sigh of relief,’’ he said.
However, an official of China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), who pleaded anonymity, assured that a temporary route was being created to alleviate the traffic problem.
“What we are doing is to create a lane to divert traffic between Trade Fair and Volkswagen Bus Stops. This will give succour to the road users while we continue comprehensive reconstruction of the road,’’ he said.
He said the rehabilitation work, which would terminate at Afromedia, after Okokomaiko, was scheduled to be concluded in two years, saying “the job we are doing now will terminate at Afromedia and we are scheduled to complete it within two years. But it can be subjected to review and expansion to Badagry if government so decides.”
He said past delay in the road rehabilitation was due to paucity of funds as well as some other logistical challenges, saying “actually, the major reason for the delay in the past is due to funds but there are other logistical challenges.
“For instance, there are NNPC pipelines around Festac Third Gate in Alakija and we have to pause until the pipes are relocated. Government is, however, working on all these challenges and, hopefully, the job will be delivered on schedule,’’ he said.
A NAN correspondent who plied the road observed serious potholes and gullies in a long stretch from Trade Fair to Volkswagen bus stops.
CCECC officials were, however, seen working on different portions of the road.