Lekki-Ajah residents decry gridlock as transport fares hit N4,000

By Juliet Umeh

LAGOS — Residents and commuters on the Lekki–Ajah corridor successful Lagos connected Wednesday greeting were trapped for hours successful a monolithic postulation gridlock that brought concern and societal activities to a halt.

The gridlock, which stretched from Victoria Garden City (VGC) done Chevron Drive to Jakande and beyond, near motorists and passengers stranded for respective hours.

Commercial autobus operators reportedly hiked transport fares drastically, with the outgo of a autobus thrust from Ajah to CMS rising from the accustomed N700–N1,000 to betwixt N2,000 and N4,000. Despite the precocious fares, galore passengers said they were forced to instrumentality location arsenic question became astir impossible.

As of 3 p.m., the postulation persisted, extending for respective kilometres.

A commuter, Titi Ogunleye, recounted her ordeal: “It took maine 3 hours to determination from VGC to Chevron. I near location earlier 7 a.m., and by 10 a.m., I was inactive astir Chevron. The buses are present charging arsenic if we’re travelling to different state.”

Another passenger, Kunle Adebayo, described the acquisition arsenic “a regular nightmare,” adding that mediocre drainage contributes to the recurring problem. “Every clip it rains, this roadworthy becomes impassable. The drainage is terrible, and h2o from yesterday’s downpour has turned immoderate parts into a mini river,” helium said.

Amaka Nwosu, who works successful Victoria Island, said she missed an important lawsuit gathering due to the fact that of the traffic. “I near location by 6:30 a.m., hoping to get to the bureau by 8. By 10:15 a.m., I was inactive stuck astir Jakande. I yet turned backmost due to the fact that the lawsuit couldn’t hold immoderate longer,” she said.

Another commuter, Ayo Fashina, said the agelong hold affected his health. “I had to basal for much than 5 hours wrong a crowded autobus due to the fact that of the dilatory movement. The vigor was unbearable, and radical were arguing and shouting astatine each other,” helium noted.

Some roadworthy users blamed the gridlock connected the deteriorating authorities of the Lekki–Ajah road. Mrs. Abike Lawal, a commercialized driver, said: “From Bonny Camp to Abraham Adesanya, the roadworthy is afloat of heavy potholes. Vehicles person to dilatory down to navigate, and erstwhile 1 stops, it affects everyone behind. At night, it’s adjacent worse owed to mediocre lighting and flooding.”

John Michael, different resident, added: “The atrocious portions of the roadworthy person go ponds. You spot buses and cars tilting arsenic they effort to manoeuvre. LASTMA officials are seldom seen, and drivers determination nevertheless they similar conscionable to flight the gridlock.”

While the nonstop origin of Wednesday’s gridlock was unclear, galore roadworthy users attributed it to flooding pursuing Tuesday’s rainfall, peculiarly astir the Jakande and Eleganza areas.

A motorist, Mrs. Bisi Adebanjo, said: “The roadworthy aft Jakande is flooded again. Each clip it rains, it becomes a problem. Cars conflict to pass, and that’s what causes the hold-up each the mode back.”

Many frustrated commuters were seen trekking agelong distances to bushed the traffic.

Residents person called connected the Lagos State Government to urgently repair the Lekki–Ajah roadworthy and overhaul its drainage system, describing the recurring congestion arsenic “a regular punishment” that affects productivity, health, and wide prime of beingness on the corridor.

The station Lekki-Ajah residents decry gridlock arsenic transport fares deed N4,000 appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.