Lawmakers representing Badagry Local Government Area at the national and state House of Assemblies have decried the over 100 checkpoints along the Lagos-Badagry expressway.

The lawmakers expressed their displeasure at a civic reception organised for them on Wednesday in Badagry by the New Badagry Forum (NBF).

Present at the occasion were the lawmakers, newly-appointed commissioners and other politicians from the constituency.

Commenting on the issue, Sesi Whingah, member of the Federal House of Representatives (Badagry Federal Constituency), said no constituency could survive with the over 100 checkpoints in their area.

“We want to revive the economy of Badagry; how do we do this when we don’t have good roads and with many checkpoints?

“In as much as we want the environment to be secured, this is not how to secure it. It is a border area; the security agencies should move back to the border area,” Mr Wihingah said.

He stated that agencies like the police, Customs, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Army were at different checkpoints.

“We have written to their agencies, and I can assure you that we won’t keep quiet until they leave our roads. We want these agencies off our roads,” the lawmaker said.

David Setonji, the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 2 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, said the forum would help them work together to develop Badagry.

“Both the elected and the appointed officers will work in unison to protect the interest of the people of Badagry,” Mr Setonji said.

Bonu Solomon, the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 1 in the state assembly, commended the organisers for bringing the politicians together for the town’s development.

He said their coming together would help put the town in its rightful place.

Also commenting, Olusegun Onilude, the chairman of Badagry Local Government, said this was the first time a group of young people would bring political officeholders together for the town’s progress.

“This is a challenge; we won’t disappoint them; it will make us redouble our efforts,” Mr Onilude said.

(NAN)