The Pains, The Agony of Road Users of Atan-Igbesa-Agbara Road

Despite calls on the governor of Ogun State, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, the minister of power, works and housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola to quickly intervene on the Atan-Igbesa Road, none of these government parastatals have blinked an eyelid and the citizens are at the receiving end daily.

Atan-Igbesa-Agbara road is a strategically-structured economic road which serves as a linkage road between Nigeria and West African countries through Badagry-Seme border and Republic of Benin to the east and Iba-Alaba-Mile 2 and Apapa seaports to the west.

The Atan-Igbesa-Agbara industrial road hosts 70% of manufacturing industries in the state, the road was started by Shehu Shangri-led Federal Government in the early 80s and originally tagged Badagry-Agbara-Abeokuta-Sokoto road but has since abandoned by successive governments and now causes perennial problems for human and vehicular traffic inbound and outbound Ogun state and Lagos state as well as Benin Republic through either Idi-Iroko border or Badagry-Seme border.

It will be recalled that Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led Ogun state government in July, 2017 signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with private investors in Atan-Igbesa-Agbara industrial areas being represented by Kolapo Lawson, Chairman of Agbara Estates Limited on possible road reconstruction based on public-private partnership arrangement, using concrete technology that will cost about N23 billion.

An AutoReportNG reader sent us visuals on what motorists go through this road daily. The teary video clip shows the pains, the agony and stress of residents along this area.

The most interesting thing is that Agbara/Igbesa has the highest number of companies in Ogun state, with the like of Nestle, GSK, GZi, BIG COLA, Beloxxi, Avanti, Beta Glass, Nampak, Pharmadeko, Reckitt, Suntory (Lucozade and Ribena), Eko supreme, Hyatt, Comestar, Unilever, Procter and Gamble, Perfetti,  etc to mention just few.

There are more than 40 companies within Agbara, let alone the over 30 within the China Free Trade Zone. Alas, the major link road is in a mess. No day goes by without major safety incident of containers skidding off on the road.

The questions on our mind are:

1.  Why is the federal government not saying anything about this road despite the cries from motorists on this route?
2.  Why has the Ogun State government on whose corridor at least for the love of its citizen try to find a palliative measure to ease the movement of goods and services as what is being done in Lagos state?
3.  With over 40 companies spanned along this route, why have the companies not form a coalition as being done in Apapa-Wharf in Lagos where the likes of Dangote, Flour Mills, and other companies merge together and agree to construct the roads themselves thereby applying for tax holidays from the Federal Government? This will not only help them but make them have a sense of belonging and they can supervise the construction without any form of corruption since they are directly involved in the process.

From our investigations, we understand that this is a major road for all factories within this axis to transport their finish goods from the factories to the final consumers across the country, so this needs an urgent attention.

We want to use this platform to please appeal to the Federal Government and the State Government to kindly come to a logical conclusion and find a way to make this road motorable. People are going through a lot on this road and you can't but shed some tears when you realized that this government is blessed with enormous resources and wealth.

These are pictures and video from the road.

Watch the video here

Curbing the menace of tanker drivers in Lagos state

AutoReportNG was in Ojuelegba 2 days ago and we can't but express total dismay when we see how tanker drivers have turned what used to be a beautiful city in their carpark. The road was divided into two, the tankers parked at one end and the other space was for cars, buses etc. The went as far as from Ojuelegba to Stadium to Iponri all the way to Brewery, Brewery was worse as you will have to contend with Nigeria Brewery truck owners who lifts drinks to all parts of the country and from the brewery, the queue span to the bridge leading into Ijora and the case is endless. The question on our mind is that does it mean that the Lagos State Govt can not control these tankers drivers? Does it mean the tanker drivers are scare cows that can park anywhere not minding the risk involve especially on the bridge? These guys have caused lots of hardship and accident to many unsuspecting drivers in the state. During the times of Babatunde Fashola, there is decorum as things were not as bad as this but this time, it seems they have escalated and grown out of proportion. A call to the Lagos state government to act on.

These are some of the pictures we can take as we move from one place to another

Areas Prone To Robbery in Lagos - Drivers, Take Note!

Driving in Lagos can be fun and at the same time can be so frustrating, if you are lucky to know some major parts of the city, you can always consider yourself lucky. It is one thing to know the major routes and it's another thing to stay safe from been robbed, with the economic situation in the country, which has caused untold hardship to the citizens, some guys have decided to waylay unsuspectingly drivers of their valuables and other items. We compile to you, list of dangerous roads/routes to avoid once it is night, its either you zoom off at high speed or you take security measures...

