The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos-Badagry

  • Two die, one injured in Lagos-Badagry auto crash

    Two die, one injured in Lagos-Badagry auto crash

    Two persons died while one sustained injuries in an auto crash that occurred on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway yesterday.

    Mr William Manga, the Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the accident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Badagry.

    Manga said that the accident occurred at about 3.27 pm at Age-Mowo axis of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    “Our personnel were alerted about the accident at about 3.30 pm and we got to the scene at 3.36 pm, six minutes after they were alerted,” he said.

    Read Also: Five Air force officers,14 others died in auto crashes

    Manga said the accident involved a Toyota Matrix car with registration number KSF 235 JE and a Bajaj Tricycle with no plate number.

    “Two of the three occupants inside the tricycle died instantly while one sustained injuries,” he said.

    The FRSC commander attributed the accident to dangerous overtaking resulting in head on collision.

    He said the injured person was taken to the General Hospital in Badagry for medical attention while the corpses of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.

    The unit commander urged motorists plying the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to remain cautious of safety and obey traffic regulations on the one-lane expressway.

  • Lagos-Badagry ‘abandoned’ way

    Sir: I loathe electioneering and the subterfuge around it. When aspirants mount campaign podiums, promising heaven and earth, the masses are filled with hopes. Three-square meals, infrastructures, employment . . . they ramble on. But their hopes are shattered, every four years.

    Lagos-Badagry Expressway is in mess. The pot holes, carved deep into the road, have played deathtraps on countless occasions.  From a route that links nations, unifying peoples from diverse soils, much is expected. On the irony, however, the road in question has for long suffered negligence from our government.

    On Lagos-Badagry, traffic jam is not a strange phenomenon. Neither is spending hours on a spot, or much better, covering a few meters. I know of employees who have been fired from work, having received several queries on late-coming, thanks to the state of the road.

    Many say what worsened the highway was an expansion project the Lagos State government brought upon it. In 2010, from four lanes, Fashola’s administration expanded to 10 lanes. The project was awesome and ongoing, until the incumbent governor who inherited it ignored it. Ever since, it has been undergoing lethal deterioration.

    Motorists lament over how devastated their vehicles have become. They ask: why embark on a project you can’t finish? Wouldn’t it be much better leaving us with the four lanes of the road we were used to, rather than add salt to our injury?

    Perhaps—who knows— this might be part of the reasons why Governor Ambode could not earn himself a second-term ticket, losing to Sanwo-Olu. Could it be that the good people of Lagos are furious?

    A neighbour, who plies the road quite often, once narrated to me his experience on the highway. Thieves, he said, king the road’s palace during its heavy traffic jams.

    Hardly could one leave Okoko, Iba LGA, and arrive at Lagos Island in two hours, plying Lagos-Badagry, despite how close they are. To avoid this, commuters mount on bikes riding recklessly at great speeds. A lot of accidents have been caused by this.

    Commuters are not happy with the leadership of the state who have failed to take their miseries into cognizance, neglecting their ordeals— they who have served as their stepping stones into the Government House.

    On this, I disagree with Tony Gaskins, who said: “If you can’t do anything about it, let it go”.

    Letting Lagos-Badagry go unfixed is a disservice to the good people of Lagos.  This is not a jibe but a jiggle to fast track the responsiveness of the concerned authorities.

     

    • Abdulwasiu Mujeeb, Lagos.

  • Construction work compounds gridlock in Lagos-Badagry highway

    As reconstruction and expansion work progresses on the ever-busy Lagos-Badagry expressway, motorists on the axis are complaining about the perennial gridlock on the road.

    A visit to the construction area showed that various construction activities like excavations and construction of drainages were ongoing.

    The pedestrian bridge at the Lagos State University (LASU) has been pulled down, while part of the fence was also demolished, to make way for the road expansion.

    Some motorists, however, lamented the worsening gridlock on the road.

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

    Read Also: Lagos govt targets 20,000 houses by 2020

    “I have been on this spot (LASU) for more than two hours and I have lost so much valuable time because of the ongoing construction 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 get to work late.

    “The construction company and the Lagos state government should do something about this,” he said.

    Mrs Bukola Alagba, a businesswoman, advised the contractors to increase the pace of work to ensure that the project ends on time and is delivered on schedule.

    “My advice is that the contractors should take full advantage of this dry season to make as much progress as possible on this road, so that this gridlock will abate,” she said.

    An official of the China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC), the project contractors, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the company was taking steps to stem the plight of users of the road.

    He, however, urged motorists on the road to obey traffic rules and maintain decorum, to ensure free-flow of traffic.

    “The gridlock on that road is actually worrisome and it is also slowing down our job by delaying movement of men and materials to the sites.

    “I urge the road users to maintain decorum and stop the idea of driving against traffic.

    “Traffic control officials on the road have been doing well but they should do more to effectively manage the traffic in the interests of both the road users and  construction workers,” he said.

    NAN

  • ‘Pipelines delaying Lagos-Badagry road’

    ‘Pipelines delaying Lagos-Badagry road’

    The N220 billion Lagos-Badagry Expressway is being delayed by oil and gas pipelines on the path of the project, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, has said.

    Fashola spoke yesterday in Lagos at an interaction session with civil society organisations (CSOs).

    The Lagos-Badagry Expressway was awarded to China Civil Engineering and Construction Company (CCECC) three years ago.

