Commercial drivers plying Epe/Ibeju-lekki Express way have blamed Dangote trucks for poor condition of roads in the environs.
Expressing their grievances, motorists including commuters and residents, staged a peaceful protest that halted vehicular movement in the early hour of today.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the shutdown has created an unprecedented traffic gridlock on the usually busy highway.
The condition of the road led to a spontaneous protest by motorists, commuters, residents and youths from the division.
The protesters blocked the entire expressway, making passage in both directions, impossible.
A traffic gridlock stretching over 10 kilometres built up on the road, on the way to Epe, trapping thousands of motorists going to work, thereby, disrupting commercial activities on the highway.
A similar gridlock also built on the other side, affecting motorists coming from Ibeju Lekki to Epe.
The traffic lockdown which began at about 6a.m in the morning was still on at 11:45am.
On the protest, Mr Tunde Jinodu, a commercial driver, bemoaned the expenses incurred daily by both commuters and motorists plying the route.
He lamented that the failed section of the express way has cost drivers heavy maintenance on there vehicles.
“The bad road is making motorists spend more on maintenance. This action of protest is carried out to signal the government on fixing the road as soon as possible.
“It is a joint action of all motorists plying the Lekki-Epe Expressway.
“We were happy when Hi-Tech construction company workers were sighted on the expressway, thinking work will begin anytime soon, but nothing was done, “he said.
According to the commercial driver, Dangote trucks are the major cause of this terrible condition of the road.
“We drivers that stage the protest are not in Epe alone, our members are also at Ibeju, they have also blocked the road in that axis.
“We are fed up of the neglect of this road by Lagos state Government, ” he said.
Another Driver, Mr Sulaiman Lamidi, who was drenched by the heavy downpour, expressed his dissatisfaction with the government for neglecting the road for so long.
“I am a private transporter and I ply this road everyday. I take passengers from Lagos to Port Harcourt and I am happy this is happening.
“If it will take us to also block Epe-Ijebu Ode expressway boundary, I am totally in support.
“The government should wake up and come to the people’s rescue, “he said.
The heavy down pour could not deter the motorists from shifting grounds as the Epe-Ikorodu highway was also blocked.
All manner of commuters including security officials were trapped in the gridlock.
The drivers used their cars to block the road leaving road users stranded.
Many commuters, women in particular, were seen trekking with goods on their head. Even pregnant and nursing mothers, police officers and haulage workers weren’t spared.
Earlier, the Division Police Officer (DPO), Epe Division, CSP Tokosi Division, said that efforts are in place to control and calm the situation.
“As you can see, our officers are at the scene of the protest to control and manage the situation,” he said.
