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Tag: Lagos–Badagry road

  • Residents protest bad Lagos -Badagry road

    Thousands of Badagry residents and tertiary institution students yesterday defied the heavy rain to protest the dilapidated  Lagos-Badagry Expressway. They described it as a road of anguish and pain.

    The Badagry correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the protesters blocked the  Badagry roundabout for hours earlier in the day.

    They stormed the roundabout with placards bearing inscriptions such as: “Fix Lagos-Badagry Expressway, our businesses are dying”; “Bad road, our pregnant women are having miscarriages”; “We are not at war, remove checkpoints on our road” and “We are losing man-hours.”

    Women Arise Initiative (WAI) President Joe Okei-Odumakin, who led the protest, said the road had become a route of anguish and pain.

    She said: “We are in the rain today not because we like it, but because we want to make some demands; we are moving from Badagry to Mile 2.

    “We are here because the Lagos/Badagry Expressway has continued to serve as a route of anguish and pain. The state of the road is deplorable.

    Read also: Lagos repairs 40-year-old Gowon Estate roads

    “We are seeing our economy ruined; we have seen women having still births. We have seen our road becoming a road to the hospital and mortuary. The time has come for us to rise up in unity.

    “The time has come for us to demand that the government should fix the Lagos/Badagry road. We are here to demand that the road that leads to the economic hub of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region be fixed.

    “We have endured this for a very long time. Tourism in Badagry is now at its lowest ebb. We know the concession started in 2009 and years after contract for the road was awarded, nothing serious has been done about it.”

    Gunuvi Rights Initiative of Nigeria (GRIN) Chairman Bokoh Oluwole said they were protesting because of the bad state of the road.

    “This is the first major international road in Nigeria, and the road is Trunk A. It is an international route, an international haulage route. This road serves industrial hubs, and the government generates a lot of income from the route.

    “This road construction began during the Babatunde Fashola administration and it has been on for over a decade. People are dying. At my bus stop, we lost two children recently because of the nature of the road. Some road users are sometimes compelled to ply one-way.

    “Those who go to Lagos to buy goods from Badagry now find it difficult to transport their wares without incurring losses’’.

    A commuter, Sesan Akingbade, said the Federal Government had forgotten   the road users, adding that its deplorable state was making life difficult for the public.

    Said he: “I work in Ikeja, so I go through Igbo-Elerin everyday. I spend over N1, 500 going to and returning from work and do over five hours in transit daily. It is gradually telling on my health.

    “It is very unfortunate that an international highway will be in such a state.

    “Any serious work on this road will take more than two years. The Federal Government should, therefore, begin work on the road in earnest, as a matter of urgency.”

    A commercial vehicle driver, Dele Ilori, said the road had become a death trap.

    The protesters marched to Ijanikin, where they were joined by students of the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Ijanikin.  Lagos State University (LASU) students joined at the Igbo-Elerin junction.

    The protest paralysed the expressway for over two hours.

     

  • Minister, ambassador decry state of Lagos-Badagry road

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyema, and Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic, Mr Kayode Oguntuase, have decried the deplorable state of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that they addressed reporters yesterday on the side-lines of the opening of the Joint Border Post by Nigeria and Benin Republic at Seme-Krake, Badagry, Lagos State.

    Onyema, who noted that the facility would have positive economic impact on both countries, said the envisaged free movement of persons, goods and services would be hindered by the condition of the road.

    He said: “It is totally unacceptable; the condition of the road from Lagos to this place. Something has to be done to address it.

    “You cannot be talking about the free movement of people and goods without the prerequisite infrastructure to facilitate that free movement.

    “So, we on the Nigeria side have to do something about it.”

    Oguntuase said the current state of the road, which was one of the busiest highways in the West African sub-region, was an embarrassment to Nigeria.

    He said: “We know that government will soon do the needful to fix it. Initially, we heard that it was World Bank, but I understand that it has been transferred to Nigeria because we wanted to expand the lanes.

    “Now that we have taken it over, we should begin action because this is the major linkage to Nigeria and to our commercial city, Lagos.”

    The envoy congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and his Beninese counterpart, Mr Patrice Talon, for the opening of the JBP.

    He noted that it would deepen bilateral relationship between both countries.

    Oguntuase said: “The border post is strategic and the busiest entry point into the country. It is going to ease the movement of persons, services and goods, according to the Economic Community of West African States liberalisation policy.

