Motorists plying Ogba, Ikeja in the Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of Lagos State are lamenting over the bad state of the road.
Our correspondent who visited the area on Wednesday observed that the worst hit is a section of the popular Ijaiye Road.
PUNCH Metro noticed that the Ogba main bus stop, Area G Police Command, Excellence Hotel, and WAEC Zonal Office ends of the road were riddled with deep potholes that make driving a harrowing experience for motorists.
It was learnt that it is more difficult driving on the road once it rains as drivers are at the risk of not knowing how deep the potholes filled with rainwater are.
It was also noticed that some palliative works were done on the road with stones used to fill up some of the potholes.
Some motorists who shared their pains while trying to find their way through the bad portion of the road urged the government to consider their plight and fix the road urgently.
A driver, Adetunji Moshood, said motorists were deceived into believing that the road was ready for fixing when the stones were used to fill the potholes.
Moshood said, “The major help motorists and residents need in this community is for the government to help us fix the road. They just packed big stones on the road to deceive motorists as if they wanted to fix the road.
“The road has damaged many vehicles. Most drivers use this road, especially those who are going to Omole, Ijaiye and Ojodu Berger. Many motorists have complained about the road but nothing significant has been done.”
Another driver, Adekunle, said, “The road is usually worse during heavy rain. I can recount several accidents that have happened on the road. The annoying thing is that I heard residents in the community have written several notes to the government but nothing has changed.”
A resident identified as Tumininu recalled how the deplorable state of the road nearly caused an accident and left her with a permanent scar on her left leg.
She said, “Residents have complained about the situation but to no avail. I do not drive on this road frequently but when I use commercial buses, I know what I go through. The potholes on the road are too many and the road gets worse every day.
“I remember a particular time the bus I boarded on a Sunday almost had an accident because of the bad road. I sustained an injury on my left leg because I hit my leg against the sharp edge of the bus. The government should please help us fix the road.”
All efforts to get the reaction of the Director of Media and Publicity of the Lagos State Ministry of Works, Shina Odunuga, proved abortive.
Several calls made to his mobile line were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
