Four months after shutting down three lanes of the busy Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, a cross-section of people have expressed divergent views on the pace of rehabilitation by the Federal Government’s contractor, Julius Berger Plc.


While some commuters said the pace of work was slow, others felt it was necessary for the contractor to be given enough time to do lasting repairs.


The Federal Government was compelled in June 2011 to mobilise the contractor when the level of dilapidation of the highway had become terrible resulting in loss of man-hours; stress; and loss of revenues as a result of intractable traffic logjam.


The rehabilitation is to cover some kilometres from the Tin Can Island area of the state to First Rainbow area, thus resulting in three lanes of the express road being shut down.


However, some commuters, because of the nightmarish experience they encounter on the expressway, have devised strategies to beat the traffic gridlock while those who are clueless on what to do, have resigned to fate.


A motorist, Mr. Mike Egbayelo, told PUNCH METRO that the pace of work on the expressway was rather too slow.


“The pace of work is rather too slow and alternative routes have not been properly considered,” Egbayelo said.


He suggested that while the repairs lasted, the government should make the marine transport from Mile 2 jetty to Apapa en route to CMS an attractive alternative.


He said apart from the slow pace of work, another factor that compounded the problem on the highway was the recklessness of truck and tanker drivers.


But a resident, Mr. Lucky Uduikhue, disagreed with Egbayelo, saying the contractor ought to be commended.


He said, “So far, the contractor has been doing a wonderful job because the road has been in a dilapidated state over the years. It is good we take it easy with them to enable them to do a thorough job.


“Agreed that people are not finding it easy; it is better we endure now and get the best later. Also, the attitude of motorists is something else. The motorists need to take caution on how they use the road and not to cause more problems for the contractor.”


He urged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency to ensure adequate supervision of the project, adding that the contractor should not gloss over potholes and craters in the course of the rehabilitation.


“The contractors should also open up an alternative road for easy movement of traffic to make the work move faster,” he said.


A commercial bus driver, Mr. Samuel Nwachukwu, urged commuters to bear with the contractor so that it could do a good work.


Nwachukwu said, “As for me, let them fix the road well; work on the drainage channels and all aspects of the road. All those people dumping refuse into the drains should desist from such act.


“The government should not only wait until the roads are bad before they do something. Before this new phase of repairs, the road has been a source of frustration to commuters. We hope after the rehabilitation, things will improve.


“Regular maintenance is the only way out of problem like this. Besides, there is the need to build ring roads because of the busy nature of the expressway.”


But a commuter, who identified herself simply as Cecelia, faulted the contractor’s pace of work.


She said, “Imagine, since more than four months, the situation has still not improved. How long are we going to suffer on the road? If you ply this road either in the morning or evening time, you will appreciate what I am saying. Many people have even abandoned their business in Apapa because of frustration and stress.


“It is just as if nothing is being done. They need to double their efforts. One funny thing is that sometimes they work, sometimes you do not see them on site.”


But an official of the Federal Ministry of Works, who craved anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press, stated that the rehabilitation had been moving steadily and there was no cause for alarm.


He said those complaining of slow pace of work did not know the magnitude of work to be done to put the road back in good condition. He said it required patience to make the road durable.


“I cannot tell you when the work will finish because some issues may crop up along the line. But I can tell you that work is moving on progressively. Our sub-contractors are working round the clock to ensure that the damaged portions of the road are fixed in good time,” he said.

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