LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has slammed the Federal Government for constant neglect on the state of roads in the state, especially the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos Airport Road.
Posted at 30/09/2011 04:39 AM | Updated at 30/09/2011 04:39 AM

By Femi Oluokun

LAGOS State Governor Babatunde Fashola has slammed the Federal Government for constant neglect on the state of roads in the state, especially the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos Airport Road.

He said that despite the strategic link the roads serve to the nation's economy, the FG remained adamant in its effort to fix the dilapidated roads, which until now, constitute a nightmare to motorists.

Speaking at the unveiling of the 1000 metric tonnes transfer loading station yesterday, he said it was important for the Federal Government to rise up to the challenge as the present state of the roads which links the major sea ports and airport is an eyesore and belies a nation professed to be interested in industrialisation.

Fashola said the Airport road, which is first point of call for visitors to the country is lying in a sorry state, and in a state unbefitting for the nation.

For visitors into our country, the first pothole deals a heavy blow and really, you do not have the chance to make another first impression.

‘Companies, organisations bring in their goods through the ports and if those companies cannot evacuate their goods from the ports, what industrialisation are we talking about’, he said.

The governor tasked the agencies responsible for fixing the roads to rise up to the challenge and restore the nation's glory. Commenting on the new transfer loading station, he described the new facility as some of the critical contents of the pre-election campaign promises to aggressively pursue a preventive rather than curative healthcare programme for its citizens.

‘We deployed many strategies to achieve this promise of a healthy citizen through preventive strategies.

Some of them include provision of clean and portable water which has seen us return Iju and Adiyan Water Works to full operational capacity by the provision of a 12 Megawatts Independent Power plant that has boosted water production and supply’, he said.

Fashola further said that the Oshodi Transfer Station was incorporated as medical waste treatment plant to deal with medical waste that has hitherto constituted a health hazard to residents.

‘Our work in this plant is not finished as we would be encouraging investments in specialised waste trucks like our PSP trucks which will be collecting medical waste from our various hospitals and health facilities for delivery to this site and proper disposal’, the governor said.

Meanwhile, in his address, Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello, said the Oshodi Transfer Station is the second of the series of the 20 proposed by the government to improve waste collection efficiency from the point of generation within the catchment area of Oshodi, Isolo, Mushin, Anthony, Mafoluku, Mile 2, Amuwo Odofin, Okota and Illupeju.

‘The strategic location of this facility in Oshodi is to allow the waste generated in its environ to be deposited and warehoused before transfer to final dump site or landfill at off peak period.

‘This measure will reduce the vehicular traffic to the landfill site, hence, another major feat in our adaptation in mitigating climate change’, Bello said.

Earlier, Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ola Oresanya said the facility derived its concept from the holistic approach for the implementation of waste management strategic plan for Lagos Mega City.

http://www.momentng.com/en/news/4234/fashola-blasts-fg-over-apapaoshodi-airport-roads-.html

It is like we don't have a government in Nigeria.

Polio, it cannot handle.

Millennium development goals, no way.

Vision 2020, no chance. Should probably be renamed vision 2220.

Boko Haram, they supposedly know the sponsors but cannot handle.

Roads that it owns and is supposed to maintain, no chance.

In your own personal life, do you let your property fall apart into ruin? If not, then I wonder how anyone can keep silent at the FG doing the same thing.

@topic

Why is Fashola whinning, couldn't he just at least fix Apapa-Oshodi road? Clearly, that is not Federal Road, or . . .?

Apapa Oshodi Expressway is a Federal road.

Given the revenue that Lagos makes for FG and its status as a federal capital, the Federal Govt should be responsible and pay more attention to the infrastructure of Lagos. In a good environment, they need not be told.

It's either they do this or hand over the infrastructure to the state government.

Year in, year out, the FG budget billions of Naira for road constructions and maintenance and thie most important road in the nation remains bad.The Apapa/Oshodi road is a real shame to our country.

Dear mr fashola d saint
please b4 u start blasting others,come and fix the terrible roads all around lagos. . .4rm ikotun to egbe to iyana isolo e.t.c These roads are in a terrible state especially the ikotun road abi is it fg road?

