Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Motorists, passengers in anguish over heavy traffic

By allcitynews.ng

Anguish, pain, frustration could best be the words to describe the situation people are facing by going through the only road linking Lagos State, the former federal capital state to the 36 states of the federation.

That motorists, passengers are going through series of harsh conditions by plying that road may no longer be fresh news to people living along that axis.

Even as commuters are now forced to pay double for the transport fares. The journey which used to take N200 is now between N400 and N500 depending on the vehicles while a journey from Prayer City to Alausa Secretariat which used to take between 10 to 15 minutes is now taking three hours.

Speaking with allcitynews.ng, a fellow passenger in a car, Mr Rufus Akowe appealed to government to fast track the construction work based on the snail speed with which the firm, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, in charge of the construction is handling the work.

Another passenger, Mr Akanji Ishola expressing his displeasure over the speed of the construction work said, they are supposed to do this work both day and night to save people from the stress.

“This work is necessary. It is something that must be done for the betterment of everyone but the way and manner they are handling the work is wrong. How can they start work around 8am and close around 6pm. Why should they follow civil service rule, how can they observe Sundays or public holidays without working and work only by day?, demanded Ishola.

Also, a man, Mr Idowu Ogundele said “I am a trader in Dugbe Market Ibadan . This route is my way. I used to come to Lagos three times in a week to buy things from Idumota Market and sell in Ibadan. It used to take me between two hours to return back to my shop. Within three hours I would have gone back to my shop but now, it used to take me almost a whole day on the road.”

Though the essence of the work is to create better motorable road, but the construction is taking another dimension.

The construction company, Julius Berger, for reason best known to the management and the awardee, Federal Government, the road has remained in near-snail-speed construction since President Olusegun Obasanjo regime hitherto.

Now that the work has shifted to Kara area and Lagos State Secretariat travellers are spending close to four hours along the long bridge and Lagos State Secretariat.

Speaking with allcitynews.ng one of the motorists, Mr Kofo Akinola lamented the stress the road construction has brought on motorists.

“I use to wake up every morning, except on Saturday, by 4am in order to avoid entry into the traffic. Yet we will still enter the traffic by first Mikano firm along the route.

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