Residents and motorists have lamented the deteriorating condition of Alfa Nla Road in the Agege area of Lagos State and called for its urgent rehabilitation.
NewsWatch Metro learnt that the condition of the road has caused persistent traffic congestion and hardship for road users.
The appeal followed concerns raised over the state of the road, particularly a badly damaged section that becomes flooded whenever it rains.
When NewsWatch Metro visited the area on Tuesday, the affected portion of the road was observed to be filled with large potholes and submerged in stagnant rainwater.
This also made movement difficult for motorists plying the route, which links the Pen Cinema and Oke-Koto areas of the community.
Residents told our correspondent that the road had remained in a poor condition for about three years without any intervention from the relevant authorities.
They noted that the situation had worsened during the rainy season as blocked drainage channels prevented rainwater from flowing freely.
A resident, who identified himself simply as Akeem, said motorists and residents had repeatedly appealed for the rehabilitation of the road without success.
According to him, the damaged section has become a major source of traffic congestion in the area, particularly during evening rush hours.
“The road has been like this for about three years. Once it starts raining, the water remains here because the drainage is completely blocked. Every day, motorists struggle to pass through this place,” he said.
Another resident, Bose Adeyemi, said the condition of the road often forced motorists to abandon the damaged lane and drive on the opposite side.
She said, “The traffic is usually terrible from around 6 p.m. Vehicles, especially commercial buses, are forced to use the other lane while facing oncoming vehicles. The other lane is now gradually getting damaged due to the pressure from the traffic.”
While Adeyemi disclosed this, our correspondent observed some buses already driving against traffic to avoid the damaged section of the road.
A commercial bus driver, Sulaimon Yusuf, said the poor condition of the road had increased vehicle maintenance costs.
He added that drivers were often compelled to slow down to avoid damaging their vehicles.
“You have to be very careful when driving through this road, especially when it rains. Some of the potholes are hidden under the water and can damage your vehicle if you are not familiar with the lane,” he said.
Residents blamed the worsening condition of the road on blocked drainage channels along the affected stretch.
According to them, the inability of rainwater to flow through the drains has accelerated the deterioration of the road and increased the risk of flooding.
“If you look at the side of the road, you will hardly believe there used to be a drainage there. It has been completely covered and now looks like an ordinary floor. This happened over time as the road continued to deteriorate,” another resident who did not want his name in print disclosed.
They urged the Agege Local Government and the Lagos State Government to intervene urgently before the road becomes completely impassable.
The spokesperson for the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Adesina Odunuga, could not be reached for comment on Tuesday as calls made to his telephone lines were not answered. A text message sent to him had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.