Agege - Ishaga road is begging for attention too! How many years now since they started work on it.

He would rather talk about Oshodi-Apapa and airport Road, when the problems of hinterland road are very glaring. Or is Tinubu stealing more than than the 10% of the Lagos IGR, contrary to what we are made to believe?

I've heard Nigerians mock Somalia before because of its lack of a FG.

Does Nigeria have one?

Does Lagos State have a governor? How about Ekiti State?

Fash is right, no matter how untidy your bedroom is, ensure your sitting room is neat and tidy, for yourself and visitors

ekt_bear:

I've heard Nigerians mock Somalia before because of its lack of a FG.

Does Nigeria have one?

@ekt_bear,  that is an interesting comment.  I once came across an article on the Telecoms industry in Somalia,  in which it was stated that telecom rates in Somalia are among the lowest in Africa, simply because the lack of a government means that Somalian  telecom firms can bring in the latest equipment without paying bribes and duties to government officials and so called regulators and by having a highly competitive market open to all comers.   As to the Apapa/Oshodi and Airport roads, the sensible thing for the government to do is to build an economies of scale transit system like a  railway to Apapa port, and the airport.   This is what is done in most countries in the world today, but as usual we always do it upside down in Nigeria, and that is why both roads are always clogged up and in a state of disrepair because  they were not designed for the volume and weight of the traffic they carry everyday.    If I were Fashola, I would build light railways to both destinations  and kill 2 birds with one stone by slapping charges on the Heavy Goods lorries and tankers who use the roads,  and charging tolls on  the railway users  including the Federal government.

So some people don't know some roads are FG's and have to be fixed by the FG, and that state gov't doesn't have anything to do with those roads. SMH for Nigrians

All the people listing what Fashola has not done in Lagos should try and list what he has actually done, not to mention works in progress. Then compare volumee of work done to work undone.

How i wish he's the governor of my state.



PS If Fashola does everything (which is not possible), what do you want the next gov't to do.

ekt_bear:

It is like we don't have a government in Nigeria.

Polio, it cannot handle.

Millennium development goals, no way.

Vision 2020, no chance. Should probably be renamed vision 2220.

Boko Haram, they supposedly know the sponsors but cannot handle.

Roads that it owns and is supposed to maintain, no chance.

In your own personal life, do you let your property fall apart into ruin? If not, then I wonder how anyone can keep silent at the FG doing the same thing.

aren't you proud of our dear motherland?
Even the devil will arch in awe at the anonymity of Govt neglect to her responsibilities. happy independence to you you. Afterall, at 51 we still dey young. lol

@kulutempa

@ekt_bear, that is an interesting comment. I once came across an article on the Telecoms industry in Somalia, in which it was stated that telecom rates in Somalia are among the lowest in Africa, simply because the lack of a government means that Somalian telecom firms can bring in the latest equipment without paying bribes and duties to government officials and so called regulators and by having a highly competitive market open to all comers. As to the Apapa/Oshodi and Airport roads, the sensible thing for the government to do is to build an economies of scale transit system like a railway to Apapa port, and the airport. This is what is done in most countries in the world today, but as usual we always do it upside down in Nigeria, and that is why both roads are always clogged up and in a state of disrepair because they were not designed for the volume and weight of the traffic they carry everyday. If I were Fashola, I would build light railways to both destinations and kill 2 birds with one stone by slapping charges on the Heavy Goods lorries and tankers who use the roads, and charging tolls on the railway users including the Federal government.

+10000

federal govt is long dead and non functional they are only good in looting billions of dollars

To me i think Apapa/oshodi, Airport Roads is not that important for now compeer to the Benin Ore Rd. which is like a trap to some people, so in my own opinion is that why don't we put everything in prayer remember FG. have a lot to put in order, talking of Job, Electricity, Security, Quality Education, Poverty Eradication, & Meany more so all i can say is that let help our president with prayer, Presido is like a man that have 200 children so how meany can he listen to at a time u don 4get say he nor be God.

engr j:

To me i think  Apapa/oshodi, Airport Roads is not that important for now compeer to the  Benin Ore Rd. which is like a trap to some people, so in my own opinion is that why don't we put everything in prayer remember FG. have a lot to put in order, talking of Job, Electricity, Security, Quality Education, Poverty Eradication, & Meany more so all i can say is that let help our president with prayer, Presido is like a man that have 200 children so how meany can he listen to at a time  u don 4get say he nor be God.

