Some motorists plying Epe-Ikorodu Expressway on Wednesday drew the attention of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to the deplorable condition of the road.
The motorists, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Epe, said that the expressway had become a danger spot and a death trap for them.
A motorist, Mr Saheed Yekini, said that the bad condition of the Epe-Ikorodu Expressway was affecting commercial and business activities between the two communities.
“The rate at which accidents happen on the road is becoming alarming.
“Heavy trucks plying that route worsen the road; the truck drivers drive recklessly despite the poor condition of the road.
“We do most of our fishing and agricultural business with Ikorodu people and its environs, but the deplorable condition of the road has crippled the business relationship because the place is now a no-go area,” he said.
Yekini urged Sanwo-Olu to do something urgently to put the expressway in motorable condition, therefore, encouraging smooth business relationships between the two communities.
“Motorists are finding it difficult to ply through the Epe route to deliver sea food items to the people of Ikorodu.
“Commuters are also complaining of the bad state of the express road which is also affecting our business,” he said.
Mr Demola Ogunjobi, another motorist, said that the bad expressway had damaged his vehicle.
“I spend big money on the repairs of my car anytime I pass through the road.
“I see the road as the shortest to the mainland that is why I ply it, but the condition of the expressway is so bad for vehicles to pass through it.
“Most of the motorists try to avoid passing through the route, but we have no choice because it is the shortest road connecting us to Ikorodu and its environs.
“The other alternative road is Epe-Ibeju Lekki Expressway, which is quite far from Ikorodu, ” Ogunjobi said.
A motorist, Mr Tunji Akanji, said Epe people had gone to the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, to report the terrible state of the road, but were yet to receive a response.
He said that the patchwork done on the road had worsened its situation making it barely passable for motorists.
“The situation of the road doesn’t need patches rather a permanent solution.
“We appeal to the government to come to the rescue of motorists by fixing the road. The money we spend on repairs of our cars daily is disturbing.
“We pray that this present administration will have the political will to repair the road for us,” Akanji said.
A commercial bus driver, Mr Gbolahan Ridwan, said many of his colleagues had fallen victim to hoodlums, who seize the opportunity of the bad road to rob them of money and valuables.
“Passengers are not spared, they are also robbed of their cash, telephones and other valuables,” he alleged.
Ridwan said the stones used by the local government authorities to fill up the bad portions of the road were damaging to vehicle tyres.
“It is a pity that the government allowed a major link road that runs from Epe to Ikorodu to get so bad.
“The people who are living in these areas are suffering.
“We charge each passenger N800 from Epe garage to Ikorodu when the road was good. But now, we charge N2,500 per passenger due to hike in fuel price.
“However, we spend more than what we earn on the repair of vehicles at the end of the day,” Ridwan said. (NAN)
