Airport Road, Lagos: Still a nation’s shame
Tuesday, 14 June 2011 00:00 By Isaac Taiwo, David Ibemere, Kenechukwu Ezeonyejiaku and Oluwatosin Medessou News - Metro
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Lagosians still complain as the state of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road worsens

FOR years, concerned well-meaning Nigerians had shouted themselves hoarse over the deplorable state of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport  (MMIA) Road, one of the nation’s major gateways.  Indeed, foreign diplomats have had cause to plead for mercy on this vital gateway, but to no avail.

They had drawn attention to the road where electric poles and street -lights never worked, the pot-holes and pools of water, the half-hearted attempts at rehabilitation and the virtual seizure of sections of the road by car dealers, furniture makers and commercial bus and motor-cycle operators.

The MMIA Road to Apapa and through Oshodi to the Lagos Island is almost in a permanent traffic snarl occasioned by its many potholes. The road is also narrow and has only two, though there is enough space to widen it to six lanes. The situation is compounded at night when long stretches of the road are in complete darkness.

When it rains, the hold-up is suffocating and hoodlums who hide in nearby bushes harass those whose vehicles break down.

When the relevant government agencies kept on making unfulfilled promises, people literally gave up.

It was as if there was no hope in sight towards making the MMIA Road anything similar to its counterparts anywhere else in the world.

But last week, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) paid an unscheduled visit to the road and as it were renewed attention to the many ills that have turned the gateway into the shame of a nation.

He was particularly upset by the encroachment on such an important road, of all manner of businesses including the ubiquitous car dealers and furniture makers.

But other Nigerians had for much longer raised alarm over the neglect the Federal Government has demonstrated towards the road.

“It is a shame that a nation that spends billions on things that do not matter can afford to neglect the road through which foreigners come in,” Funsho Ojelabi, a medical sales representative told The Guardian yesterday.

“Whether we like it or not, the state of the road is an indictment on the government and its agencies like the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)”, he said.

A civil servant who works at Toyota, along Mile Two Express Road also complained about the condition of  the Airport Road at night.

“The carefree attitude of the government is illustrated in the absence of street lights on the road which has accounted for armed robbers having a field day along an International Airport road.

Indeed, hopes raised that FAAN and  Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) had decided to put the road into proper shape when last year what looked like serious rehabilitation work started.

“They began to plant ornamental plants on the road median closed down the illegal car and furniture sales points and began the much-awaited expansion of the road.

“But it did not last.

“The caterpillars and other road works equipment were soon withdrawn, the furniture and vehicles sales points soon re-opened for business the pot-holes reappeared and Murtala Muhammed Airport Road went back to square one”.

Indeed, the road may be in its worst state ever as the potholes on the edges have become wider and now head to flooding whenever it rains.

Again, the traffic jam for which the road has been known has become intractable particularly at night, and worse even if it rains.

“It is a big risk driving down from the Airport towards Oshodi in the night and when it is raining.

One has to be extra careful not to plunge into any of the pot-holes on the edge of the road.

“These holes have no business being there if such an important highway had been receiving proper attention each year” an airport taxi operator, Chris Anolu told The Guardian yesterday.

He said that he hoped that Fashola’s visit would herald a change for the better for the road.

“Let us hope the Lagos State government will intervene, and at least, get rid of those who have turned the road into one long market and also beautify it as it has done to many parts of the state,” he said.

Very unfortunate