Lagos Begins Igbogbo-Baiyeku Road Rehabilitation, Demolishes Structures
The Lagos State government has begun the rehabilitation of the Obafemi Awolowo Way in the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Local Council Development Area of the state.
The rehabilitation, which kicked off with demolition of structures around the road, began on Thursday, August 11, 2022.
A reporter who visited the site, observed that shops, makeshift structures and perimeter fences of some buildings on either side of the road were being demolished by men of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation.
Owners of some of the demolished structures as well as structures marked for demolition were seen watching the process while a few of them were busy removing their goods from the shops. Some of the traders who spoke to our correspondent hailed the Lagos State government and the LCDA government for “finally remembering” Igbogbo-Baiyeku.
“Thank God, and we thank the government for finally remembering us in Igbogbo-Baiyeku after many years that the road has been in this terrible state,” said a trader who pleaded anonymity.
Another trader, whose shop was demolished, said, “It is painful because some of us spent a lot of money to put our shops in place. Also, we’re going to lose many of our customers because we will need to relocate now. Apart from that, I think it is a good thing that the road will finally be done.”
Also speaking, a commercial tricyclist, who gave his name as Akorede Adetunji, lauded the Lagos State government and the LCDA authorities for the move, saying, “It is a welcome development. It is long awaited and we’re happy it seems the construction is about to become a reality.”
Adetunji, who lamented that the bad road got his previous tricycle, also known as Keke, damaged, said it would have been more appreciated if the government could fix alternative routes within the metropolis and make them motorable while the construction of the major road was ongoing.
“Only one alternative route is motorable in the whole of Igbogbo,” he lamented.
“We need other inner roads to be fixed so that the suffering that might come as a result of the major road construction will be lessened. Even if it is some palliative works, we are pleading with the government to consider making these alternative routes motorable.
“Akin Ogunlewe and Selewu roads are impassable when it rains. Even without rain, the deplorable state of the roads are spoiling our vehicles.
“Selewu road is like a major alternative route that leads to Agunfoye and Baiyeku. Fixing that road will go a long way to cushion the effect of the suffering that the construction of the road will bring.
“Offin and Oreta roads are also there. While we thank the government and believe that this project will not be mere campaign gimmicks, we’re appealing that they should help us make alternative routes motorable.”
