Epe residents in Lagos State and motorists plying the Epe-Ikorodu Expressway on Monday urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to repair the highway.

Those who spoke with journalists in Epe lamented that the only expressway that linked Epe with Ikorodu was in deplorable condition.

They argued that if the road was repaired, it would make life easy for its users.

Olayemi Tunwase, an Epe resident and businesswoman, said the deplorable condition of the road was affecting business relations between Epe and Ikorodu.

“We do most of our fishing and agricultural businesses with Ikorodu people, but the deplorable state of the road has crippled such businesses,’’ she said.

Ms Tunwase urged Mr Sanwo-Olu to repair the road for businesses to grow again.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu should partner with council chairmen of Ikorodu and Epe to facilitate speedy repair of the road,’’ she said.

A motorist, Sesan Ademiji, said the expressway had put his vehicle in bad condition.

“I spend a lot of money to repair my car anytime I pass through that road.

“I regard the road as the shortest route to mainland Ikorodu; that is why I use it, but the condition of the expressway is so bad for vehicles to pass through.

“Most motorists try to avoid passing through the road, but I have no choice because it is the shortest road connecting Epe with Ikorodu and its environs.

“The alternative is the Epe-Ibeju Lekki expressway, which is very far from Ikorodu.

“We have been lamenting the poor condition of the expressway for years to no avail. The government should please come to our rescue,’’ he said.

Another resident, Jumoke Alade, said representatives of Epe residents had gone to the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, to report on the terrible state of the road but had not received any response.

She said the only people who visited the area were officials of the Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area who tried to construct drainage and fill bad portions of the road.

“The patches done by the council did not solve the problem; rather, they worsened it. Another patchwork is being done now, but in no time it will collapse.

“I hope this present administration will yield to our pleas by repairing the road for easy movement to and fro,’’ Ms Alade said.

A commercial bus driver, Tunde Adekoya, said many of his colleagues had fallen victim to hoodlums, who seized the opportunity of the bad condition of the road to rob them of their money and valuables.

“Passengers are not spared; they are also robbed of their cash, telephones and other valuables,” he said.

Mr Adekoya said the stones used by the Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area to fill up the bad portions of the roads regularly punctured tyres.

“It is a pity that the government can allow a major link road that runs from Epe to Ikorodu to get so bad.

“The people who are living in these areas are suffering. We used to charge each passenger N700 from Epe Garage to Ikorodu when the road was good and the price of fuel was reasonable, but now we charge N1,700 per passenger.

“We spend more than what we earn on the repairs of our vehicles,’’ Mr Adekoya said.

(NAN)