By Kingsley Adegboye

The Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) last week appealed to Community Development Associations (CDAs), Local Government Councils as well as market men and women to cooperate with the Corporation in its ongoing campaign to stamp out road abuses in the state.

Speaking at the second edition of the stakeholders’ forum on the role of the public in curbing road damage organized by the state road maintenance agency for CDAs, GLCs and market men and women across the state, Mr. Gbenga who is the Executive Chairman, LSPWC said the purpose of the one day forum was to appeal to the stakeholders to assist the government in its effort to curb road damage in the state. He added that the appeal became necessary because if the funding of roads by the state government is not complemented by curbing certain habits like burning of tyres and cooking on roads, the funding will be a waste. He urged the representatives of the various associations at the forum to appeal to their members to assist in the campaign.

The LSPWC boss said the forum was put together to enlighten members of the public on the use of Lagos roads. Decrying the various abuses to which the state roads have been subjected to by members of the public, Mr Akintola noted that the attendant consequences of these abuses have led to loss of lives and maiming of bodies.

Head of Projects, LSPWC , Engr. Ganiyu Aiyepe, said water is a major cause of road damage. According to him, any road that retains water will deteriorate fast. He added that lack of effective and efficient drainage system encourages flooding during the rains leading to retaining water which consequently results in its early damage. He therefore advised road users, residents and car wash operators not to allow waste water to retain on roads.

Engr. Aiyepe added that indiscriminate cutting of roads often leads to road damage. It is an offence, he said, for anyone to cut roads without obtaining permission from the relevant government agency. He also noted that petroleum products have disintegrating effect on bitumen and this accounts for why asphalt will disintegrate when in contact with products like diesel and kerosine among others. He said the diesel or petrol dripping on the road from heavy duty vehicles eventually breaks up the asphalt surfacing and pot holes and ditches are thus created.

The head of projects who said excessive axle load is another cause of road damage, explained that when roads are made to carry excessive loads that they were not designed for, it will make the road to become distressed. According to him, the situation becomes worse where owners of goods bring such goods to their door step thereby imposing too much axle on roads that are originally designed as feeder, access or estate roads. This scenario, he said is very common with articulated vehicles such as containers and tankers which are often seen on streets with heavy loads.

Anytime people burn tires or other items on the road, heat is generated, leading to disintegration of the asphalt elements. This causes potholes to develop on such spots after cooling and heating which takes place over time.

Engr. Aiyepe further noted that dumping of refuse in drains causes road damage,. He explained that many people are fond of dumping solid waste materials in drains especially when it is raining. Items such as water containers, clothing materials, nylon and 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.

In their reactions, they all commended the efforts of the government to put Lagos roads in motorable conditions, promising their members; cooperation.