Accidents: Ogun destroys shanties on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
As part of efforts to curb the incessant road accidents on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and to prevent further loss of lives, the Ogun State Ministry of Transportation, on Thursday, destroyed some shanties and stalls along the Mowe section of the road.
PUNCH Metro correspondent who was at the site of the demolition gathered that the space clearing was initiated to serve as a garage for commercial vehicles that often caused an impediment to traffic flow and unnecessary road crashes.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Transportation, Abiodun Adebiyi, who led the demolition expressed concerns over the incessant accidents that had claimed several lives along the expressway.
He noted that following the directive of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the Commissioner for Transportation, Gbenga Dairo, the ministry issued a notice to the occupants of the shanties which elapsed about two weeks ago.
He stressed that the demolition was to pave the way for an ultramodern garage that would serve as a loading point for commercial drivers and curb indiscriminate parking on the expressway.
Adebiyi said, “If you observed well, there is always a gridlock on this section of the expressway and when you pass the bus stop, you will realise that it is the commercial drivers who parked indiscriminately that are often the cause of the gridlock. Sometimes, this indiscriminate parking also causes accidents and avoidable loss of lives.
“We sat at the ministry and looked at what we can do to salvage the situation, and from our findings, we discovered that this area we are clearing used to be a garage before some hoodlums began renting it out to traders who have turned it into a shanty.
That was why we wrote to the traders to vacate here but some of them were adamant.
“Upon the expiration of the deadline we gave them, we swung into action which is what we are doing today. We plan to build a modern garage here with all necessary facilities but at the moment, we want to move the commercial vehicles here so that they won’t constitute impediments to traffic flow on the expressway.”
He added that a task force would be deployed to the area to prevent pedestrian crossing and compliance by commercial vehicles.
“We will position our task force to stop people from crossing the highway and enforce the use of the pedestrian bridge. The team will also monitor the compliance of the drivers from obstructing the highway.”
Some of the traders whose kiosks were destroyed in the clearing appealed to the state government to accommodate them in the new garage that would be constructed.
A trader who identified simply as Mary told our correspondent that they were informed of the demolition before it was carried out but noted that the economic situation hampered their ability to rent a shop.
She said, “My name is Mary. I sell drinks in this area. We were informed that we should leave here because they wanted to use the land, but we couldn’t leave because we couldn’t afford to get a shop due to the high cost of rent.
“I am happy with what they want to do here, but my appeal is that when the garage is ready, they should consider us by giving us space to continue our trade.”
Another trader who identified herself as Kemi told our correspondent that they rented the place from some persons whom she couldn’t identify and they also paid dues to the local government authorities through tickets.
She also appealed to the government to accommodate the traders in the planned garage.
“We paid money to some guys before we were allowed to use here, though I am not sure if they are from the government. We also collect tickets from the local government task force.
“I was not aware they asked us to leave here, but I cannot argue. My appeal is that they should allow us to stay when the garage is ready,” Kemi said.
Reacting to the traders’ appeal, Adebiyi noted that there was provision for the traders in the proposed garage.
“As I said, we planned to build an ultramodern garage. This garage will require the services of essential traders, so we have included the traders in our plan because that is the right thing to do. The garage we plan to have here will be equipped with public toilets and all essential facilities,” Adebiyi disclosed.