    “Apart from that, this border is also important for combating, for preventing, for neutralising anything that could be a security threat to Nigeria. That is why we are very happy that the border is being opened today.

    “It will lead to increase in revenue generation because before now, people were using the porous borders to escape from paying some tariffs and custom duties.”

     

  • LASG resumes work on Lagos-Badagry road

    Lagos State Government has assured commuters that effort to rehabilitate the bad portions of the Lagos-Badagry road has resumed following cessation of the rains.

    The Government promised to keep its maintenance workers and equipment on the road until commuters and other users are relieved of the stress caused by the bad portions.

    Read Also:Lagos-Badagry Expressway in terrible condition, says FRSC

    Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya stated this on Wednesday while addressing the situation on the road.

    He said that the government has maintained the road regularly in the last three and a half years through rehabilitation even though it is a federal government road,  explaining that discussions with investors willing to upgrade the road under the Private –Public Partnership deal is going on at both the state and federal levels.

    “So far, the Public Works Corporation has carried out palliative works at Iyana Era, Ijanikin, Oko-afo, Magbon, Ibereko, Araromi, Iyana Isashi and Agbara”, Akinsanya said, adding that the government has mobilized other contractors to ensure full coverage of the assignment.

    Emphasising the importance of the route to trade in the West African region, the Akinsanya said the plan to expand the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to a 10-lane highway, which began with the construction of the section from Eric Moore to Okokomaiko, topped discussions between Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Chinese investors on President Buhari’s recent trip to China.

    He said in July, this year, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode responded to the complaints of residents over challenge posed to traffic by bumper to bumper movement by directing that the completed segment of the road with the BRT Corridor from Eric Moore to Trade Fair be opened up to  ease traffic.

    To further alleviate the suffering of the motoring public in the Badagry division, the Commissioner said the present administration has completed the construction of Aradagun-Iworo-Ajido road and Ajara- Agelaso- Poka/ Erekiti with bridge.

    He said the government was also building the Aradagun-Imeke-Ajido-Epeme road, Samuel –Ekundayo/Toga and will soon embark on the construction of Abule Ado road.

    Akinsanya assured peace loving citizens that there would be adequate security on the road to ensure smooth traffic and protect residents from danger.

  • Govt opens completed portion of Lagos-Badagry road

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday directed that the completed portions of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway from Eric Moore to Okokomaiko be opened to traffic as soon as possible.

    He asked the Public Works Corporation (PWC) to intensify palliative works on the road from Okokomaiko to Badagry.

    Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, in a statement, said the governor was touched by motorists’ discomfort on the road.

    The governor also directed that palliative works be intensified along the Ajah-Badore corridor and other heavy traffic routes.

    Akinsanya said security and traffic agencies had been directed to dislodge road side traders and hawkers. Any law enforcement officer caught extorting money from motorists, he said, would also be arrested.

    He said the government was committed to even development of the state.

  • Govt opens completed portion of Lagos-Badagry road

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday directed that the completed portions of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway from Eric Moore to Okokomaiko be opened to traffic as soon as possible.

    He asked the Public Works Corporation (PWC) to intensify palliative works on the road from Okokomaiko to Badagry.

    Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, in a statement, said the governor was touched by motorists’ discomfort on the road.

    The governor also directed that palliative works be intensified along the Ajah-Badore corridor and other heavy traffic routes.

    Akinsanya said security and traffic agencies had been directed to dislodge road side traders and hawkers. Any law enforcement officer caught extorting money from motorists, he said, would also be arrested.

    He said the government was committed to even development of the state.

  • Road users lament as work slows on Lagos-Badagry road

    Motorists on the ever-busy Lagos-Badagry expressway are complaining about perennial traffic gridlock on the road as reconstruction and expansion work appears to have slowed down.

    Our reporter, who visited the site reports that various construction activities such as excavations and construction of drainage had stopped midway.

    NAN reports that activities of work on the project site has reduced considerably, leading to traffic gridlock as many excavated parts of the road have been abandoned.

    This has increased hardship faced by motorists and commuters on the road.

    Our reporter however, observed that the first and second sections of the road, spanning from Orille to Festac Third Gate at Alakija, have been completed and opened for use.

    Yusuf Sani, a road user, complained about the loss of man hour on the road.

