Residents, pedestrians, and motorists of Jakande Gate and its environs in the Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State have raised the alarm over the imminent collapse of the Oke-Afa Mass Burial Bridge, warning it will pose serious danger to users if urgent repair work is not carried out on the bridge.
They decried that the damaged section at Jakande Gate Bus Stop along the Ikotun–Iyana Ejigbo–Cele Road is triggering severe traffic congestion and hurting their businesses.
The bridge, which connects Isolo, Cele, Jakande Gate, Isheri, Ijegun, Egbe, Ikotun, Bucknor, Idimu, Canoe-Ajao Estate, and Oke Afa Estate, among others, poses danger to pedestrians and motorists if urgent repair is not initiated immediately.
According to findings, the bridge was last rehabilitated about two decades ago, and the aggrieved residents are urging the Lagos State Government to expedite action to avert the impending danger.
During a visit to the area last week, our correspondent observed that commuters endure prolonged traffic delays caused by the deteriorated section of the road, which appears neglected.
It was noted that the stretch of Jakande Bus Stop toward the Cele Expressway from Ikotun is in poor condition, causing congestion that at times stretches from the bus stop to NNPC Bus Stop en route to Iyana Ejigbo.
Similarly, the section approaching Ikotun from the Cele Expressway is in poor condition, though not as severe as the opposite lane.
A trader in Ijeha, Mrs Chioma Cynthia, who commutes on the road daily from Ikotun, alleged that the contractors have abandoned the project.
“Imagine spending between two and three hours on a journey that is not supposed to be more than 40 minutes due to the long traffic at the spot,” she lamented.
She commended the officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and other security agencies for their dedication to duty, especially at the spots.
“LASTMA officials are trying their best; they are always there to ensure that the road is moving, and if not because of that, it would have been worse,” she said.
Oluyinka Onigbinde, a resident of the area and Assistant Editor at Shipping Position Daily, said the road’s deplorable condition has become a daily nightmare for both commuters and motorists, noting that it has persisted for over three years.
“Beyond the endless hours lost in traffic, the impact on our vehicles has been severe and relentless. Almost every weekend, we find ourselves at the mechanic’s workshop, replacing damaged components such as ball joints, control arms, and other critical parts. The cost of this constant wear and tear is staggering, running into hundreds of thousands of naira monthly. What should be routine commuting has turned into an expensive and frustrating ordeal,” Onigbinde said.
He stressed the need for immediate government intervention, noting that the road’s current state is undermining productivity and livelihoods while imposing avoidable financial strain on residents.
Another resident of the area, Stev Akpota, told our correspondent that the Jakende Gate Road has completely collapsed, causing heavy traffic every day, adding that there have been several cases of containers falling off trucks due to the bad state of the road.
“The bridge, which connects several communities in Oshodi-Isolo and Egbe Local Government areas, has caved in for over one month and is getting weak every day, with no palliative work in sight. The bridge, which connects Isolo, Cele, Jakande Gate, Isheri, Ijegun, Egbe, Ikotun, Bucknor, Idimu, Canoe-Ajao Estate, and Oke Afa Estate, among others, poses danger to pedestrians and motorists unless urgent repair is initiated immediately. The development, coupled with the dilapidated state of the roads around the axis, has been causing serious traffic gridlock along the area,” he said.
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