Residents and business owners on Tuesday lamented the deplorable state of the roads in Sango-Ota along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway in Ogun State.
In separate interviews with our correspondent on Tuesday, they also recounted their daily bitter experiences while plying the route, adding that the road had deteriorated over the years.
During a visit to the area on Tuesday, PUNCH Metro observed that roads leading to the Sango Ota bridge from inward Lagos State were riddled with water-logged potholes. This was a similar sight at the other exit of the bridge towards the Ifo area.
On both sides of the bridge, the roads were seen to have completely collapsed, making the route almost impassable for motorists.
It was also gathered that the rainy season had further compounded the woes of the residents as the damaged portions of the roads leading to the Ijoko road were flooded.
The vehicles plying the route were seen meandering through the flooded portions of the road.
Initial efforts made by PUNCH Metro to speak with business owners were unsuccessful, as they muttered words indicating their countless interactions with the media with no result to show.
Those who offered to speak vented their anger while lamenting how the situation of the roads in the community had brought untold hardship upon them.
A clothing store owner, Adefemi Falode, described the effect of the roads on his business as depressing.
He said, “We have just been managing, we have been neglected in this area. We can’t be living like no government exists in this state. The roads keep getting worse every day. It got damaged to this level because it did not get any attention from the government. The effect is depressing and the rain has made things worse. The roads get so bad that those who go through this area don’t bother to look at what we are selling. We are frustrated.“
A resident and businessman, Pastor Mathew Adeleye, told PUNCH Metro that he had lost customers who ought to patronise the products he produces in his factory, located in the community.
He said, “ I am an industrialist and most of our customers, who come from neighbouring states, especially Lagos, always refuse to come. By implication, we are losing business. At the mention of Sango Ota, they will tell you that the place is too stressful for them. This is how other businesses are being affected. So, most of us suffer unsustainable costs of production. I have personally carried out palliative works on some of the bad portions to reduce the suffering.”
Speaking on how it had affected him as a transport worker, a tricyclist, Idris Sanni, said the bad road frequently damaged his tricycle.
He said, “I have been a regular customer at the mechanic workshop due to the bad roads. This is a similar complaint by my colleagues. We are losing most of our profits to the repair of our tricycles.”
We also observed how the damaged roads resulted in a gridlock along the area and slowed vehicular movement in some other parts.
A pedestrian who identified himself simply as Ayodeyi, said this had been a regular sight in the area.
He said, “When a road is bad, traffic will become a regular occurrence. Most of our relatives no longer consider visiting us. The government is well aware of our situation, but they are not bothered. They only come here to do facelifting and in a matter of weeks, the roads return to their former state.”