As a result of the bad roads which led to gruesome traffic congestion along the Lagos-Badagry expressway, residents and commuters of the route have mobilized to demonstrate their displeasure by barricading the roads on October 30th and 31st.
The mass action and mobilization of Nigerian citizens would hold on Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st October 2018 as youths, market women, students, civil servants, drivers and all other road users are to come out en-masse at Badagry roundabout, Aradagun junction, Muwo junction, Oko-Afo junction, Magbon junction
Other hotspots for demonstration include; Agbara junction, Acoed roundabout, Iyana-era, Iyana- ishashi, Okokomaiko, LASU junction, Iyana-iba, Volkswagen, Agric B/stop, ASPAMDA, Abule-Ado, Alakija, Agboju and Mile 2 Bus stop.
According to the civil society group calling for the action, no vehicle shall be allowed on the road during the 2-day period of MASS ACTION which would be observed from 7am- 6pm daily.
“Our Politicians have failed us and the only way to rescue our situation is through MASS ACTION. Journalists and other media men are enjoined to cover this noble cause for broadcast to the whole world to know the plight of the Nigerian people. Kindly forward to your contacts and friends for effectiveness” the report said.
The construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) has spent almost a decade on the road; yet it has refused to fix the gigantic gullies and potholes which had made the road almost impassable for commuters.
Meanwhile, the state of the road worsened following the recent directive by Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) that all empty containers should be kept at holding bays rather than the Lagos ports.
The directive saw the hardship meted on commuters and residents along the Lagos-Badagry expressway increase as the road became holding bay for trucks laden with empty containers.
Recently, over four tankers and several cars and buses got burnt in a fire outbreak at Barracks bus stop as a result of the bad state of the road and Army officers from the Barracks stormed the tents of CCECC officers in an aggressive attack which forced the CCECC officials to carry out palliatives.
Speaking to MMS Plus on this issue, the Terminal Coordinator, Bollore Terminals, Kirikiri revealed that he leaves his resident in Ijaniki 5am daily in order to be in his office at Kirikiri before 8am.
“This is the unfortunate situation we have found ourselves. It exposes people to more danger of accidents as the trucks keeping falling as a result of the bad roads. The alternative which is motorcycles have also become responsible for the lost of several lives and inflicting severe injuries on passengers” he said.
Speaking to our correspondent on this issue, the Managing Director of Searchlight Magazine, Mr. Innocent Orok said; “I was on that road yesterday is really terrible, what about the 2nd batch of $200m approved by the National Assembly to Ambode from the world bank in 2016 for that project?”
“We were told the world bank is sponsoring the project with $600m, Fashola collected the first $200m. Ambode even boosted early this year that the project will be commissioned next year and train will start moving from Okokomaiko to Lagos Island. The road handled by CCECC has since been abandoned” he added.