    The 48-year-old Badagry Expressway, to be rebuilt in 10 lanes, will accommodate a light rail, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor, and other facilities.

    Fashola said the delay was caused by oil and gas pipelines, which the Federal Government built between Mile 2 and Volkswagen area.

    The minister noted that construction cannot continue in those areas until the Federal Government removes the pipelines.

    According to him, Lagos State is in charge of the construction, which stretches from Eric Moore to Mile 2 and Agboju in Iyana-Oba, while the Federal Government will construct the road from Agbara to Badagry.

    Fashola said: “The construction of the road cannot be done in parts. A section must be completed before the contractor moves to another one. The areas around Mile 2 to Agboju-Lagos State University (LASU) must be completed before the project continues from Agbara to Badagry, where the project is expected to end.

    “However, the problem lies at the Mile 2 and Agboju section. There are pipelines around that area. It is not possible to construct the road on the pipelines. The pipelines, which are causing the delay, must be removed first.”

    The minister also said some people were damaging highways and other assets across the country.

    He added that it will cost the Federal Government much to replace the damaged assets.

    Fashola said the government was handicapped about the issue because those damaging the highways were not reported to the government.

    The minister said until they are arrested and reported to the government, it would be difficult to prosecute them.

    He said government would enforce a law forbidding people from damaging federal highways.

    Fashola urged the CSOs to arrest anybody found to be damaging highways to serve as a deterrent to others.

    The minister said the government had set up a committee on right-of-way, adding that the committee will cover Federal Government roads.

    He added: “The maintenance of the roads is a lot of work, and it requires money. Unfortunately, no money is budgeted for such now. In 2018, we hope to do something about the issue, if the budget is approved.”

     

  • Ambode: I’ll complete Lagos-Badagry Expressway

    Ambode: I’ll complete Lagos-Badagry Expressway

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has promised to complete the 10-lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway if elected.

    Ambode, who spoke at the weekend at a rally at Badagry Senior Grammar School, Badagry, Lagos assured that the road would be completed by his administration, despite the face-off between the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government.

    He said although controversy rocked the execution of the project, with the Federal Government insisting that it ought to handle it, being an international route, “my administration will complete the expressway if voted into office.”

    The APC governorship candidate said the state government could not toy with a project of such magnitude, considering its economic value to the country.

    He pledged to facilitate the establishment of industries in Badagry, to create jobs for youths.

    Ambode promised to bring the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the residents.

    His words: “I know your problems. I have worked and lived among you at the local government level. I will create jobs for you by establishing industries in this community. I will bring good governance to this community. I will complete the Lagos-Badagry Expressway project.”

    Reiterating his commitment to the continuity of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola’s legacy, Ambode promised to lay a foundation for youths to realise their potential and become good citizens.

    He added: “I will give Badagry youths the opportunity to be the best. I didn’t know I can be where I am today. I was just given the opportunity. I will give you that chance.”

    At the campaign were Governor Fashola, his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, Mr. Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (aka Yayi), Mr. Sunny Ajose, members of Akinwunmi Ambode Kommittee of Friends (AA’KOF), APC candidates in the local government and others.

  • Fashola flays bid to take over Lagos-Badagry road

    Fashola flays bid to take over Lagos-Badagry road

    •’Fed Govt owes Lagos N51b’

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has criticised the Federal Government‘s planned takeover  of the Lagos- Badagry Expressway.

    Fashola spoke yesterday at the celebration of his 2,700 days in office at the Blue Roof, Lagos Television, Agidingbi.

    The governor said the Federal Government would have the state to contend with if it went ahead with the plan as revealed by the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, during his visit last month.

    He said Lagosians in the last 2700 days had enjoyed the dividends of democracy  and were un aware of the Federal Government’s plans to derail the state’s development process.

    “About the light rail project, I told you the red line was delayed because we have not received Federal Government approval to share its corridor. On the statement credited to the Minister Onolememen. Honestly I don’t know. I have not heard about it, I have not read it.

    “I think it will be wise to hear what they have to say on the matter and I think it will be an unfortunate journey to even contemplate that idea.

    “They will have us to contend with should that be the case but I don’t think that anybody who is sensible  will want to stand in the way of development what will the objective be?

    “You are not providing the money and the design; we are doing this so that our state can move forward. I don’t want to believe he made that statement. I think we will leave it there.”

    Fashola called on the Federal Government to return N51 billion that the Lagos State government  spent on federal roads.

    He noted that the state’s debt burden would be less and that the state would have less to borrow if that money was returned.

    Speaking on speculations that he may be picked as a running mate to General Muhamadu Buhari, he said he was preoccupied with his duties as governor.

    Fashola said he was at Buhari’s declaration because the former head of state sent him an invitation.

    The governor denied speculations that governorship aspirants in Lagos State were holding meetings to enable them come out with a consensus candidate.

    He added that the APC had a constitution, which prescribes primaries as prelude for emergence of candidates for elective offices.

    The governor gave pass marks to the APC aspirants, stressing that any of them could govern the state.

    He warned the electorate against voting for people who seek to use the state for an experiment.

    Fashola said his government recorded great achievements in various sectors in the last 2700 days in office, including the successful containment ofthe  Ebola Viral Disease, launching of Sonmori Senior Comprehensive High School, Ifako Ijaiye, handing over of Motor Vehicle Administration Agency.