Lagos is the smallest state in Nigeria with respect to land mass, in a country with 36 States and a capital territory. However with a population of over 23 million people, and poor road network on the Lagos Island, it would only come as a surprise to see the Lekki-Epe expressway traffic free.
Ibeju Lekki is the fastest developing area in Lagos State with the ongoing investments in Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ), Dangote refinery and estates too numerous to mention attracting tourists with its beautiful lagoon and ocean fronts.
Twelve months ago, nine roundabouts existed between the Lekki toll gate and Sangotedo – a densely populated area around The Lagos Business School. The circumference of each of the gigantic roundabouts is off the charts when compared to the highway throat, thus causing rush hour traffic lockdown.
With government intervention three of the roundabouts have been replaced with traffic lights causing a free flow of traffic at those points but this did not come without a sacrifice of time by road users, as cars consistently broke down due to overheating in the long traffic. During the 50th anniversary of the state, The Jubilee Bridge flying over the Ajah axis of the Lekki-Epe expressway was opened for use and it has tremendously eased traffic flow.
Currently, there is ongoing work at the axis as another three of the roundabouts are being removed to be replaced with traffic lights; and yet again, the traffic has tripled on both lanes. Travel time between Lekki toll gate and Ibeju Lekki is about 30 minutes under standard conditions however, this journey now takes more than 2 hours to complete.
The increase in travel time has greatly affected delivery times in the area and of course has increased the delivery tariff to the locations affected. Motorists use off routes and undulating parts on the road to buy a few minutes off the long hour wait. Private operated public bus pricing from CMS to Sangotedo, Abijo, Awoyaya and Lakowe has leaped from 350 to 600 naira, over 50% increase.
The Lekki expressway is the only tarred route that leads to Ibeju Lekki and Epe.
An I-witness correspondent captured the traffic on video.