My friend, please go and read your bible before you pray.  Read James 2: 14-26 which says  "Faith without works is dead".   You work and pray, and not just pray and expect God to do the work for you.  The same goes for Nigeria and her President.  Got it?

PointB:

Does Lagos State have a governor? How about Ekiti State?

Are you for real?

Dis-centralization of resources to the state will be beta for us.

Why there is too many jealous and negative people on nairaland that always says negative things to  everything that FASHOLA do . Please leave our  Governor alone . because majority fo lagosians appreciate him and if you don't like it , you can leave our state and go back to your hopeless and stop coming and interfare into Lagos matter.CARRY Go FASHOLA YOU ARE THE BEST  and bad belle people will keep going backward like reverse gear .

PointB:

Does Lagos State have a governor? How about Ekiti State?

seanet02:

Are you for real?

@point B. it is either you dont have a good understanding of the topic at hand or you ar one of the PDP looters. Find out what has happened to all the federal projects he embarked on. The power generation and distribution as well as the badagry express way are yet to be resolved till tommorrow. No wonder you are point B and not A.

philip0906:

Dear mr fashola d saint
please b4 u start blasting others,come and fix the terrible roads all around lagos. . .4rm ikotun to egbe to iyana isolo e.t.c These roads are in a terrible state especially the ikotun road abi is it fg road?

God bless you!

philip0906:

Dear mr fashola d saint
please b4 u start blasting others,come and fix the terrible roads all around lagos. . .4rm ikotun to egbe to iyana isolo e.t.c These roads are in a terrible state especially the ikotun road abi is it fg road?

Fashola praised over Iyana-Ipaja road

l

Written by Saka Gbeminiyi Thursday, 24 March 2011

Residents of Ikotun, Idimu and Egbeda in Alimosho Local Government Council Area of Lagos State have commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for re-awarding the rehabilitation of Iyana-Ipaja-Egbeda-Idimu-Ikotun road to a new contractor.

Community News learnt that Community Development Association (CDA) in the areas wrote a petition to the state government, lamenting over the slow speed at which the former contractor was handling the rehabilitation of the road. It was gathered that some influential people living in the area used to complain to officials of the construction company, but they refused to increase the pace of work, hence some of them gathered together and forwarded a petition to the state government.

“The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure was supervising the project. At a point, they felt dissatisfied with the way the contractor was handling the project and therefore awarded it to another contractor. The present contractor is doing a good job. The road is now motorable”. A source at Lagos State metropolitan transport authority told Community News.

When Community News visited the area, a resident, Bayo Ayinla, stated that re-awarding the contract was the best thing. “If you are in this area and you don’t have cough due to dusty environment, you should count yourself lucky. So, I was not surprised when I heard that a new contractor is handling the project now.”

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/community-news/19394-nfashola-praised-over-iyana-ipaja-road

Bad Road: Hope Rises For Egbeda, Ikotun Residents print

Motorists plying the Egbeda-Idimu-Ikotun road will soon heave a sigh of relief as the Lagos State Government has assured that the road would be completed before the end of this year.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/08/02/bad-road-hope-rises-for-egbeda-ikotun-residents/

The Lagos government should fix the airport road, regardless of the state's chances of being reimbursed by the Nigerian government. Lagos has to view these roads as arteries that carry blood to the vital organs of its body. When the arteries are ruptured, the organs are starved of blood. The federal roads do not exist in isolation; they are integral to the network of roads that carry traffic to the commercial districts and residential neighborhoods in Lagos. Bad roads, regardless of who owns them, are a detriment to the economy of any community they run through.

