INSIDEMAINLAND– Commuters on Iju Road in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area, Lagos Mainland have complained about traffic congestion at Fagba Junction.
Tayo Ayowale, a resident of Obawole, a community near the junction, said men from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority spent their time subduing erring motorists while ignoring traffic control.
He said, “That junction has become an ATM for LASTMA officials. Instead of passing traffic, you will find them begging for money from motorists. When they spot a motorist that broke a traffic rule, they all abandon traffic duty while trying to arrest the driver.”
Another commuter, pointing at a LASTMA official revealed that he was instructed to take the wrong route.
“He was the one who told me to drive that way,” the unidentified driver was heard saying.
This went on for about 20 minutes while the gridlock at the junction was left to a man on mufti. The traffic light at the intersection was found to be broken.
A commercial tricycle operator, who did not want to be identified, said his colleagues contributed to the traffic jam at the intersection, which they had converted into a parking lot.
He advised the government to repair the traffic light at the intersection as well as the road potholes.
Kingsley Ajao, a resident of Jonathan Coker Street, said a flyover at the intersection would help with traffic.
“Look at Agege, the flyover there has reduced traffic. This Iju Road leads to the flyover. If the government can build a flyover for us at this junction, traffic will be smooth,” he added.
Adebayo Taofik, LASTMA’s Public Relations Officer, said the junction was a sensitive area and that officials were doing everything possible to ensure the free flow of traffic.
He said, “That Fagba Junction is a very sensitive area and it’s one of the areas being given priority by the LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba. Our officers over there are using the manual in controlling traffic because the traffic lights are not working. Don’t forget that some of the roads on that axis are under construction. The motorists saying our officers don’t control traffic but go after erring drivers are the ones that are causing obstruction and impeding the free flow of traffic along the Fagba, Iju, and railway intersections. There’s no way the government will fold its arms and allow their behavior.”
