BusinessDay... the voice of business: Motorists groan as Fashola tasks FG on Apapa-Oshodi road

Motorists groan as Fashola tasks FG on Apapa-Oshodi road
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JOSHUA BASSEY on 12 May, 2008 02:00:00
 
A ride on Apapa-Oshodi express road was  last    weekend-day an  herculean task
after floods took over  some sections of the road following early morning  heavy
 downpour on Sunday.
Areas worst hit were Mile 2, just before the bridge towards Apapa, Berliet,
near Ilasa as well as Trinity bus stop, near Ibafon where some vehicles were
trapped  in the flood.
The development however created an opportunity for social miscreants otherwise
called "area boys" to make some money as they helped owners of such vehicles to
pull them out of the water.
It also resulted in traffic jams as motorists took their time to wade through
the water.
Motorists who spoke to City Scope after the rains on Sunday described as
"shameful" the dilapidated nature of sections of the road, saying both Lagos and
the Federal Government must take steps to redress the situation. They wondered
why the road which contributions to the national economy are unparallel could be
so neglected by concerned authorities.
Meanwhile, Lagos State governor, Babatunde   Fashola in an interview with
BusinessDay, has asked the Federal Government to urgently take up the task of
rebuilding  the road in view of its significance to the nation's economy. He
said the road plays a significant role in driving the nation's economy as it
links two major ports in the country: Apapa and Tincan Island Ports. Beyond
serving as a link to the seaports, the road, the governor said also serves
several industrial estates.
"Specifically, I will want the Federal Government to take over the Apapa
-Oshodi Expressway from Apapa ports to Oshodi. This is the road that links at
least four or five industrial estates: Apapa industrial estate is there, Amuwo
Odofin industrial estate is there, Isolo industrial estate is there, Ilupeju
industrial estate is there. That is the test to show that if we really want to
drive this economy, this road must be functional," Fashola said.