Avoiding heartache on the Lekki-Epe Expressway

BusinessDay draws attention once again to the imperative of urgent action on the Lekki-Epe Express road. At the time it was constructed and commissioned in 1981, the expressway was top-notch. It was also visionary as it anticipated and probably enabled the southward movement of Lagos to the new axis. Over the years, it became inadequate to cope with the larger and increasing numbers of vehicles following the population bulge.

The massive downpour of July 1 is still the topic of animated but anguished discussions in the Ibeju Lekki axis of Lagos State. Residents in that axis also known as the New Lagos felt brutally the brunt of the rainfall due to blockage of the drainage channel at Abraham Adesanya roundabout. The traffic snarl stretched backwards from there to the toll gate at the beginning of the Lekki-Epe expressway. Motorists spent seven hours on the road on average. Many residents on that axis got home around 1am or 3am. Some slept in their vehicles to continue to work the next day.

The administration of Babatunde Raji Fashola expanded the road through a concession scheme. Lagos state government introduced tolls to recoup the expenditure on expanding the road. Unfortunately, expansion of the road stopped at Abraham Adesanya Estate junction rather than stretch to Epe.

Many on that axis hoped that the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would continue work on expanding the road. It did not happen.

The damage blocked drains caused at the Abraham Adesanya junction is symptomatic of the increasing incidents of failure on that road. Several areas call for attention. There are huge traffic snarls each time it rains. Remarkably, the causes of the snarl are things that some remedial work would easily fix.

Currently one of the busiest arterial roads in Lagos, it links to the new promise of Lagos in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Dangote refinery, an airport and many commercial entities. The presence of many estates on that axis and two universities has also led to a massive and growing population.

Both the Lagos state government and estate developers toot their horns about the area and invite investors and developers through a constant stream of infomercials. The road is now akin to the heartbeat of that part of Lagos. It promotes mobility. Lagos owes its vitality and vibrancy to a populace constantly on the move in pursuit of their endeavours. It is critical that people should move easily on major roads such as the second section of the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

There is an additional consideration. From Abraham Adesanya junction on to Epe, the road draws attention to the glaring absence of security consciousness in having only one access to and from an area with so much at stake in human and material resources. BusinessDay in its review of the THEMES agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu drew attention to the imperative of action on building the coastal road that Lagos has regularly mentioned as an ideal.

For now, immediate short-term fixes to the bad portions of the Lekki-Epe expressway should be urgent and important for the Lagos State Governor and whoever he charges with the ministries of Works and Transportation. Quick fixes will prevent clogging of this artery and heartache for Lagos. Too much is at stake on that axis.