In the heart of Mushin, frustration continues to mount among commuters and residents as the Idi-Oro segment of the Lagos-Abeokuta highway faces yet another episode of severe degradation, drawing renewed attention to long-standing infrastructure challenges.
Over the weekend, the already precarious condition of the road took a turn for the worse when a heavy-duty vehicle became lodged in a deep cavity along the route, sparking a traffic jam that stretched for hours. Those familiar with the stretch—also known locally as Agege Road—said the situation has been steadily deteriorating, with the rainy season compounding the problem.
Drivers who depend on the road for their daily earnings painted a grim picture. Tomiwa Segun, a commercial minibus operator, expressed frustration over what he described as institutional indifference and opportunistic enforcement. “When drivers try to avoid the bad parts by using alternative paths, they’re penalized. You get stopped, and money is taken from you—just for trying to protect your vehicle,” he said, referring to routine encounters with local enforcement agents.
Other transport operators echoed similar sentiments. Sunday Ibrahim, who drives a tricycle, criticized past attempts to address the problem. “They just dumped stones on the failed parts. That didn’t help—if anything, it damaged our tyres and made traffic worse,” he lamented.
Veteran driver Kazeem Adeyemi was skeptical of the cycle of quick fixes. “We’ve seen this road patched again and again, and each time it fails. We need something lasting. It’s beyond temporary repairs now,” he said.
Some riders suggested that the chaotic traffic situation has led to risky driving behavior. “If you’re not familiar with the area, you could easily end up stuck in a hole. That’s why some choose to take one-way routes—it’s a survival tactic,” said Abubakar Mohammed, another tricyclist navigating the route.
For Lateef Yusuf, a long-time motorist, the road’s poor state has become a cash cow for certain officials. “Once they see you using another lane to avoid bad spots, they jump at the chance to impound your vehicle. It’s a daily hustle,” he claimed, inviting observers to witness the enforcement routine in the early hours of the morning.
Amid rising tensions and growing calls for intervention, residents are appealing for immediate action to address the dilapidated road. “We’re not asking for luxury—just a road we can drive on without risking our lives or our means of livelihood,” said one shopkeeper near the area.
When contacted, state authorities distanced themselves from the responsibility, citing jurisdictional limitations. Both the Lagos State Ministry of Works and the Lagos State Public Works Corporation pointed to federal oversight, indicating that decisions on repairs rested with the Federal Government.
Responding to inquiries, the Federal Controller of Works, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, acknowledged the worsening state of the road and confirmed that assessments were ongoing. She noted that plans were in motion to award contracts for rehabilitation, although no timeline was provided.