1. Checking Point Bus Stop, VI
This bus stop is a den of thieves and robbers all thanks to the lagoon close by, once it is 8pm and you are within that place, what you see is what you get. One wonders why a place that has the military presence around as there are policemen guarding the embassies within that area will these have these guys walking free

2. Berger Bus Stop (along OPIC–Ibadan Expressway)
For those going to Mowe, MFM, Redeem Camp and all the way to Ibadan, this bus stop is a place to watch for as criminals attack victims with guns on the long bridge and in traffic jams.

3. Apogbon Bridge, Lagos Island
This place can be termed the headquarters of the bad boys, the boys have upgraded to robbing in afternoon. Apogbon bridge spans from CMS and links to Costain, Stadium and other axes. These criminals recently devised a means of breaking the windscreen even if its wind up. Their soft targets are mostly ladies and women who drive alone in their cars but there are reports that these activities have reduced due to the presence of the police on this bridge

4. Ojuelegba Bridge
When Wizkid sang about Ojuelegba in one of his singles, he was talking about the struggle and how they used to work hard to earn a living but this seems not to be the case now as the area is no longer safe at some point, the place is always busy during the day but when it is 10pm, the place can best be termed on your own, God bless you that you have a flat tyre within that area, you know you have to settle the boys.

5. Oshodi Oke/Isale
The fear of Oshodi is the beginning of wisdom, the name alone sends shivers to drivers and commuters that toll that place. Oshodi is notorious for notorious for bag snatching, pickpocketing and mugging during rush hours, some reports have it that people have been kidnapped within that area.

6. Obalende Bridge
Obalende bridge connects CMS, Ikoyi, Obalende community together but this place is fast becoming something else despite the efforts of the Lagos State Government to raid these guys off but they keep coming back. Even the force headquarters within the place do not scare them.

7. Abule Egba Traffic Light
Abule Egba area is when you are going to areas like Sango Ota, Alagbado then you have to pass through this area. This bus stop is noted for violent mugging and dangerous street urchin who can forcefully take your belongings and even harm you.

8. 3rd Mainland Bridge
This place needs no introduction as many people have been robbed on this bridge, due to the Lagoon, people are helpless and this gives the robbers the opportunity to operate effortlessly. Reports have it that RRS are manning a 24-hour surveillance on this bridge but it's better to be warned as police may not be around when the boys are operating

You can add yours, we are waiting for your replies

Agege Pen Cinema: Lagos announces new traffic management measures

Further to the earlier partial restriction of traffic flow into Pen Cinema junction, Agege, the Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Transportation has announced additional traffic management measures aimed at enhancing smooth flow of traffic and fast work pace for the construction of the flyover in the area.

A statement issued by the Ministry stated that the additional measures introduced entail the prevention of trucks and articulated vehicles from using Oba Ogunji Road and restricting them to Ijaye Road through Balogun Street for the onward continuation of their journey.

The statement added that other categories of vehicles will continue to use Oba Ogunji Road but must henceforth turn right into the Ijaye Medium Estate where the alternative road provided will take them to Iju Road.

While commending the people for their patience and cooperation with the State government and the contractors, the release assured that measures being taken are to ensure that the projected contract delivery date is adhered to.

Construction of the One and Half kilometer-long flyover which commenced in January this year is designed to rid the Pen Cinema junction and environs of the perennial traffic congestion and the attendant waste of man-hours for Lagosians plying the area.

Nigerian Man uses 840k to buy a sex doll

To all those who still think the sex doll is a joke, you may have to wait for so long as it seems Sex Doll has taken over. I was minding my business on FB and I saw one of my followers congratulating his friend on the arrival of his new Sex Doll. The owner has to reply that the doll cost him a whopping 840,000 naira, the money he could have used to buy a Camry and the following discussion ensued as the ladies are not finding it funny at all, some even protest, read below.

Cleaner Lagos or Cleaner Nonsense? The New Face of Lagos (Photos)

Last year, the Lagos state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode sacked all PSP operators from operating and been in charge of refuse collection in the state, a new firm was assigned to take charge named VisionScape, but it seems this firm knows little or maybe they are too foreign to how things were been run in the state. In less than a year, Lagos state is going from bad to worse in terms of dirts and refuse, this is not the Lagos Fashola left behind as Lagos was very clean then. These are some of the pictures showing the dirty nature of the state from Lagos Island, Tinubu, Itire, Okoko and many more. These are reflections that VisionScape firm is not working according to the task. The question, therefore, is why sack a working unit and replace them with a firm that has no working experience in the country before? Well, these are some visuals we can get from the social media, streets and on Twitter.. Enjoy