    “I have been on this spot for more than two hours and losing so much valuable time because of the work here.

    “It would be more effective if the construction company can device means to effectively control the traffic while they continue their work,” he said.

    Dele Abbas, another road user, also complained about the gridlock.

    “Expanding this road is a good idea but the suffering is becoming unbearable, even when we leave home early we still experience the go slow.

    “The construction company and the Lagos State Government should take urgent steps to stop this suffering,” he said.

    Mrs Taiwo Alabi, advised the contractor to increase the pace of the work to ensure that the project ends and delivered on schedule.

    “My advice is that the contractors should take full advantage of the absence of heavy rains to make considerable progress on this road so that this gridlock will abate,” she said.

    An official of China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), the project contractors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the work on the road had slowed down due to shortage of funds.

    “The work is no longer progressing because the Lagos State Government has refused to make payments for quite sometime now.

    “It is even surprising because money is not supposed to pose any problem for this work. A loan was secured and should be readily available, but I do not understand what the state government is doing.

    “Our presence on the road now is just for some skeletal jobs because we cannot just pull out completely, but more than 80 per cent of the workforce has been disengaged due to the situation.

    “This will most likely extend the job beyond the 2019 completion date,” he said.

    However, Mr Ade Akinsanya, the Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, said that the project was on course.

    He said that the plan was to open up the completed portions of the road for use by motorists before moving to continue work on the outstanding portions.

    “We observed that parts of the completed portion of that road was being mishandled by some residents who have started turning them into markets and some other uses

    ” We want to open those portions up for the use of motorists to protect them from such encroachments before moving to other outstanding portions of the road, and that would happen very soon,” he said.

    Akinsanya said that the issue of indebtedness to CCECC did not arise because the process of valuation, which preceds payment, was on going.

  • Road users lament gridlocks on Lagos-Badagry road

    Road users lament gridlocks on Lagos-Badagry road

    Road users have lamented the slow pace of expansion and reconstruction work on the Lagos-Badagry expressway, saying it has increased the hardship daily experienced on the road.

    The road users expressed their concerns in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.

    Mr Seyi Olaolu, a road user, complained about the prolonged construction work and the hardship on the road.

    He urged the contractors to increase the work pace to ensure quick completion of the project to bring succour to the road users.

    ““The suffering on this road has lingered for too long, and I can only urge the contractors and the Lagos State Government to expedite action to ensure that the project is completed without further delay,’’ he said.

    Mr Dele Isaac, another road user, also complained about the slow pace of work on the road.

    “”I was thinking that by now enough progress would have been made on this road, but we just see the contractors working in different portions without noticeable progress.

    ““The stress on this road is getting unbearable,” he said.

    Others, however, expressed satisfaction at the pace and quality of work, and the prospect of stress free drive on the road, when completed.

    Mrs Patience Akide, a road user, commended the state government for the work done so far on the road.

    ““Though the construction work is causing some discomfort but when it is concluded, the road users will be comforted.

    “”We should learn to be patient at all times and to support government when they do this kind of project,’’ she said.

    Mr Fidel Okha also expressed satisfaction at the quality and pace of the work.

    ““The progress of work so far is encouraging and most of us are eagerly waiting for its completion.

    He urged the state government to display more commitment to complete the project on time.

    Mr Six Laudine, an engineer with the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) handling the project, assured that the road would be completed in 2019 as scheduled.

    Laudine, however, complained about the unruly behaviour of commercial drivers whose attitudes on the road worsened the traffic situation.

    According to him, the behaviour of the commercial drivers has continued to slow down the process of getting materials to the project sites.

    “”The work is on course and we are making steady progress, but the traffic gridlocks can be reduced if road users maintain some level of discipline.

    ““The yellow buses are particularly culpable here; they stop indiscriminately on the roads, and even slow down our movement of materials to sites.

    ““We implore the authorities to adopt more effective traffic control systems in the interest of the road users as well as the construction workers,” he said.

    NAN reports that work was almost completed on the first and second segments of the road, spanning from Orile-Iganmu to the Festac Town third gate at Alakija, which has been partially opened for use by motorists.

    Excavation, construction of drainages and other construction works are also ongoing on different sections of the third segment from the Trade Fair to Okokomaiko.

  • Lagos-Badagry road: Chinese firm promises prompt delivery

    CHINA Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), the contractor handling expansion of the Lagos/Badagry Expressway project, has assured Lagos residents the project will be delivered on schedule.

