Potholes on Ikeja roads, Public Works appeals for patience

The Lagos State Government has appealed on residents particularly motorists to exercise patience on hardships caused by potholes on roads in the state.

The State Public Works Corporation, PWC, said it had moved out in full gear to address the potholes in the state, saying that the rainy season was impeding progress of work.

PWC’s General Manager, Olufemi Daramola told newsmen during an interaction that, the dilapidation on Lagos roads ranged from potholes to craters, saying that government had put machinery in place to solve the problems, but noted that there were challenges in tackling the menace.

He said on coming on board in June, the agency discovered that the asphalt plants in Imota, Badagry and Ojodu were not operating at optimal level due to neglect. He said some of the problems have been fixed and that the plants now operate at 50 percent level.

Daramola said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was determined to solve the problem of road dilapidation as the level of decay met on ground was very unpleasant.

He stated that the agency had identified challenges in different Local Governments and that the findings include discovery of numerous potholes and total road failure that needed rehabilitation rather than patching.

Daramola said the weather had been a major problem impeding the repairs of the roads, adding that in the nearest future, the agency would prepare adequately for the rainy season.

The PWC boss also said that the agency was experiencing the challenge of drainage failure in some areas which impeded road rehabilitation, citing areas such as Ikorodu Road and Mile 12, where the drainages needed to be worked on before any meaningful road rehabilitation could be done.

He agreed that roads, such as Oba Akran needed total rehabilitation rather than patching, adding that any work done on the road now would be a waste as the rain would spoil it due to poor drainage network.

Daramola also mentioned Ahmadu Bello Way, Old Ojo Road and Mba Cardoso Road, as among roads that needed total rehabilitation, but added that government wanted the Office of Drainage Services to desilt the drains before any meaningful rehabilitation could be carried out.