Lagos drivers frustrated by damaged access road

Motorists using the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway are unhappy about a collapsed access ramp that connects to the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway bridge.

During a visit to the spot on Saturday, drivers told PUNCH Metro that this situation makes them slow down while passing through. It also causes heavy traffic jams.

The damaged part of the ramp has not been fixed for a while now. The problem has gotten worse after recent rains, which have flooded the area.

A motorist named Suleiman said it is hard for drivers to see how bad the damage is. He said, “The problem is that when it rains, the hole becomes covered with water, and drivers cannot see how deep it is. You have to slow down completely the moment you get to the spot. During rush hours, traffic builds up because everybody wants to avoid the bad portion.

“This place had been like this before it started raining, and nothing was done about it. So, the rainfall has only worsened it,” Suleiman said.

While visiting the area, our correspondent saw vehicles moving slowly as drivers carefully went around the damaged section to avoid harming their cars.

Another driver, Gilbert Adebayo, called the situation dangerous. He added that the damaged road creates a security threat. He said, “The road is becoming a trap for motorists. At night, it is even worse because visibility is poor and one can easily get robbed. That could even be happening already; maybe I have not been a victim, and I don’t pray to become one.”

Joseph Okonkwo, a ride-hailing driver, is worried that the damage could get worse if not fixed by the authorities. He said, “We spend more time in traffic because vehicles are forced into a single path at that point. If nothing is done quickly, the damaged portion may expand and create a bigger problem. The continuous flow of water around the affected section could worsen the erosion.”

The drivers are calling on the Ministry of Works and other relevant agencies to make immediate repairs before things get worse.

On Monday, the spokesperson for the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Adesina Odunuga, could not be reached for comments. Calls to his phone went unanswered, and a text message sent to him had not yet been replied to by the time this report was filed.