Drivers complain as potholes increase in Lagos roads

Motorists and residents are unhappy about the bad state of some roads in Lagos State. They say the growing potholes have made driving hard and caused traffic jams.

The roads affected include Shasha Road in Alimosho Local Government Area, Ikosi Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, and Goddylove Road in the Egbeda area.

On Shasha Road, drivers reported many parts, especially around Jimoh, Ajako, and Moshalashi, have been full of potholes for months. They said the authorities have ignored these spots despite their worsening state.

Fatai Akanro, a road user, said the potholes keep getting worse, making it hard to drive.

He said, "This road has been in this condition for months, and nothing has been done to address it. The potholes are getting bigger, and motorists have to struggle to pass through the affected areas.

"This has made movement difficult for everybody using this road."

Another driver, Kunle, said repair efforts have not been enough. He noted that stones were just dumped on some potholes.

"This is what they did recently, and that has not brought relief to us. Only some parts were filled with granite stones while others were abandoned," he claimed.

On Tuesday, PUNCH Metro visited the area and saw that vehicles approaching the Jimoh Bus Stop from Dopemu and Akowonjo slowed down a lot as they tried to avoid the potholes.

Further down at the Moshalashi end of the road, drivers met more potholes. Some had to drive into the opposite lane to dodge the damaged areas and oncoming cars.

Michael, a resident, said the road's condition makes it dangerous for drivers.

"Sometimes, drivers have to slow down or move to another part of the road to avoid the potholes," he said.

Kunle Philips, another motorist, complained about the high cost of fixing his vehicle because of the road's bad condition.

He said, "I am a regular user of this road, and this started small even before the rain got to this point. But the government neglected it and allowed it to become this bad.

"I have spent so much fixing my vehicle due to my frequent use of the road."

Meanwhile, drivers on Ikosi Road in the Ikosi-Isheri LCDA also complained about the bad state of some parts. They said the potholes worsen traffic, especially when it rains.

One road user said, "When it rains, we find it difficult to navigate the road because the potholes would have been filled with water and no vehicle wants to risk driving into them.

"In the process, vehicles move at a slow pace, and this eventually causes traffic on the road."

A tricycle rider, Semiu Adaba, said some parts of the road are so bad that they create gridlock and raise vehicle maintenance costs.

"The situation has become worse. The road has collapsed in some places, and this is contributing to the gridlock we experience here. I have spent much money fixing and replacing the cup of the wheel of my tricycle over time," Adaba said.

Another driver, who wanted to stay anonymous, said the road has been in bad shape for a long time and needs urgent repair.

"It only got worse because of the rain. It needs immediate attention from the government, at least now that it has got to this level," he said.

Residents of Goddylove Road in Egbeda also complained about the poor state of the road. They said the section has been neglected for too long.

On Thursday, PUNCH Metro saw that the area linking Ogunlana was full of large potholes and craters, making it hard for motorists to pass.

A driver who spoke with our correspondent asked for urgent help.

"This road has been like this for a long time with no attention from the government. We need you to help us talk to them for intervention. We are paying tax," the driver said.

Another resident, Olabisi, noted that the road is a key route for people in the area.

He said, "Apart from the Egbeda-Akowonjo Road, this is also a major road linking residents of Akowonjo and Shasha to the Idimu-Ikotun Road.

"If this road is fixed, it will make movement easier for people living in these areas and also reduce the pressure on other roads."

The residents are calling on the Lagos State Government and local authorities to fix the bad roads.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, and the Executive Chairman of Alimosho Local Government Area, Akinpelu Johnson, could not be reached for comments. Their phone calls went unanswered and text messages sent had not been replied to as of the time of filing this report.