Residents and business owners along the Igbogbo-Baiyeku Road in Ikorodu, Lagos, on Thursday, appealed to the contractors to expedite the construction as the rainy season intensifies.

Movement is worsening, limiting access to transportation and affecting economic activities.

The road, currently under construction, has become increasingly difficult to navigate due to muddy conditions and waterlogged sections from frequent rainfall.

Many residents also complained about difficulty accessing transportation, noting that commercial vehicles now avoid the axis due to the poor condition of the road.

Funsho Igbekoyi, a businesswoman, lamented the hardship faced by commuters and traders, noting that the situation had disrupted daily life.

“The rain has made the road almost impassable. It is now very hard to get vehicles because many drivers don’t want to ply this route anymore. We appreciate the construction, but the pace of work needs to increase because people are really suffering,” she said.

Sadiq Bello, a commercial driver, also expressed concern over the condition of the road, stating that it had led to a drop in his daily earnings.

“I spend more time on the road now because of the bad condition. Sometimes passengers even refuse to enter because of the mud. Even for us drivers, many avoid this road completely. This is affecting our business seriously,” he said.

Similarly, a trader, Kemi Ogunleye, said the ongoing construction had reduced customer turnout in the area.

“Before now, people could easily stop and buy things, but now everywhere is dirty and flooded. Many customers avoid this road, and it is affecting sales,” she said.

Another resident, Tunde Akinwale, highlighted that alternative routes being used have also deteriorated due to increased traffic.

“The alternative routes are mostly inner streets maintained by the LCDA, but now they are in bad condition because everyone is using them. The roads were not built to carry this kind of traffic, and they are fast breaking down,” he said.

Also, Abiola Hassan, a student, noted the difficulties faced by pedestrians and commuters alike.

“It is very stressful walking through this road, especially when it rains. The alternative streets are no better, and getting transport outside is now a serious problem. We just want them to finish the road quickly,” she said.

Responding, the chairman of Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA, Hammed Aroyewun, said that the contractor had been fully mobilised back to the site and work had resumed in earnest.

He, however, urged residents to remain patient, assuring them that the project would be completed as soon as possible.

“I am happy to announce to you that the contractor has been fully mobilised back to the site; you can see that the workers are on the ground.

“They have been doing a lot within a short period of time, so we are hoping that the construction will continue like that, not like what happened before. But to be sincere, they have been on the ground for over two years, and they have been doing a lot,” he said.

The residents, however, urged that the renewed pace be sustained to ensure the timely completion of the project, restore ease of movement, improve access to transportation and revive business activities in the area.

(NAN)