I am thinking that we should re-name the Lagos - Benin expressway 'The Devil's Highway' due to the state of the road and incessant armed robbery attacks on the road. Many road users have lost their lives on that road either from accidents caused by the poor condition of the road, or from armed robbers’ bullets. There are stories of those who have passed the night in their vehicles on the roads as a result of the gridlock.
Recently I got caught in the mother of all traffic jams travelling back to Lagos from Benin and must say that I won’t be in a hurry to travel through the road any time soon. I know that the former Minister of Transport Mrs. Madueke famously cried on national television after inspecting the road and witnessing first hand the plight of the road users but tears are not enough to console Nigerians and families who have either lost loved ones on that road or have missed business and other appointments due to the gridlock.
Although this is a federal government road, however, I think that the governors of the South East and South South states who have variously been staging economic summits should as a matter of urgency explore the model of funding the construction of the road as a result of its strategic importance as the major gateway from Lagos to the South South and South East states. This model has been used in the past in Abia state (under Orji Uzor Kalu) and Anambra state (under Chris Ngige); both constructed some federal roads in their states and were later reimbursed by the federal government.
Fixing this road will boost economic activities in both South South and South East states.
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I am thinking that we should re-name the Lagos - Benin expressway 'The Devil's Highway' due to the state of the road and incessant armed robbery attacks on the road. Many road users have lost their lives on that road either from accidents caused by the poor condition of the road, or from armed robbers’ bullets. There are stories of those who have passed the night in their vehicles on the roads as a result of the gridlock. ...Read the full article.
Abeg leave matter for now. Recall the 419 over the 2nd Niger Bridge and you want these govs to use their scarce state resources for another Federal project. Please let Dora rebrand the road or alternatively leave the SE and SS to be cut off prior to their evolution into new rebulics of Biafra and Niger Delta:D
You kind of get used to it like you see. We are not bothered by such matters. We have learned to be the happiest people in the world, even in the face of adversity. We are extremely patient beings contrary to popular mythology.
=Robot;355181>Fixing this road will boost economic activities in both South South and South East states.
Unfortunately, it is rare to find a public official in this part of the world who is really interested in doing anything that will truly boost economic activities. The first question they would want you to answer is: How will such an action boost their private pockets or bank accounts? Any benefit to the public after that is incidental.
Have you noticed that the most terrible portions of the Benin-Ore road are mainly on the the side of Edo State? And that is how it has been since the days of the 'curse' called Lucky Igbinedion, who ran aground every public utility in the state while his father's empire prospered. The other part of the road towards Sagamu, which used to be fair, is also deteriorating, no thanks to visionless and self-centred people we now have as leaders in the adjoining states.
What you saw, and captured in that video, is merely a prelude to what will happen at the peak of the rainy season. But who cares? Our politicians are too rich to travel by road, so they care less what the average man goes through.
The most painful part is that whether or not we like it, they have started reinforcing for 2011, instead of hiding their faces in shame.
First let me say a big thank you to Uche for bring us this piece. I remember l the expressroad very well, instead of making efforts to repair the roads all over the country there busy rigging, intimadating and depriving Nigerians of their mandate. And we have a Misinformation Minister deceiving Nigerians and the world and re-branding the luciferious activities of the political elities.
Uche is spot on, this is the Devil's Highway and we are thinking of being an economical gaint in 2020 when we cannot get right the basic facilities that aid economical and social development.
I am sure after this harrowing experience, the re-branding bug has been cured from you. If any one is a die hard believer in re-branding a live experience such as this, is the best way for a quick u-turn.
Sadly I am amazed at the amount of hardship & suffering Nigerians are ready to take without ever rising up to challenge our leadership. If it had been in other climes, the ordinary people would be up in arms to change or bring the leadership to book.
We are in living in a failed state but we are yet to realize it, as majority of us are in deep slumber.
My sisters call me Mr stingy..which I am proud of and make no apologies for it. Earlier this year in Nigeria I decided to travel to Asaba and my village but with a stop over to see my childhood city Benin and inlaws. Despite a 75% discount with Aero I decided to go by road. At Ore I told the driver to pull over and I got out and thought....this Lagos-Benin expressway signifies all that is wrong with Nigerian politicians. I was standing for good 20-25 minutes just pondering how long will my enthusiasm for "e go better one day for Nigeria" last.
Even if the roads where fixed. The demon induced driving of the populace is another madness. Oh well I suppose one gets used to it.:sad:
I am totally disappointed in you for spoiling Aunty Dora's job like that.
Wetin dey worri you sef? You could have easily "re-branded" that road by lifting a picture of any of the California 16-lane highways and rebrand it the new Lagos - Benin Expressway!
Isn't that what you guys are planning to do with Nigeria?
I will report you to Aunty Dora as another frustrated, anti-rebranding JJC from abroad, now you are in trouble.
Count two: you even put it on You Tube, that is rebranding sabotage, now you are BIG trouble.
Uche,
This is indeed a very sad story. BUT!!! Having done a bit of road construction now, the underlying problem with that road is the type of construction. Until somebody with a tad bit of engineering sense comes on board and a tad bit of money comes along, the situation will not change. That road is the wrong type of road for the location. I wonder if anyone is paying attention to that.
I will also say part of Nigeria's lawlessness contributes to the frustrations on the road. From the video, you almost could not tell who was going west and who was going east!!! Rather than two lanes one, east and one west, it looked more like say three lanes west and one east. Everybody just jammed and confused...and certainly angry.
exactly, i did not know if i was in naija or kenya.
On this road a pothole swallowed our abc luxurious and i could see only dirt from the windows.
right left, reverse forward. Disaster.
also rumours that agberos are destroying it to make money by pushing cars out.
Look at their proximity as well. No margin for error, one car with faulty brakes or bad tires and it will be a wipe out with so many dead.
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