Throughout FESTAC City, a housing property of the Federal Authorities, the roads are in horrible state, inflicting harrowing experiences that go away bitter style not simply within the mouth of residents, motorists but in addition companies which are every day made to bear further value or undergo some loss from the deplorable roads.
From 4th Avenue by fifth Avenue Junction to 4th Avenue Reverse 400 Street; 4th Avenue by third Avenue Junction; 4th Avenue towards 1st Avenue Junction; 1st Avenue Reverse Holy Household Catholic Church; 1st Avenue by Heavens Hostel; the entire of 2nd Avenue is a write off; seventh Avenue by Whole Gasoline station in direction of Alakija; seventh Avenue by 73 Street close to Mountain of Hearth Ministry; seventh Avenue by 71 junction; seventh Avenue by 72 Junction; to 71 Street by 24 Street Junction close to Temple Hl Mall are both full write off or virtually.
Like many nationwide property, FESTAC City in Amuwo Odofin Council of Lagos State is rotting away with authorities paying little or no consideration to keep up its amenities together with its roads.
Nonetheless, somewhat than the federal, state and native governments taking note of its roads, majority of the roads have been left unattended to by the three governments: federal, state and native governments with a number of sizes of potholes dotting Festac roads.
Essentially the most hit among the many roads embody First Avenue Street, 2nd Avenue Street, sixth Avenue Street, seventh Avenue Street, 23 Street, and 52 Street. A bit of 2nd Avenue Street in direction of Alakija has been deserted by motorists as a route to attach the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. There are totally different sizes of craters inside the lower than 200 metres part of 2nd Avenue Street that majority of auto homeowners and motorists who use to ply the highway now concern driving by means of principally as a result of the craters are lined with stagnant water and autos usually get caught within the highway.
Whereas saying he has by no means seen FESTAC roads this dilapidated, a resident, John Okafor, acknowledged that the roads are horrible. He additional stated that driving on FESTAC roads is sort of a punishment for a lot of residents and guests.
“There isn’t any highway in FESTAC the place you possibly can choose all of your gear whereas driving with out breaking. Earlier than you choose gear three, you’ll return to the primary gear. It isn’t humorous. I stay at seventh Avenue, however it takes me over 20 minutes to drive to my Church on 1st Avenue. That is inside the FESTAC not outdoors.
“In one of many events, I wanted to get to the church at a specific time. Whereas I used to be on the highway, my pastor who lives on Previous Ojo Street, Oriade Native Council Improvement Space that drove by means of Mile 2 bought to the church earlier than me, but I stay in Festac. That tells you the way dangerous our roads have develop into and the difficulty driving the roads of FESTAC.
“There are roads that I keep away from now due to their deplorable state. 2nd Avenue is a no go space for me when driving. Prior to now two years, these roads have been so deplorable like by no means earlier than. Not one of the authorities, whether or not the native authorities, state or Federal Authorities look in direction of this course. Generally, the native authorities will do palliative filling of the dilapidated sections of the roads which after one week, get broken and it goes dangerous once more.
“We’re affected by dangerous roads and its influence on our automobile. You need to change your shock absorbers frequently majorly because of the state of our roads in Festac. We name on the federal government to come back to our assist.”
The Youth Chief for Neighborhood 3, FESTAC City, Saheed Shodipo, additionally lamented the poor state of the roads, saying that they aren’t simply dangerous, they’re dangerously dangerous.
He added that efforts to make use of various routes that a bit higher usually result in travelling lengthy travelling virtually two kilometer for a journey that ought to have been accomplished in 300 to 400 metres.
He stated that when it rains commuting inside festac turns into extra harrowing for not simply motorists but in addition commuters. Shodipo, nevertheless, stated the native council chairman has been making an attempt his greatest to repair a number of the roads, together with finishing up some palliative efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the residents.
He additional stated the representatives of FESTAC City on the federal and state meeting have deserted the residents, if not, how would the roads develop into so deplorable?
The Managing Director of Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Oyetola Ojo, visited FESTAC not too long ago to flag off reconstruction of a number of the roads. The Guardian, nevertheless, noticed that only a part of FESTAC’s Firstgate highway round First Avenue that had been partially performed virtually two months after the flagoff.