    An official of the company, Mr Izuchukwu Obioma, spoke yesterday in Lagos with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    NAN reports that the contract for the rehabilitation of expressway was awarded in 2009 by the state government.

    The plan for the project, which is meant to be completed in 2019, is to expand the expressway from four to 10 lanes, with a metro rail line in the median.

    This is expected to curb traffic congestion on the international highway, which serves as a gateway to Lagos from neighbouring West African countries.

    Obioma was reacting to complaints from residents that the project was unnecessarily delayed.

    The company chief noted that although there is a little delay, it was caused by rains.

    He said: “It is true the rains posed a challenge but we have had to devise means to save valuable time and resources.

    “We had to suspend aspects of the job, such as areas where asphalt and excavation are required and portions where piling is required.”

    Obioma assured residents the pace would be accelerated after the rains to cover up for lost periods.

    The CCECC official said the government would make a pact with police authorities about the two police posts occupying the right-of-way.

    He said: “There is one police station opposite the Ojo Military Cantonment and there is another in Okokomaiko, both occupying the right-of-way.

    “The state government officials have been meeting with police authorities on what to do about these stations, so they will not create further delay.”

    Obioma added that the authorities of Lagos State University (LASU) agreed to remove parts of the school’s fence, which also occupy the right-of-way.

    “In the LASU axis, we have started replacing parts of the fence that would be pulled down.

    “Authorities of LASU were cooperative because they understand the importance of the project and we appreciate them,’’ the CCECC official said.

    NAN reports that different portions were receiving attention; Orile Iganmu to Agboju, FESTAC Town second gate have been rehabilitated, while Alakija to Okokomaiko is ongoing.

    Some structures close to the LASU fence have also been pulled down, to pave way for their relocation.

    Excavation, piling and construction of drainage are also ongoing on portions of the road from LASU to Okokomaiko.

  • We’re suffering on Lagos–Badagry road, say motorists

    We’re suffering on Lagos–Badagry road, say motorists

    Some Lagos residents have called on the Federal Government to quicken the repair of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to reduce motorists’ burden.
    In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday, they said the road’s condition had become “terrible and problematic”, with motorists spending hours in traffic.
    A motorist, Mr Lukmon Adisa, said: “This road is really bad and the rain is not helping matters despite the repair going on.
    “ I urge the construction company handling the road to expedite action, so that we, the commuters, can have easy passage on the road,’’ he said.
    Mrs Toyin Abraham, a civil servant, called on those in charge of the job to urgently fix the road.
    “We thank God that the rains have ceased, those involved in fixing the road should move fast so that much ground could be covered before the next rainy season.
    “You can see for yourself the deplorable state of the road.
    “I had thought that by now, construction work, which commenced during the time of former Governor Babatunde Fashola, would have been concluded by now.
    “We are really suffering on this road and I urge those involved to quicken rehabilitation work and lessen our traffic burden,’’ she said.
    Another road user, Mr Peter Ogene, hailed the government for the work.
    “If construction had continued at the pace it commenced in 2011, it would have been concluded by now.
    “Though it is painful now, but I believe when it is concluded, Lagosians will heave a sigh of relief,’’ he said.
    However, an official of China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), who asked not to be named, said a temporary route was being created to address the problem.
    “What we are doing is to create a lane to divert traffic between Trade Fair Complex and Volkswagen bus stops.
    “This will give succour to road users while we continue comprehensive reconstruction of the road,’’ he said.
    He said the rehabilitation work, which would terminate at Afromedia, after Okokomaiko, would be concluded in two years.
    “The job we are doing now will terminate at Afromedia and we are scheduled to complete it within two years.
    “But it can be subjected to review and expansion to Badagry, if government so decides,” he said.
    He said past delay was caused by paucity of funds and some other logistical challenges.
    “Actually the major reason for the delay in the past was funds and other logistical challenges.
    “For instance, there are Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines around Festac Third Gate in Alakija and we have to pause until the pipes are relocated.
    “Government is, however, working on all these challenges and hopefully, the job will be delivered on schedule,’’ he said.
    NAN correspondent, who visited the road, saw huge craters over a long stretch, from Trade Fair Complex to Volkswagen bus stops.
    CCECC officials were, however, seen working on different portions of the road.