THE neglect of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road is now an international advertisement of Nigeria’s leadership failure

THE President drives on it. The Vice-President, and all the governors too. Indeed, Nigeria’s leadership in whole drives on it. So, why can’t they do something about it? That is a shame.

Much more has been written about the sorry state of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road (MMIA), Lagos, than any other road in the country, and for good reasons too.

It is unarguably the busiest and most prominent gateway into Nigeria.

It also leads to the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and to the nation’s major seaports, but sadly, has had the ill fortune of being one of the most neglected roads in Nigeria.

Even little Haiti devastated by earthquake a few years ago boasts of a better route to its international airport on Port-au-Prince.

Concerned Nigerians have shouted themselves hoarse over the deplorable state of the road and even foreign diplomats have, on a number of occasions, urged that something be done to end the death-trap status of the road.

Yet, nothing has been done by the Federal Ministry of Works, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) or the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).         Even the promise by President Goodluck Jonathan at Tafawa Balewa Square when he was on campaign tour in Lagos has proved to be untrue.

He told the crowd then that he had directed the Minister of Works to rehabilitate Murtala Mohamed International Airport Road.   Six months later, nothing has happened.

Not too long ago, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) had caused to upbraid the Federal Government over its neglect of Federal roads in the state, especially the Apapa/Oshodi Expressway and the Lagos Airport Road.

He said that despite the importance of the roads to the nation’s economy, the Federal Government had remained adamant, unwilling or unable to fix the dilapidated roads, which even now, constitute a nightmare to motorists.

He had urged the Federal Government to rise up to the challenge, as the present state of the road is an eyesore and a poor impression to foreign visitors of Nigeria and her leaders.

His strong words for the Federal Government were lapped up by Lagosians whose hopes rose that the Lagos State Government would step in and save the nation the huge embarrassment the MMIA Road has become.

But so far, nothing has happened, probably because of the dog-in-the-manger attitude of the Federal Government.  It would not maintain the so-called Federal roads and would not refund state governments like that offer to do so the money they would have spent.

The rainfall on Sunday once again exposed the deplorable condition of MMIA Road and further down to Apapa expressway where several portions have collapsed.

As a motorist lamented that evening: “ This road is an uncomfortable reminder that our leaders do not have the larger interest of the nation as priority.

“How else can one explain the fact that people, including foreign diplomats, have been asking that something be done about this road but without success.

“If a foreign diplomat could criticise the state of our roads, and nothing is done to address the matter, then, there is no hope.

“This road for is the first point of call for visitors to the country.

“When they run into our potholes on MMIA Road, no one needs tell us what they would think the roads further inland would look like.”

Another exasperated motorist, Funso Ojelabi, not long ago said: “It is a shame that a nation that spends billions on things that do not matter, can afford to neglect the road through which foreigners come in.

“Whether we like it or not, the state of the road is an indictment on the government and its agencies such as the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

“The pain motorists go through has worsened with the increased rains and the resultant flood this year.

“The innumerable potholes have become craters, the flooded sections, mini-pools.

“To even worsen matters, the road is also narrow and has only two lanes though there is enough space to widen it to six.

“When it rains, the hold-up is suffocating and hoodlums who hide in nearby bushes to harass those whose vehicles break down.

“I hope someone will one day decide to do what is right about this road? I am praying fervently that it turns out to be so”, he said.

Again, the traffic jam for which the road is notorious becomes intractable, particularly at night, and worse, if it rains.

“It is a big risk driving down from the Airport towards Oshodi at night and when it rains.

One has to be extra careful not to plunge into any of the potholes on the edge of the road.

“These holes have no business being there if such an important highway had been receiving proper attention each year,” an airport taxi operator, Chris Anolu told The Guardian yesterday.

Posted by admin on Nov 8 2011. Filed under Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry