Sanwo-Olu Orders Urgent Fix of Community Roads to Improve Access and Ease Traffic
Lagos State Government has commenced aggressive reconstruction and rehabilitation of inner community roads across the state to restore smooth movement and improve access to homes, markets and business districts.
The action is in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive that all deteriorated roads affecting residential and commercial activities be fixed without delay.
To enforce compliance, the Lagos State Public Works Corporation has intensified project monitoring across the five divisions of the state. The agency is inspecting work sites to check quality of materials, level of work done and speed of delivery.
Areas already covered during the latest inspection include several streets in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government where rehabilitation is ongoing on Godwin Omonuwa Road, Taiwo Street, Salamotu Street, Peter Agah Street and Ibeh Street.
The team also inspected Ogunnusi Road in Ojodu, Awolowo Way in Ikeja, Lanre Awolokun Road and Idowu Olaitan Street in Shomolu as well as Idimu-Ikotun Road in Alimosho.
According to the corporation, the focus is on roads that directly link communities to major highways, schools, hospitals, markets and business clusters. Many of these roads had become difficult to use, forcing motorists to spend more time in traffic and increasing vehicle repair costs.
The ongoing works are designed to reduce travel time, cut down on traffic congestion at inner streets, improve safety for motorists and pedestrians and reduce cost of moving goods and services.
The agency explained that while emergency palliative works were sustained during the rainy season, full reconstruction could not be done due to heavy rains. Now that the weather has improved, contractors have returned to site for permanent repairs including drainage works and asphalt laying.
To avoid disrupting daytime business activities, some of the repair works are being carried out at night with safety signs and traffic officers deployed to guide road users and protect construction workers.
The corporation said the success of the rehabilitation programme will not only be measured by how fast the roads are fixed but by how long they last. It stressed that quality construction, proper channelization of water and routine maintenance are critical to durability.
It therefore appealed to residents and traders to support government efforts by not dumping refuse in drains, not pouring wastewater on roads and avoiding activities that damage asphalt like burning tyres or spilling fuel on road surfaces.
For residents and property owners, the intervention is expected to make communities more liveable and accessible. Good community roads make it easier for tenants to access their homes, for businesses to receive customers and supplies and for service providers to move around. It also improves the overall value and functionality of neighbourhoods.
The Public Works Corporation assured that more roads will be captured in phases based on their condition, importance to traffic flow and availability of funds, until all critical community roads are addressed.
