When the January 27 Road was constructed in 2015/2016, it was a beautiful stretch that connected Ejigbo, Ikotun and their environs to other areas of Lagos such as Ajao Estate, Muritala Mohammed International Airport Road via Ikeja, Lagos Island, and Lekki, among others. Years later, the road has become dilapidated. CHINAKA OKORO reports that residents and road users have continued to lament and plead with the Lagos State Government to fix the road because of its strategic importance
The road to Oke-Afa that traversed Isolo is not long, but arduous. Though currently reconstructed by the Lagos State Government, the Isolo-Oke-Afa Road is rough and characterised by countless potholes.
At the popular Daleko Market, close to the Daleko Bridge, passengers, especially those from the popular Ladipo Motor Spare Parts Market, can board a bus or tricycle (keke) to Jakande Estate Gate. After a long wait to board a bus or keke, and if one is lucky enough to do so, the bumpiness of the road makes the short distance long and tiring.
As one endures the endless galloping on the road up to Pako Roundabout, shortly after the Isolo General Hospital, approaching After Bridge Bus stop, one hisses a sigh of relief.
At After Bridge or Mass Burial Bus stop, where the Oke-Afa Memorial Arcade is located, one disembarks and makes one’s way to Canoe via January 27 (former Peter Agha) Road which is a walking distance from the Memorial Arcade where victims of the January 27, 2002 Ikeja bomb blasts were buried. Here, another nightmarish experience begins.
Going down January 27 Road in Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 11, a soft wind caresses its hard and rough length. Waste papers, trash and dust dance a light-footed tango with the wind as it drives them down the almost abandoned road. A first-time visitor to the area may wonder if sane mankind lives in such a forlorn area whose road could best be described as a death trap. Yet, the area boasts responsible and intelligent people.
But for what could be perceived as neglect on the parts of local and state governments, January 27 Road and its environs would have been a very exciting and bubbly community. Any wonder residents of this area are gnashing their teeth as a result of the road that is degenerate.
As one ambles further toward Canoe, one begins to understand why those who live and ply this road are angry. Their fury was perceptible. Men, women, youths and even infants bore hatred of their forlorn situation on their faces. They were ready to tell their disgusting story.
There used to be a road on which they walked and ply, but now, they are living in an abyss caused by the indescribable state of January 27 Road on which deadly deep holes are prominent features.
During and after downpours; whether heavy or mild, the road becomes impassable. For a long time, residents of the community watched helplessly.
Investigation revealed that the January 27 Road which was constructed in 2015/2016 during Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration has become a dreadful stretch of death traps.
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Worried about the development, a former member of the Lagos State House of Assembly who represented Oshodi/Isolo State Constituency 11, Hon. Jude Emeka Omobowale Idimogu had written a letter to Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the need to fix the road to ameliorate the suffering of the people.
The letter, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, was titled “Deplorable State of January 27 Road (Peter Agha Street and Alimi Bada Street (Bada Street) at Ilamoshe Estate, Oke-Afa, Ejigbo LCDA.”
The letter dated July 16, 2024, was copied to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State who doubles as the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural Development; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Dr. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa; the Chairman of Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Infrastructure; the member representing Oshodi/Isolo State Constituency 11 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ladi Oladipo Ajomale; General Manager of Public Works and Infrastructural Development Agency and the Executive Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The letter Idimogu signed reads: “On behalf of the good people of Ilamoshe Estate, Oke-Afa, Ejigbo LCDA, I beg you sir, to direct the General Manager of the Lagos State Public Works and Infrastructural Development Agency, to carry out palliative work on the above important road in Ejigbo LCDA.
“This particular road is so strategic and important to vehicular and pedestrian movements from Ikotun Egbe and its environs, especially those going to Ajao Estate, Muritala Mohammed International Airport Road via Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lekki and other areas.
“The dilapidated state of the road had impacted negatively on traffic management and control in the area. The man-hour loss by commuters applying this road is unbearable and unquantifiable. Vehicles spend no less than three to four hours daily while plying the road due to its bad state and economic activities are extremely hampered.
“Man hours lost by Lagosians who make use of this road is unbearable; let alone the wear and tear on vehicles that ply the road daily.
“In addition, the road hosts the Oke-Afa Memorial Arcade which is also a centre of tourists’ attraction, especially for those whose relatives lost their lives during the Ikeja Cantonment Bomb Blast, who were buried at the monument.
“Besides, one of the most recently established modern public nursery and primary schools, Akinsanya Ajaloleru Nursery and Primary School is located on this road.
“I plead with you sir, that you urgently intervene so that this all-important road would be given the required attention.”
During the official inauguration of Akinsanya Ajaloleru Nursery and Primary School, on June 11, 2024, Hon. Ajomale had regretted the deplorable state of the road and urged the authorities to urgently fix it because of its strategic importance.
The lawmaker said: “When this road was constructed in 2015.2016 by the then Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration, it was a beautiful stretch of road. The road is important because it connects Ejigbo, Ikotun and their environs to other important areas such as Ajao Estate, Muritala Mohammed International Airport Road via Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lekki and other areas. I urge the relevant authorities to urgently rehabilitate the road for the residents of the area to feel the impact of governance in Lagos State.”
Some residents who spoke with our correspondent said that they experience a lot of hardship on the road.
Ms Nneka Ezeugo, whose shop is on 21, January 27 Road opposite a failed portion of the road said: “For three months now, I have escaped being hit by vehicles that are dodging the terrible pothole in front of my shop. I always live in fear that some reckless and careless drivers may lose control and smash into my shop.
“When it rains, the road becomes impassable so much so that some vehicles would be stuck in front of my shop. Most times, some heavy vehicles do fall and block the frontage of my shop.
“The bad condition of the road gets worse daily despite some palliative measures carried out by some residents of the area. The situation has adversely affected my daily sales.
“I plead with the state and council authorities to ameliorate the suffering of the people in the area and motorists who use the road daily by fixing the road.”
A motorist who spoke to our correspondent in confidence said: “It seems as though this area and its environs are not part of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administrative constituency of Lagos; given the ordeal and untold hardship we are exposed to daily due to little or no government presence in this area.”
An aggrieved resident said: “Since the state government has seemingly abandoned us, what about the local government? Can’t the LCDA do something in terms of maintaining street roads?”
Almost all those who spoke with our correspondent bemoaned their state of hopelessness, deprivation and neglect in the area.
However, they pleaded with the local and state governments to fix the road to make life better for the people.