RismadarVoice Reporters, July 26, 2026
Residents and business owners along Alakoso Avenue in the Mile 2 area of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State have appealed to the state government to urgently reconstruct the road, describing its deteriorating condition as a major threat to lives, businesses and economic activities.
The road, which stretches from Ijesha on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway to the Festac Link Road, has become largely impassable after years of neglect, forcing motorists, commercial transport operators and residents to contend with deep gullies, blocked drainage channels and severe flooding whenever it rains.
A visit to the area showed large sections of the over 40-year-old road riddled with potholes and erosion. At the same time, some motorists resorted to driving on pedestrian pathways to navigate the damaged portions.
Residents who spoke to journalists expressed frustration over what they described as years of unfulfilled promises by successive administrations, alleging that repeated appeals for intervention had yielded little result.
According to a business owner in the area, who requested anonymity, the road was originally constructed in the early 1980s during the administration of the late Governor Lateef Jakande as part of the infrastructure supporting the Festac and Amuwo-Odofin housing estates.
He recalled that the road later became an important alternative route after former Governor Babatunde Fashola approved the construction of a link connecting it to the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.
The resident explained that the road experienced increased traffic during the period when heavy gridlock caused by petroleum tankers frequently paralysed movement around Mile 2 and Apapa.
“The heavy movement of articulated trucks accelerated the deterioration of the road, but there was no corresponding maintenance by government authorities,” he said.
He added that although traffic congestion in the Apapa corridor has reduced following improvements to the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, the deplorable condition of Alakoso Avenue now prevents residents from enjoying what could have been one of the fastest access routes to surrounding communities.
The resident further alleged that repeated complaints to local government officials were met with the explanation that the road falls under the responsibility of the Lagos State Government. In contrast, the local council lacked the financial capacity to undertake its reconstruction.
According to him, churches, private companies and residents have on several occasions contributed funds to carry out temporary repairs by filling potholes with stones and sand, but the interventions have failed to provide lasting relief because drainage channels remain blocked.
Another businessman, identified simply as Kunle, attributed part of the road’s deterioration to poor drainage maintenance.
He argued that regular clearing of drainage systems could have reduced the extent of damage caused by flooding and prolonged the lifespan of the road.
Kunle appealed to both the Lagos State Government and the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Council to intervene before the situation worsens.
“What you see here today is the effort of concerned residents and business owners trying to keep the road passable. Without government intervention, commercial activities in this area may be completely crippled,” he said.
Investigations indicate that several businesses operating along the corridor have either scaled down operations or shut down entirely because of the poor state of the road, while industries that rely on heavy-duty vehicles continue to face logistical challenges.
Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators also said the road has significantly reduced their daily earnings.
An operator, Johnson Adeyinka, said many passengers now avoid the route because of its condition.
“Before the road became this bad, business was much better. Now passengers avoid this route, and sometimes fallen trailers block the road completely. We even ride on pedestrian paths because the road has failed,” he said.
Similarly, tricycle operator Babatunde James said frequent vehicle breakdowns have increased maintenance costs and reduced operators’ incomes.
“Most of the money we make goes into repairing our tricycles because of the damage caused by the road. We need the government to intervene before the road becomes completely unusable,” he said.
A businesswoman, Alhaja Taiwo Ogungbo, said the poor road network has discouraged customers from visiting her shop, resulting in declining sales and reduced profits.
“We expected the location to attract customers because it is along a major road, but the opposite has happened. Business is suffering because people cannot easily access the area,” she said.
A security guard working in one of the companies along the corridor also described the situation as particularly difficult during the rainy season, noting that community members have repeatedly mobilised resources to carry out temporary repairs in the absence of government intervention.
When contacted, the Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government was unavailable for comment.
However, a source at the local government secretariat disclosed that the council had already drawn the attention of the Lagos State Government to the condition of the road.
According to the source, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reportedly been informed of the situation, with plans to commence reconstruction after the rainy season.
The source also noted that drainage construction and rehabilitation works have already begun on adjoining roads within the area but were temporarily suspended because of persistent rainfall.
Residents say they remain hopeful that the proposed intervention will provide a permanent solution to the decades-long deterioration of Alakoso Avenue, which they believe is critical to improving transportation, reviving businesses and enhancing economic activities in the densely populated corridor.
