By Kunle Awosiyan
Lagos State deputy governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat has stayed so long in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to know the politics of fixing the roads and other infrastructure in the state.
He was the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure under Governor Babatunde Fashola and since he became the deputy governor since 2019, he had been supervising the ministry.
However, Echonews gathered that the deputy governor did not really enjoy the loyalty of the former Special Adviser to governor Sanwo-Olu on works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye and this really affected the implementation of many projects proposed by the deputy governor for the ministry in the last few years.
Of course, Adeyoye’s loyalty must first be to Sanwo-Olu who appointed her but she went overboard creating a wide bridge between the deputy who supervises works and Infrastructure and the governor who approves the implementation of the projects in the ministry.
It is glaring that many of the roads in Lagos are in bad shape currently. The incessant rains had destroyed some of the roads that were built about two years ago.
During the screening of the now new commissioners and Special Advisers by the state House of Assembly, the assembly rejected 17 of the Sanwo-Olu’s nominees, including Adeyoye, the then special adviser for works and Infrastructure.
Its reason for rejecting Adeyoye was due to her poor performance at the screening. The lawmakers said that she lacked the grasp of the assignment before her.
Investigation revealed that she was the clog in the wheels in the mutual relationship between the governor and the deputy, as a result, the roads had continued to deteriorate.
After the intervention of the state Governance Advisory Committee, Sanwo-Olu represented the list of the nominees but the assembly still rejected Adeyoye and replaced her with Engr. Adekunle Olayinka, whom investigation showed was a close ally of the deputy governor and would be able to work with him to fix many bad roads.
While presenting the appropriation bill to the assembly last year, Sanwo-Olu said that his administration had allocated 27.3% of the budget for modern infrastructure, amounting to N482.86bn.
In February 2023, the former State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget. Mr. Samuel Egube said that the government was committed to Integrated Transport Infrastructure, which will materialize into the birth of the fully functional light rail (Red-Blue) system, the first of its kind by a sub-national Government in Africa and the 37km Fourth Mainland Bridge will be felt by the citizens of the State.
Egube highlighted the infrastructure Budget captures in the budget as follows: Construction of the second phase of the blue line from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko, Completion of 8 Stadia across the 5 IBILE divisions of Lagos State, to facilitate youth development, engagement and community sports.
The completion of the Opebi Link bridge to Maryland that will improve significantly travel time and alternative route options the axis, Rehabilitation/Upgrading of Phase II Eti-Osa – Lekki-Epe Expressway Project from Eleko T-Junction – Abraham Adesanya among others.
These were what the 2023 budget captured but then many roads had gone so bad that Lagosians have started to raise the alarm and calling on the state government to do repair it.
Some of the roads are federal roads as observed by our correspondent and the most popular among them is the Third Mainland Bridge.
A long stretch of the bridge from Ilaje area towards University of Lagos waterfront had deteriorated so badly that vehicles have to always slow down to navigate the potholes on the bridge.
As a result, there is always heavy traffic from Alapere Bus Stop at Ketu to the Third Mainland Bridge. It has increased commuters travel time and the cost of transportation.
In spite of the huge budget for roads, a source said that the governor listened more to the former special adviser than the deputy governor who is the chief supervisor of the ministry of works and infrastructure.
Residents lament over the bad state of roads along Lekki-Epe axis. A resident, Mr. Philip Akume who lives in Lakwe told Echonews that it took him about four hours everyday to move from home to Victoria Island everyday and that he spent about N3000 on transport each day.
A resident of Isolo, Mary Oni told Echonews how difficult it had been to travel from Isolo to Oshodi since the state government began the repair of Iyana Isolo to Jakande Road.
As she puts it, “The buses going to Ejigbo from Oshodi don’t pass through Iyana Isolo anymore, they take the inner streets from Aswani, very bad road to come out at Osolo Palace.
Echonews observed that the road around Aswani area was filled with stones so that vehicle could pass through.” It is a long journey on bad road,” Oni said.
Meanwhile the Lagos State House of Assembly has resolved to invite officials of government in relation to the poor state of roads across the State.
This was as many of the lawmakers, during plenary bemoaned the condition of roads in their various constituencies. They also sought the declaration of an emergency on roads by the state government.
Those invited include the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Olayinka , the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and other concerned officials.
Also invited are the head and related officials of the Public Works Corporation (PWC).
Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda, who presided over the House on behalf of Mudashiru Obasa, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of roads in the state.
Hon. Meranda, while supporting the declaration of an emergency on roads, said the problem affects every part of Lagos with some of the roads almost becoming inaccessible.
According to her, it has become imperative to prioritise quality and maintenance of roads by adopting modern approaches to construction.
Earlier Hon. David Setonji, Deputy Chief Whip of the House who raised the issue under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, observed that less than a year after some roads are fixed, they deteriorate.
Hon. Setonji, who represents Badagry Constituency 1, called for an investigation into this challenge.
Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu representing Eti-Osa Constituency 2, attributed the problem of the roads in the state primarily to flooding and improper channelisation of water.
He suggested the implementation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to assist in road maintenance just as he emphasised the need for sufficient budgetary allocations to support road infrastructure.
On his part, Hon. Desmond Elliot highlighted the importance of maintaining proper drainage systems to prevent road damage. He also called for the completion of abandoned road projects.
In his contribution, Hon. Fatai Mojeed expressed concern over the significant time commuters spend on the roads, resulting in major inconveniences.
Decrying the manhour motorists spend on the Lekki-Epe Expressway daily as a result of construction work, he suggested that the executive arm of the Lagos government write the federal government regarding the state of federal roads in Lagos.
Hon. Mojeed also mentioned how the poor condition of the roads affects children’s access to education in some areas.
Hon. Kehinde Joseph called for the invitation of the General Manager of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation to appear before the House to provide explanations.
Hon. Abiodun Tobun said failed portions of some roads resulted from delays in fixing small potholes by officials responsible.
While highlighting the issue of delayed funding of the Public Works Corporation, he suggested punishment for officials who approve substandard projects.
Other lawmakers, who spoke, agreed on the need for the concerned officials of government to be invited for explanation on the issue as well as what they are doing to salvage the situation.
Meanwhile a lawmaker from Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun has forged a strategic partnership with the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) to repair some of the bad roads in his constituency.
He told Echonews that the collaboration was aimed at grading of Ire One road, Agunfe, and the launch of palliative on Ijede, Igbopa, and Ewu-Owa roads.
The palliative efforts will further extend to critical areas, including Emily Junction, Macaulay Junction, Community Grammar School Junction, the continuation of Ijede Road, Abule Eko Igbopa Road, and Banjoko area.
“I think the noise being made by the lawmakers now is to call the governor to order to release funds and not play politics to the detriment of the roads,”, a source said.
Reacting, Olayinka promised that the government would ensure the completion of all projects and repair bad ones.
On the bad federal roads in Lagos , he said that the state government would collaborate with the Federal Government to ensure the rehabilitation of some of the roads ,including the Ikorodu-Itokin Road considering its connectivity to many towns and villages in that axis.