The ongoing chaos on the 127.6-kilometer Lagos-Ibadan Expressway due to road repairs at the Otedola-Secretariat section reflects the Federal Government’s apparent disregard for Nigerians. The resurgence of gridlock, caused by the long-running rehabilitation project, highlights the failure of the government to provide adequate solutions for commuters. While traffic disruptions are unavoidable during road repairs, the lack of serious efforts to mitigate the impact is unacceptable.
The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing did little to inform the public about the resumption of work on the expressway, leaving it to the Lagos State Government to announce traffic diversions on the eve of the June 9 start date. The repairs, expected to last six months, are bound to cause a nightmarish experience for commuters, businesses, and residents based on the nine-year history of the project.
A report by The PUNCH documented the intense suffering of commuters stuck in traffic due to the poorly managed road diversions set up by the contractor, Julius Berger Plc. With no meaningful traffic control in place, impatient drivers form multiple lanes, causing further congestion. In the absence of law enforcement, some motorists, including police, military, and security personnel, drive recklessly against oncoming traffic. This chaos often leaves commuters vulnerable to robberies.
The situation is similar on other major routes, including the Ibadan Toll Gate and Asejire-Ikire sections. Road repairs and rehabilitation are necessary functions of government worldwide, with global road construction projects valued at $2.54 trillion in 2020. However, in Nigeria, the combination of poor road networks and delayed rehabilitation projects means that road users suffer unduly. The contrast between Nigeria and other countries, where road repairs are handled with care for commuters, is stark.
Development experts agree that road infrastructure is essential for economic development and poverty reduction. Roads provide access to employment, education, health services, and social interaction. While Nigeria’s road network, with less than 200,000 kilometers and only 60,000 kilometers paved, needs rehabilitation, the process should consider the impact on commuters and the economy. Even authoritarian regimes attempt to reduce the burden on their citizens during roadworks, but in Nigeria, both federal and state governments appear indifferent.
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who was previously celebrated for his efficient management of road construction and traffic during his tenure as Lagos State Governor (2007-2015), now oversees a ministry that has become notorious for mistreating citizens during road repairs. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, under Fashola’s watch, has become a nightmare, with contractors causing unnecessary hardship for commuters by closing roads without warning and providing inadequate signage or traffic management.
Despite these challenges, Lagos State remains relatively better managed when it comes to road construction. Announcements are made in advance, and traffic and security personnel are deployed to control the flow of vehicles. Outside Lagos, however, roadworks are handled with little consideration for the public. On the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, neither the Ministry of Works nor the contractors (Julius Berger and RCC) provide adequate road signage, traffic control, or security for drivers and residents along the route.
Fashola must take responsibility and mobilize resources to coordinate with state agencies, contractors, police, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure a smoother commute on federal highways. Governors whose states are affected by ongoing federal road projects should collaborate with the Ministry of Works to provide traffic management and security. State traffic agencies should focus solely on maintaining traffic flow, leaving law enforcement to the FRSC and police.
Globally, there are clear standards for managing road repairs, including proper diversions, road signage, and the deployment of traffic managers and emergency rescue vehicles. In the United States, the Federal Highway Administration mandates extensive public awareness and preparation of alternative routes before road closures. Germany, the UK, and China follow similar practices, ensuring that road repairs cause minimal disruption. In China, electronic signs guide drivers, and alternate routes are prepared well in advance.
In Nigeria, however, public officials exacerbate the situation by using sirens, backed by armed police and soldiers, to clear traffic for their convoys. This further frustrates the ordinary citizens stuck in the gridlock.
Nigerians must begin to demand better treatment and resist the systemic dehumanization they face on the roads. Communities along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the Ife-Ibadan Expressway should form associations to highlight the ongoing chaos through the media. They should file petitions to the local, state, and federal governments, as well as to state and national legislative bodies. Without pressure from citizens, the government will continue to neglect its responsibilities.
Launched in 2013, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway rehabilitation has dragged on for far too long, despite receiving additional funding from recovered “Abacha loot.” The project must be completed without further delay. Nigerian citizens deserve better than the current state of disregard displayed by their leaders.
