This is Lagos!

Right now, Lagos State is a city submerged in water. This is the outcome of the continuous rain pour experienced yesterday, Sunday 10, July 2011.

When I woke up this morning, I moved at a faster pace, so we would leave the house before the rush hour. By the time we drove out of the compound, we spent at least 40 minutes trying to get to the main road! As soon as we hit the road, I noticed it was exceptionally FREE! Where are all the vehicles? My brother called me, just to warn me not to dare attempt passing through Mile 2 (Apapa/Oshodi-Express road). I thanked him and told him we now drive through an alternative longer route!

Thankfully, I was in the office by 9.00am! Miracle!

I heard Apapa-Oshodi Express Road was a "no go" route. People have been trapped there for hours! I saw some pictures of the flood on line and some were even sent via MMS to phones. Mehn! The whole thing is devastatingly annoying! WHAT?!

One story brought tears to my eyes. It was the story about the little boy that died as a result of the flood. Read more here.

Here are some more pictures I saw online at  http://community.vanguardngr.com

 

The State Government declared today as a work free with a view to reducing the anticipated traffic jam! Well I heard the news while I was almost at work... Well, I really have no choice but to come to work sha

This is Lagos! Eko o ni baje o o o!

Bad Roads = Traffic Jam!

Elections are round the corner. So many politicians are garnering all they can in order to make it. However, for those who have no interest to be "re-elected" are just sitting back doing NOTHING! There are so many bad roads within the area I live. I live in Isolo, and I can state categorically that there are more pot holes/craters on the route I pass, than smooth roads.

One of such bad spot is the road by the Five Star bus stop down where Emzor Plc. is located. This road has other Companies and it links to the popular Aswani market. That road is so bad that on an average day, after work, it takes at least 1 hour to drive through that stretch of road.

For starters, this road is very close to the Isolo LCDA Office! I have always asked (nobody in particular) "what is the Chairman of the Isolo LCDA doing?

        
                     

However, on my way to work this morning, I notice that these bad spots had been patched. The patch work is such that I'd describe as a shoddy work. With the volume of traffic on that road, that patched road will carve in again!

The next bad point I want to address is the Jakande Estate at the Ejigbo LDCA. The road leading into the Estate is very bad! So bad that the ripple effect is felt even along the Isolo/Mushin Road! I do not have pictures of that road, but I was told that something is being done. For how long? I wonder.

I am a tax payer. Every month I pay as I earn, a quantum of my salary is paid as tax! Why can't I enjoy something as basic as good road or even stable power supply?

Some time ago (not too long ago) I read a tweet purportedly posted by the Governor of Lagos State. It was to the effect that anyone who knows of any bad road should call these numbers: 07098107021 / 07023326147. The alternative was to go online and fill a form stating your name; residential address and telephone number.

So, my fellow Lagosians, if you know of any bad road call or go online to make a report.

Ekó ó ni baje o!

Apapa-Oshodi Express Way again!

Hmmmm!

When will the Federal Government do something about the bad roads in Lagos State? This thing is getting very embarrassing! Haba!

I spent four unproductive hours on the Apapa-Oshodi Express Way this morning. The reason? It rained and because of the bad state of the roads, there was so much flood on the road. I once called it river trinity, but I think I should rename it to "Apapa-Oshodi Ocean". The flooded road made it very difficult to drive smoothly.

In the process of driving carefully, the person driving this vehicle, found himself/herself in this condition

Pedestrians had to wade through the flood as well

After driving wading through the first part of the flood, this is what I saw.

The trailer in the above picture rammed into a pedestrian bridge and then a section of the bridge collapsed. As a result, the traffic was terrible.

These are the pictures from the second half.

I am looking forward to the day it will rain and the roads in Lagos will be flood free.

Related Links

Craters on the Road

River Trinity

Eko o ni Baje

. . . craters on our roads!

There has been a little break from the rains. At least there had been no rain for some days now. I thought with this little dryness, there would be a free flow of vehicular movement on the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway. For the period it rained, I was always resuming late. It is not news that the roads are bad, but whenever there is any little rainfall, there will be traffic jam. The sort of traffic commuters are faced with is really alarming! What is going on?

There are so many pot holes on our roads. These pot holes are better described as craters because they have graduated to another level! Just imagine a hole wide and deep enough to contain three large tyres, like that of a trailer! Yes. That is how wide some of these craters are. The craters along the Apapa/Oshodi express way are awesome! Every day these craters expand and if a driver is not careful, the car could get stuck in one! Especially when covered with rain water.

As if that is not enough, the trailers and other large trucks have taken over the road leaving little or no space for smaller cars to drive through.

The irony of all these is that the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway is a very MAJOR road in Lagos. It is a major road which leads to one of the major ports in the Country - Apapa Harbour. Everyday hundreds of trucks, trailers and containers ply that route in order to get to the Port. The amount of revenue generated from that port can not be over emphasised. The question now is -"WHY IS THAT ROAD NEGLECTED! WHY?!

Sometime last week, the minister of works was in Lagos to examine the deplorable state of the road. News had it that he was trapped for just two hours and his aides and officials "advised" him not to go any further! Why? How then would he know the state of the road? In my opinion, the minister would not appreciate what commuters who ply this route go through. On a typical day, when the traffic jam is at its peak, people remain on a spot for as long as one hour. It does not matter if you leave your house at 5am, once the road has traffic, you cannot escape it! It is that bad. I am speaking from experience.

Apapa/Oshodi Express way in pictures!

- Flood on the road!

Well no matter what I still believe . . . "Eko o ni baje"

God help us!