Motorists and commuters had a hectic time traveling on major Lagos roads on Monday.
This follows a torrential rainfall that started at dawn and lasted till midday, leaving all major roads flooded on Monday.
The flood became a major headache on such roads as the Agege Motor road (as the flash flood practically took over three major bus terminals – Ladipo, Shogunle, and PWD, on the Ikeja bound axis of the three lane expressway.
Several vehicles which could not navigate the flood broke down and were seen been attended to by their owners inside the flood.
The flood left a major traffic gridlock that snaked from Ladipo to G. Cappa, on the outward bound carriage of the express, as well as from Ladipo to Capitol Road, on the Agege Motor road, and up to Egbeda, on the Iyana-Ipaja end, inward bound Oshodi.
Many motorists bemoaned the terrible traffic situation that has become a common feature along the Agege Motor road, a federal road axial in the state.
They recalled a similar occurrence last Thursday, which left the entire axis prostrate for about 20 hours after similar rainfall.
Solomon Oladele, a commuter said he spent five hours on a 35 minutes distance (Agege to Oshodi).
Lamenting what he described as a recurrent nightmare, Oladele wondered why the government has remained unconcerned to the plight of Lagosians who make use of the road.
When reminded that government had awarded a contract for the construction of a BRT lane on the Oshodi road, Oladele said the contractor should show more sympathy to the plights motorists and commuters using the road, by urgently carrying out remedial work on the spot causing gridlock on the road.
“Let the state government direct the contractor to begin urgent remedial works on the collapsed drainage that was causing the flood in the area, while the continue the major work on the road. That way, they would convince us they do not intend to see us dead before the new road is delivered next year,” Oladele said.
Similar gridlock was recorded across the state. Many stranded commuters were trekking, when it became apparent they could not get any bus to their destination.
A middle aged woman backing a baby broke down in tears when speaking with our Correspondent. She said she had trekked from Ikeja to Ladipo and was lost how she could get to Oshodi from where she could pick a bus to FESTAC Town.
“I am tired, I trekked from Ikeja to this place (Ladipo), and am still going to FESTAC Town, I don’t know how to make it to Oshodi,” she said breaking down in tears shortly before a good Samaritan motorist offered her a ride.
Many motorists living around border towns with Ogun State told our Correspondents that the rain has added to their travel challenges. They said they may not return to their various homes on Monday as they cannot face another round of stress on the road.
“I have called my wife and told her I may not return home tonight.” Tunde told our correspondent on Monday.
Another motorist said he might have to wait till midnight before going home to prevent stress.
The state government has however urged motorists and other road users to exercise patience as normalcy would soon return to the roads. The government says the traffic gridlock is the usual pattern along the area, any time there is rainfall.
