Motorists, Residents Seek Urgent Repair Of Failing Oshodi-Isolo Roads

Motorists and residents in Oshodi-Isolo Local Council of Lagos State have appealed to the government for the immediate rehabilitation of Oyetayo and Saka streets, citing worsening road conditions that have disrupted businesses, damaged vehicles and increased the risk of accidents.

The road users said deep potholes, persistent flooding and severe traffic congestion have turned the once-motorable roads into dangerous routes, forcing motorists to navigate around large craters or drive into oncoming lanes to avoid damaging their vehicles.

A provision store owner on Saka Street, Mr. John Chukwudi, said the road began deteriorating after heavy rainfall in 2022 and has continued to worsen.

According to him, the poor condition of the roads has negatively affected businesses, as delivery vehicles now avoid the area or demand additional transport charges because of the risk of vehicle damage.

He added that some customers no longer visit the area, resulting in reduced patronage and lower daily income.

Chukwudi also recalled several accidents linked to the road, including a recent incident in which a Toyota Corolla sustained tyre and suspension damage after hitting a pothole. He further noted that a motorcyclist’s passenger once fell into the flooded section of the road, although no life was lost.

He appealed to the Chairman of Oshodi-Isolo Local Council, Otunba Kehinde Almaroof Oloyede, to prioritise the repair of the affected roads before they claim lives.

A commercial tricycle operator, Mr. Stanley Oluocha, described the roads as a daily challenge for transport operators, saying the deteriorating surface has increased maintenance costs and reduced the number of trips drivers can make each day.

He explained that many motorists now veer into the opposite lane to avoid the worst sections of the road, creating a high risk of head-on collisions.

According to him, several tricycle operators have spent significant sums repairing tyres, shock absorbers and suspension systems damaged by the potholes, while heavy traffic caused by the bad roads has reduced their daily earnings.

Oluocha also recounted a recent collision involving two vehicles that occurred as one driver attempted to avoid a pothole.

While acknowledging ongoing road rehabilitation projects in other parts of the council, he appealed to the local government to extend similar interventions to Oyetayo and Saka streets.

Responding to the concerns, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, said the agency is aware of the deteriorating condition of roads across the state.

He explained that persistent rainfall has slowed major road maintenance works but noted that the corporation continues to carry out repairs whenever weather conditions permit, alongside palliative interventions aimed at easing the hardship faced by motorists.

Ayetutu assured residents that the agency remains committed to undertaking durable repairs once favourable weather conditions return and appealed for continued patience as efforts to restore the roads continue.