The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), has undertaken significant road maintenance efforts in the first half of 2024. According to Tokunbo Ajanaku, the General Manager of LSPWC, a total of 393 roads across various local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) have been repaired and rehabilitated. These efforts encompass a range of interventions from total reconstruction to routine maintenance and palliative measures.
Key highlights of the road maintenance activities include:
1. **Types of Interventions**: The LSPWC utilized approaches such as asphalt premix, interlocking paving stones, and palliative interventions to address road maintenance and rehabilitation needs.
2. **Scope of Work**: The interventions covered major reconstruction, rehabilitation, routine maintenance, and fixing of inner roads within public facilities. Specific examples include Eluku Street in Agbowa-Ikosi, Igbogbo-Baiyeku Road in Ikorodu, and various streets in Ikeja GRA, Oshodi, Surulere, and other areas across Lagos State.
3. **Completion and Progress**: By mid-year 2024, 69 major rehabilitation projects had been completed, with ongoing work on 15 roads undergoing total reconstruction across different local governments.
4. **Challenges and Mitigation**: Challenges such as heavy rainfall and cost-push inflation impacted project timelines and costs. Despite these challenges, the LSPWC continued to deploy resources to ensure road infrastructure improvements were implemented promptly.
5. **Routine Maintenance**: A total of 240 roads were routinely maintained to prevent minor issues like potholes from escalating into more significant road defects.
6. **Community Engagement**: Ajanaku emphasized the importance of community involvement in preserving road infrastructure, urging residents to collaborate with the government to prevent habits that contribute to road damage.
Overall, the Lagos State Government’s efforts reflect a commitment to enhancing road infrastructure across the state, addressing both immediate repair needs and long-term maintenance strategies to ensure safe and accessible roads for residents.