Residents cry out for help as Lagos road falls apart after 30 years

Residents of Olaoluwa Community Development Association in the Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area of Lagos State are unhappy with their road's terrible state. They say the road has been in bad shape for over 30 years, causing problems for commuters, businesses, and schoolchildren.

When our reporter visited on Thursday, residents told him that the road becomes impossible to use during rain. This makes it hard for people to travel, and many have to walk from the nearest bus stop to their homes.

They also shared that commercial motorcycles and tricycles can no longer reach the area.

Moses Adeola, the community chairman, said residents have tried many times to get the authorities to fix the road. They have written letters, made videos showing its poor condition, and even made appeals on radio. But nothing has changed.

“For over 30 years, we have been making efforts and appealing to the authorities to come and assist us, but nothing has been done,” Adeola said.

He explained that the road is a key route connecting several communities. Its bad state has caused accidents, especially for those needing medical attention.

“Pregnant women being taken to the nearest general hospital across the road often fall off motorcycles because of its deplorable condition. People with medical emergencies being transported to the hospital also experience similar incidents, including women in labour,” he said.

Adeola mentioned that schoolchildren find it hard to get to school when it rains. He pointed out that rain a few days ago made the road impossible to use, leaving residents with no other way to travel.

He said the community has sent several letters to the authorities and shared videos of the road with the local government. They have also made appeals through radio stations.

“We are now helpless and need the government to come to our rescue,” he added.

Adeola also criticized local government officials for focusing on collecting shop permit fees instead of fixing the road. He noted that some shops have closed down because traders struggle to get customers.

“People open their shops, but customers hardly come because of the state of the road. Despite this situation, officials still come to lock up their businesses over shop permits,” he said.

Oluwokiti Ephraim, the former chairman of Prestige Community Development Association, which is now called Ultimate CDA, said residents have tried to fix the road for nearly three decades without success.

He explained that the road leads to a general hospital, making its poor condition very dangerous for pregnant women, children, and those with asthma during the rainy season.

“The state and local governments have visited the area, recorded videos of the road and left, but we have yet to see any intervention,” Ephraim said.

He noted that the road has greatly affected transportation, as commercial motorcycles and tricycles can no longer use it.

“People coming from the expressway have to stop at the junction and walk to their destinations. If you have goods to transport, you have to carry them on your head because you cannot get a motorcycle to help you,” he said.

Ephraim warned that the situation could get worse during emergencies at night. Vehicles might break down while trying to use the damaged road.

He called on the state and local governments to help, saying the community cannot fix the road without their support.

Doris Alaba, a resident who has lived in the community for almost 20 years, shared her experience with the road. She recalled falling into a water-filled pothole while heading to work.

Alaba said the road also messed up her travel plans when she was going to the United States on November 18 last year.

“No Uber driver could enter the community to pick me up. I had to call some young men to help carry my luggage to the bus stop before I could get a vehicle to take me to the airport,” she said.

She lamented that the road has hurt businesses, with many shops shutting down because customers cannot easily access the area.

“Many shops are now locked up because there is no market. When the road is in such a hazardous condition, people cannot come into the community to buy goods,” she said.

Alaba also expressed worry about the safety of schoolchildren. She mentioned that some have fallen into water-filled potholes during the rainy season, with incidents reported in late July and September.

She added that residents often pay people to carry their goods from the bus stop to their homes because commercial vehicles cannot reach the community.

When we tried to contact the Executive Chairman of the LCDA, Lasisi Akinsanya, on Thursday, his phone rang unanswered. A text message sent to him has not received a response as of the time of this report.