Alakuko residents plead for Government intervention on “Death Trap” Road

Residents of Alakuko in Lagos State’s Ijaye-Ojokoro Local Government Area are urgently calling on the state government to address the dilapidated condition of the Baale-Animashaun Road, which they have described as a “death trap.”

In interviews, community members expressed their frustration, stating that the road’s poor state has led to significant economic hardship and constant damage to their vehicles. They are appealing for a complete reconstruction rather than temporary fixes.

Comrade Abayomi Oguntuase, a local resident, explained that the road has been in a state of disrepair for nearly seven years despite numerous complaints from the community.

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“The Baale-Animashaun Road in Alakuko has been in a serious state of disrepair for over six or seven years,” Oguntuase said. “We have made several efforts as residents and road users, even taking our complaints to social media.”

He recounted a previous attempt by officials to address the issue, which he deemed inadequate. “The last time we cried out, officials came and dumped large stones on the road as a form of palliative. But we don’t live in a stone age. What we need is proper rehabilitation.”

Oguntuase also criticized a separate drainage project being constructed near the expressway, arguing that it was illogical to build drainage without first fixing the connecting road.

“It’s like putting the cart before the horse,” he remarked. “If they eventually decide to fix the road, they may have to destroy that drainage.”

The road serves as a crucial alternative route connecting Lagos to neighboring Ogun State, especially during heavy traffic on the main expressway.

“It is a very long road, linking Sango and other parts of Ogun State to Lagos. I don’t understand why it has been abandoned for so long,” he added.

Another resident, Ade Makinde, emphasized the economic impact of the road’s neglect. “It is difficult to quantify the time and resources lost because of that road. It is the most important route in that axis,” he stated. “When there is traffic on the expressway, this is the alternative route people rely on.”

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Makinde also highlighted how the road’s condition hampers emergency services and forces residents into frequent vehicle repairs.

“Even when you call the police, it can take 30 to 40 minutes to reach us because of the road, when it should only take a few minutes,” he said.

“Vehicles break down frequently—within two hours of using that road, you may already be spending money on repairs.”

With the rainy season approaching, Makinde warned that the situation would become even more severe. “Once the rains start, the road becomes completely impassable,” he said. “We are appealing to the government to come to our aid.”

Echoing these sentiments, Matthew Adeleye described the road as “no longer motorable” and stressed its economic significance. He noted that the route connects Alakuko in Lagos to communities like Alagbole and Akute in Ogun State, ultimately linking to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

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“The economic importance of this road cannot be ignored,” Adeleye said. “A journey that should take a short time now takes up to two and a half hours because the road is in such bad shape.”

Attempts to get a comment from the Lagos State Ministry of Works were unsuccessful, as its spokesperson, Shina Odunuga, had not responded to calls or messages by the time of this report.