By Desire Emmanuel
Residents of Akilo Road in Agege, Lagos State, have raised the alarm and urged the state government to urgently fix deep potholes abandoned for some time which are causing frequent accidents and injuries.
They said the road has become increasingly hazardous, especially during evening hours when streetlights are dim and drivers struggle to see the damaged portion clearly.
The two deep and wide potholes were in the middle of the busy stretch, which links major adjoining streets.
Commercial buses, private cars and trucks ply the route daily, making the danger more pronounced when traffic builds up or whenever it is raining.
A resident, Mr Ayodeji Thomas, said the potholes pose a serious threat to motorists and pedestrians, especially at night and early morning.
He described the potholes as “death traps,” saying the holes started small several years ago but worsened due to abandonment
“We appeal to the state government to help fix the road urgently before more lives are lost,” Thomas said.
He added that some residents had reported the problem to relevant agencies, yet no action had been taken so far.
A motorist, Mr Lateef Adewoye, recounted a narrow escape when he first encountered the potholes while driving on the road.
He said he swerved suddenly and narrowly avoided falling into the crater, describing the incident as “a miracle”.
According to him, the accident would have been fatal if an oncoming vehicle had come from the opposite direction.
Adewoye also recalled witnessing a pedestrian being knocked down by a vehicle trying to dodge the potholes.
Another resident, Mr Adebayo Sulaiman, said he sees at least three to four accidents weekly at the spot, involving cars, motorcycles and tricycles.
He said he had attempted to reduce the danger by filling the potholes with sand and stones from time to time.
However, he stopped after a near-fatal incident in which a speeding vehicle almost hit him while he was working on the road.
“I almost died while trying to help, so I stopped,” he said, urging the government to act swiftly.
Sulaiman also recounted how two motorcycle riders nearly collided with a truck that swerved after hitting the potholes and lost balance.
Another resident, Ms Boluwatife Ajayi, expressed concern for schoolchildren who walk along the road every morning and afternoon.
She said motorists often lose control after running into the potholes and veer dangerously towards the pavement, endangering pedestrians.
“The potholes are now life-threatening. We appeal to the Lagos State Government and relevant authorities to intervene immediately,” Ajayi said.
Residents urged the state government to prioritise repairs, saying proactive action now would prevent avoidable tragedies and restore safe movement along the busy road.
