Pressure mounts on Ikorodu Roundabout’s gridlock, environmental infraction

Residents write Sanwo-Olu, seeking urgent intervention

Concerned Ikorodu residents, commuters and motorists have sent Save-our-Soul letters to the Lagos State government over the challenges being encountered daily as a result of prolonged gridlock around Ikorodu Roundabout and Sabo area.

The situation, they said, has become unbearable for commuters and motorists as they got trapped in the gridlock for hours, causing them psychological and emotional trauma.

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Apart from the associated air pollution and degradation of the environment, they pointed out that most of the drains in these locations have been blocked by refuse, causing storm water to flood the roads whenever there is a major downpour.

They also decried the indiscriminate display of wares on the road setbacks, thereby limiting access to alternative routes and adjoining streets. They alleged that different street urchins, beggars and hoodlums have been taking advantage of the situation to perpetrate evils.

According to a resident, who identified himself simply as “Nurudeen”, the most irritating scene was that most acquired spaces by the Lagos State Government for parking had been encroached upon by market women, shop owners and artisans.

He added that spaces allocated for the government’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for parking have been taken over by private commercial buses and market women, forcing the BRT buses to line up on the major highway around Ikorodu Roundabout.

He added that the Ikorodu Roundabout’s improvement project, started by the state government, has been abandoned, appealing to the state authority to swiftly complete all projects to improve the people’s living standards.

Apart from Ikorodu township, he pointed out that most petroleum trailers and other articulated trucks have turned Ikorodu–Shagamu highway to their parking space, despite the designated location allocated for the purpose.

When the reporter visited the scene, Ikorodu Roundabout area had become the abode of street urchins and beggars as they lined up on the major road’s median. Besides, the entire streets leading to Sabo area were blocked by commercial buses popularly known as “Korope and Keke-Marwa”. Most of these buses parked on the major road. Besides, market women also displayed their goods on the road setbacks.

On Ikorodu–Odongunyan–Ogijo section of the Ikorodu–Shagamu Expressway, scores of petroleum trucks parked on both sides of the highway, slowing vehicular movement.

The LASTMA officials on duty had serious confrontation with the bus drivers in an effort to get the latter to do the right thing. One of the drivers, who identified himself simply as “Mr Adebayo”, said the parking space allocated for commercial bus drivers around Sabo had been taken over by market women, justifying the reason for parking on the roads.

In swift response, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Transportation, Bolanle Oguntala, promised to escalate the situation to the Permanent Secretary and the Commissioner for Transportation in the state. According to her, what the situation requires is sustained enforcement of traffic laws. Besides, she called for a shift of mindset among the people to do the right thing by not encroaching on places allocated for parking spaces and road setbacks.

Also, the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Mr Adekunle Adesina, said the LAWMA and officials of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, known as KAI, are going to be informed to put more efforts to save the situation.

He said this wasn’t the first time the ministry would be intervening in Ikorodu, calling on residents and stakeholders to take it upon themselves to prevent anyone from dumping refuse in unauthorized places, adding that people must be prevented from abusing the environment.

“Because of the huge vehicular and human activities around Ikorodu Roundabout and Sabo, it makes it easy for people, especially shop owners, to hide and dump refuse indiscriminately. There is need for a change of mindset by the people,” he said.

In one of the letters to the Governor signed by Titilayo Oloja, a lawyer at Forhess Solicitors and Co., it reads partly: “I have noticed the adverse effects of everyday serious gridlocks witnessed at Ikorodu Roundabout and Sabo area on the entire residents of Ikorodu including my humble self.

“I observed with dismay everyday serious gridlocks witnessed at Ikorodu Roundabout and Sabo area caused by nonchalant attitude of the transporters, roadside sellers, street urchins, street beggars and all other street vices.

“I honestly appreciate the construction works being carried out by your Excellency Sir at the Ikorodu Roundabout but the construction works have been abruptly stopped and abandoned which have paved way for the aforementioned vices to thrive and these have caused serious untold hardship on Ikorodu residents including my humble self because if there is flow of traffic, nobody will have the gut to stay on the way of moving vehicles,” the letter read.

The lawyer alleged that the gridlocks in both areas have given the street urchins and pocket pickers opportunity to operate freely without curbing the situation. “Likewise, precious times are wasted in these gridlocks.”

She suggested to the governor that the construction of the Ikorodu Roundabout should be expedited while solution should be proffered to the Sabo Area gridlock.

Equally, she pleaded that parks should be provided for the transporters to avoid the dreaded gridlocks which, according to her, have been having psychological effects on Ikorodu residents and have always resulted in untimely death.

“Mr. Governor, sir, alternatively, the transporters and/or their garage should be relocated if there is no available space for parks as all these suggestions are applicable to Sabo Area too,” she said.

Another prominent resident, who did not want his name in print, decried the uncontrolled traffic around Ikorodu Roundabout despite the “newly constructed junction improvement with commercial buses, LAMATA BRT buses loading on the road and Laybys (meant as drop zone).”

Bemoaning the situation, he alleged that street traders have taken over a section of the major road causing untold hardship, environmental nuisance, and blocked drainage.

“In addition, all these uncurbed activities cause loss of productive man hours, pick pockets and theft, indiscriminate parking and loading of passengers, accidents. Another hot spot is Sabo Area, Onisigida (Adeniran Ogunsanya Road) starting from Sabo main gate, populated with street traders occupying road, causing traffic, coupled with indiscriminate parking and loading by commercial vehicles without dedicated parks.

“Sabo is notorious with shops built directly under high tension NEPA cables and beside NEPA substation. Same situation is prevalent in Sabo–Itokin Road.”

Suggesting the possible way out, he wants the Ministry of Transport to provide safe, secured and dedicated parks in Ikorodu division. Besides, he said that LAMATA should load its BRT passengers at designated parks, evacuating from laybys and roads.

“Ministry of Environment should ensure a cleaner and serene environment devoid of street traders occupying Sabo, Odogunyan and Ikorodu and its environs. Ministry of Transport should provide dedicated trailer parks and keep them off the road which poses imminent danger,” he said. He canvassed constant monitoring and enforcement to maintain the governor’s agenda for Ikorodu.

Another resident, “Ibrahim”, also wrote to the governor on illegal toll collection on Igbogbo Road and Sabo area in Ikorodu, calling on the governor to help evict illegal toll collectors “who are making SMEs struggle in profit making, affecting the ease of doing business, causing traffic and tarnishing Lagos image.”

He listed the affected locations to include the front of Oriwu College, Igbogbo Road, Igbe Junction, Homat School Junction at Gerigeri, and Sabo Roundabout, where collection of loading and offloading permit from cars and buses carrying loads and Maruwa usually takes place.