At 10 p.m. on Wednesday, when much of Lagos should have been quiet, the Lekki–Ajah corridor was still glowing red from endless brake lights. Car horns filled the air, and frustrated drivers leaned out of their windows, cursing and commiserating as the fumes of thousands of vehicles hung heavy.
For hours, the traffic hadn’t moved. There was no accident, no rainfall only a road so battered that it had become a trap. Some commuters, exhausted, turned off their engines and slumped in silence; others abandoned their cars, trekking home under dim streetlights.
It wasn’t just congestion; it was paralysis—complete gridlock on one of Lagos’ most vital commercial arteries.
“I spent four hours getting to work,” said Bayo Adeyinka, a financial expert, who later tagged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in a viral post appealing for repairs. “There was no obstruction, just a bad road. Please fix it.”
By midnight, the jam still hadn’t eased. The Lekki–Epe Expressway—a lifeline for residents of Ajah, VGC, Abijo, and Ibeju-Lekki—had become a motionless parking lot.
The Road That Eats Time
From Abijo to Jakande, commuters described the day as endless. Sylvester Akobe said it took him five hours to cover a short distance, blaming the poor road. Tope Yisau spent nearly eight hours commuting to and from work—time lost to exhaustion and frustration.
Families suffer too. One father, Adekunle Shotubo, said his son now returns from school by 7 p.m. “When does he rest or do homework?” a friend replied. For many, long commutes have stolen rest, family time, and productivity.
Broken Infrastructure, Broken Spirits
Across social media, commuters shared their anger and fatigue.
“I left Ogombo at 5:10 a.m., and by 9:50 a.m., I still hadn’t reached Lekki Phase One,” wrote @EnergyGoddessA. “I get queried at work for lateness caused by roads only the government can fix.”
Another post read: “A car dodging a pothole nearly crashed. We shouldn’t have to live like this.”
The High Cost of Poor Planning
The Lekki–Epe corridor was meant to be a symbol of modern Lagos. Instead, it has become an example of unchecked expansion without matching infrastructure.
“The Epe/Lekki axis grows daily,” wrote researcher Charles Anazodo, “yet there’s only one route in and out. Lagos earns the highest IGR in Nigeria, but residents suffer from decayed roads.”
Other residents have called for alternative routes—bridges linking Ajah to Ikorodu, and new bypasses to ease pressure on the expressway.
Lagos Loses ₦4 Trillion Annually to Traffic
The Lekki–Epe corridor alone accounts for a major portion of Lagos’ ₦4 trillion annual loss to traffic congestion. Poor roads, encroachment, reckless parking, and weak enforcement turn the expressway into an obstacle course.
While the first rehabilitation phase (Eleko–Epe Junction) was reported 95% complete in 2022, the second phase, Eleko to Abraham Adesanya, remains slow, trapping thousands in gridlock daily
Encroachments also worsen the problem, as informal markets and illegal car lots occupy designated setbacks.
Trucks, Craters, and Chaos
The influx of heavy-duty trucks serving refineries and the Free Trade Zone has compounded the crisis. Overloaded vehicles damage the roads and clog narrow lanes, creating the “Apapa-style” gridlock residents now call the “Apaparisation of Lekki.”
Mental and Economic Toll
The impact goes beyond inconvenience. Residents describe psychological stress, lost work hours, and soaring fuel costs.
“We’re losing valuable time and risking our health,” wrote Oluwaseyi Oriola. “We need sustainable infrastructure and public transport.”
For others, the despair runs deep. “I cried driving from the Island to Yaba,” said Treasure Joy. “I dread going home.”
Failing Leadership and Fading Patience
Some residents have begun questioning leadership priorities. “A state generating over ₦50 billion monthly shouldn’t have this level of neglect,” wrote Mobolaji Johnson.
Many believe the crisis reflects years of underinvestment in road maintenance, poor planning, and slow policy response.
Government Response
The Lagos State Government has introduced several measures, including the E-Call Up System for trucks to regulate traffic around the Lekki–Epe Free Trade Zone. Set for full enforcement in August 2025, the system aims to prevent indiscriminate truck parking.
Authorities have also begun demolishing illegal structures along the corridor to reclaim road space. The ongoing rehabilitation of the Eti-Osa/Lekki–Epe Expressway covering 45 km is expected to ease congestion once completed.
Still, residents remain cautious. “The government has shown intent,” said Chief James Emadoye of the Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association. “But intent alone cannot move vehicles. We need results.”
Until then, the Lekki–Epe Expressway remains a slow crawl of frustration—an enduring test of patience for thousands who call the corridor home.
Source: Punch
By: Godfrey George