Visitors who must travel the airport road en route to the city center do not care whose responsibility it is to maintain it. This is their first impression of the type of infrastructure that will serve their investments, if they decide to put their money into the Lagos economy. It is their first impression of Lagos before they arrive at the decent hotels in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, and it renders a prima facie judgment on the culture, government and mentality of the people with whom they have come to deal. No amount of explanation about governmental politics will wash away that impression.

Hello Mr Fashola,
How about all the bad roads in Aguda/Surulere area where you grew up?

All you Nairaland retards, stop attacking Fashola and face the issue here; the federal govt should fix all the federal roads in Lagos period. Stop blaming Fashola for someone else's stupidity and sluggishness. Why am i surprised? most of you voted for Jonathan anyway.

Na wa oo!At this point in time nigerian government still haven't understood the importance of smooth road network.Roads to airports and sea ports,the heart beats of the economy in nigeria are more treacherous than ice roads.

Mehn,what is in blackman's brain?

Eko Ile:




Fashola praised over Iyana-Ipaja road

l
http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/community-news/19394-nfashola-praised-over-iyana-ipaja-road



http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2010/08/02/bad-road-hope-rises-for-egbeda-ikotun-residents/

[size=28pt]IKOTUN-IJEGUN road is in shambles,ikotun-cele,ejigbo,iyana-ejigbo,iyana isolo roads are horrible. . .Where is the lagos tax going to?[/size]
These are roads around my area not other death traps i do not know. . .I just do not have time,else I would have put up pix

philip0906:

[size=28pt]IKOTUN-IJEGUN road is in shambles,ikotun-cele,ejigbo,iyana-ejigbo,iyana isolo roads are horrible. . .Where is the lagos  tax going to?[/size]
These are roads around my area not other death traps i do not know. . .I just do not have time,else I would have put up pix

Pifa:

 
 
The Lagos government should fix the airport road, regardless of the state's chances of being reimbursed by the Nigerian government. Lagos has to view these roads as arteries that carry blood to the vital organs of its body. When the arteries are ruptured, the organs are starved of blood. The federal roads do not exist in isolation; they are integral to the network of roads that carry traffic to the commercial districts and residential neighborhoods in Lagos. Bad roads, regardless of who owns them, are a detriment to the economy of any community they run through.

Visitors who must travel the airport road en route to the city center do not care whose responsibility it is to maintain it. This is their first impression of the type of infrastructure that will serve their investments, if they decide to put their money into the Lagos economy. It is their first impression of Lagos before they arrive at the decent hotels in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, and it renders a prima facie judgment on the culture, government and mentality of the people with whom they have come to deal. No amount of explanation about governmental politics will wash away that impression.

Abeg tell them ooo. Let him (Fashola) continue feeding Tinubu with Tax payer's money (over N2 billion every  month), while whining about F.G. and Federal Road in Lagos. I dey laugh o.
There are Federal Roads in 37 states and territories in Nigeria by the way. FG in her abundant wisdom (or lack of it) will determine which one is critical or not.

What defines roads in nigeria?And what does nigerian constitition say about federal and state roads?Getting to the point of thesesimple questions solves the proble of who does what and who is responsible.

It is not about Fashola whinning or asking for too much but about what should be done and by who.About responsibilities

redsun:

What defines roads in nigeria?And what does nigerian constitition say about federal and state roads?Getting to the point of thesesimple questions solves the proble of who does what and who is responsible.

It is not about Fashola whinning or asking for too much but about what should be done and by who.About responsibilities

You do have a point. Federal roads are the responsibility of Federal Government, while the State roads are within the jurisdiction of the State Government.

In this thread, Lagos State is asking FG to fix Federal Roads, while Lagosians are also asking Lagos State government to fix State roads. In other words both FG and Lagos state have not lived up to their responsibilities - they have both neglected roads in their domain.

I therefore have every right to say that Fashola is whining, because most of the roads (state roads) in Lagos are death traps, Fashola should do his job! If he thinks he has good reason for neglecting those bad roads, doesn't common sense tell him that FG has equally good reason for not throwing money and resources at the Airport Road and Apapa-Oshodi road. What is good for the goose, is good for the gander. Fashola should do his jobt, rather distracting Lagosians by screaming - FG! State roads in Lagos are terribly bad, Fashola should fix them!