EKO NEWS

‘It’s A Death Trap’ — Lagos Residents, Accident Victims Protest Bad Road Along Abeokuta Expressway

Published

1 year ago

Dec 14, 2023.

Protesters demanding rehabilitation of bad sections of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway

Eko Hot Blog reports that gridlock gripped some parts of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Wednesday as Lagos State residents of adjoining communities protested to demand an immediate repair of some sections of the road.

Led by human rights activists, under the auspices of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, the protesters lamented the deplorable state of the road and its neglect by the government.

They also complained that the collapsed road had caused a series of accidents, leading to injuries and loss of lives.

Protesters demonstrating over bad sections of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway

Commuters and motorists were, however, stranded as the protesters barricaded the Meiran end of the road, causing gridlock along the axis.

Some of the protesters carried signs with messages such as, “President Tinubu, give us good road,” “Demand for urgent rehabilitation of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway,” “FG should listen to the people’s cry”, “Meiran Tollgate is now a death trap,” amongst others.

The President of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, Alex Omotehinse, said the casualties recorded on the road had increased in the past few weeks.

Protesters demonstrate over bad sections of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway

Protesters demonstrating over bad sections of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway

While accusing the security operatives of taking advantage of the bad roads to exploit motorists who ply one-way, Omotehinse called on the state government to grade it in the meantime before the commencement of a proper repair.

“The government should consider road users, for now, to avoid this bad road. They should be allowed to use the one-way now and give us traffic officers that can control the road users so that there will be no room for abuse,” he added.