Government blames substandard roads for increase in traffic

Traffic has been a major issue in Lagos state especially on the Apapa-Oshodi and Lagos-Abeokuta expressway.

About two weeks ago, there was a NINE-hour gridlock on the Apapa-Oshodi expressway.

READ: Lagosians face worst traffic ever along Apapa-Oshodi road!

While the Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) blames Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the increase in traffic, the state government is blaming the roads.

Speaking on behalf of the government, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Ajibade Bade–Adebowale, said the roads are not well designed, hence the heavy traffic.

“We have two roads that are of major challenges to us. They are Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and Lagos-Abeokuta Express way. During the era of President , the reconstruction was done by but the road later failed. The state government, knowing this, has continuously embarked on palliative works on the road. We have discovered that the road had failed even from inception. This was also the reason for the persistent gridlock experienced by motorists on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. This road is substandard compared to the pressure it is subjected to. The volume of vehicles plying the road daily is massive.”

Mr. Ayo Shodeinde, the General Manager of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, blamed drivers who cut corners for traffic on other roads.

“This act causes traffic gridlock in the state. And that was why we have asked the Nigerian Police to arrest anyone found cutting road at night.’’

Moving forward, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Fola Adeyemi, promised to decongest the streets of Lagos.

READ: State government set to handle traffic congestion

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