By Charles Kumolu

LAGOS State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, has disclosed that the incessant rainfall is responsible for the poor state of some roads in Lagos, noting that it would embark on massive rehabilitation at the end of rainy season.

It also called on Lagos residents to desist from practices that cause road damage, saying that apart from normal wear and tear, certain man made factors are responsible for frequent road damages.

According to the Executive Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Akintola who made this disclosure during a stakeholders’ forum on “Roles of the Public in Curbing Road Damages” last week added that “we have been fixing the roads through various palliatives, like yesterday we worked on a particular road and after the work there was a heavy downpour. So, all we did was washed away and each tipper of what we used is over four hundred thousand Naira. The fact is that the rains have not been helpful. As soon as the dry begins , we will be very free to do more on what we are already doing.”

Akintola said that the corporation is blessed with quality staff, pointing out that.”we are capitalising on the rains to overhaul our equipment so that when we have dry spell, we are going to move on miles. What I will tell Lagosians is to be patient with us because if we work in the rains, we will waste your money, as incessant downpour will wash our job away. I will appeal for patience, but when we have emergency, we will respond as soon as possible”, the executive chairman stated.

Speaking further on how human activities have constituted the major challenge to Lagos roads, he maintained that anytime burning of tires or other items is carried out on the road, heat is generated, leading to disintegration of the asphalt elements. He said this causes potholes to develop on such spots after cooling and heating take place over time.

Continuing, LSPWC boss said, “many people are fond of dumping solid waste materials in the drains, especially when it is raining. Such items as containers, clothing materials, nylon and other domestic wastes cause blockage of drains thereby resulting in overflow of water into the road surface with the ultimate effect of damage on the portion where water is retained.”

Mr. Akintola however disclosed that, high water table and lack of effective drainage system account for a high percentage of factors affecting road deterioration in the state.

“The water level gets so high that it undermines the base of the road in certain areas. Also due to lack of efficient and effective drainage system in some areas, flooding of different categories usually takes place during the rains.”

The retention of such rain water over time on the road usually leads to quick deterioration”.