The over 55-year-old and about 60-kilometre Lagos-Badagry Expressway is one amongst the several Federal Government roads in the country. With the euphoria of its award for reconstruction and expansion by the Lagos State Government to a 10-lane dual carriageway with light rail public transport on the median and a Bus Rapid Transit
System that will transform the road to a super highway, expectations were high, everyone kept watch, immeasurable joy and happiness were in the minds of the commuters and residents along the route. But with the growing rate of
despondency by residents and commuters going by what can be described as a snail’s pace at which the construction work is going, one will assume, and perhaps, certainly conclude that the road will never be completed.
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The major construction companies (Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and China Civil Engineering Construction Company) having started the first phase in 2010 from Orile to Mile 2, several demolitions took place, churches and banks relocated, shops were brought down, market places were affected and even residential buildings were not spared. But after two years of the uncompleted construction of the first stage, yet the second phase of the construction started in 2012 from Mile 2 to Abule-Ado with demolitions as in the first stage.
Amazingly, the third phase of the construction started with demolitions in April 2015 from Abule-Ado to Afromedia junction. Suffice it to state here that both the first and second stages of the construction have not been completed yet the continued demolitions. Sadly, everything is still like a mirage, little wonder what keeps ringing in the minds of the affected and yet to be affected buildings is: When will it be if it will be ever completed with the slow pace at which the project is going?
Many will begin to assure themselves that the work will never be completed as the work has just been on one section of the road even after five years of construction without a definite completion of any part, though the beautiful
tents built by the construction companies in different locations along the road, the presence of caterpillars, cranes and trucks will give little assurance on the possibility of completing the road.
It is pitiable that residents, commuters, and commercial vehicle drivers on this axis spend manhours in the constant traffic jams that characterise this chaotic route as a result of potholes on it.
Quality time that would have been used for more productivity in the workplaces and intimacy at homes are now being wasted consequent to bad road, perhaps and most certainly, the worst international road in the world.
In fact, as early as 6:30am, several supposed commuters are already trekking especially from Iyana Iba to Ojo military barracks; they trek several kilometres also when returning from work. This they have resorted to not because of their inability to pay the outrageous transport fares but certainly because it is now the fastest means to get to their work stations in the morning and their homes in the evening all as a result of the potholes on this hectic route.
Especially on a rainy day, suspense is high, anger accumulates, stress is continuous and transport fares are exorbitant from commercial vehicle drivers to the detriment of the public.
Following the installation of street-lights in a few kilometres of the yet-to-be-completed second stage even when the uncompleted first stage has no street lights, it has dawned on most people that the road project is more like a political gimmick.
It is a pity that even the construction companies have been infected with this politics. A hitherto journey of 30 minutes now takes between two and four hours.
The major construction companies (Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and China Civil Engineering Construction Company) having started the first phase in 2010 from Orile to Mile 2, several demolitions took place, churches and banks relocated, shops were brought down, market places were affected and even residential buildings were not spared. But after two years of the uncompleted construction of the first stage, yet the second phase of the construction started in 2012 from Mile 2 to Abule-Ado with demolitions as in the first stage.
Amazingly, the third phase of the construction started with demolitions in April 2015 from Abule-Ado to Afromedia junction. Suffice it to state here that both the first and second stages of the construction have not been completed yet the continued demolitions. Sadly, everything is still like a mirage, little wonder what keeps ringing in the minds of the affected and yet to be affected buildings is: When will it be if it will be ever completed with the slow pace at which the project is going?
Many will begin to assure themselves that the work will never be completed as the work has just been on one section of the road even after five years of construction without a definite completion of any part, though the beautiful
tents built by the construction companies in different locations along the road, the presence of caterpillars, cranes and trucks will give little assurance on the possibility of completing the road.
It is pitiable that residents, commuters, and commercial vehicle drivers on this axis spend manhours in the constant traffic jams that characterise this chaotic route as a result of potholes on it.
Quality time that would have been used for more productivity in the workplaces and intimacy at homes are now being wasted consequent to bad road, perhaps and most certainly, the worst international road in the world.
In fact, as early as 6:30am, several supposed commuters are already trekking especially from Iyana Iba to Ojo military barracks; they trek several kilometres also when returning from work. This they have resorted to not because of their inability to pay the outrageous transport fares but certainly because it is now the fastest means to get to their work stations in the morning and their homes in the evening all as a result of the potholes on this hectic route.
Especially on a rainy day, suspense is high, anger accumulates, stress is continuous and transport fares are exorbitant from commercial vehicle drivers to the detriment of the public.
Following the installation of street-lights in a few kilometres of the yet-to-be-completed second stage even when the uncompleted first stage has no street lights, it has dawned on most people that the road project is more like a political gimmick.
It is a pity that even the construction companies have been infected with this politics. A hitherto journey of 30 minutes now takes between two and four hours.
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