Lagos attributes deteriorating road state to intense downpours

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The Lagos State Public Works Corporation has appealed to residents for understanding as the state grapples with prolonged rainy seasons, which have resulted in widespread flooding and damage to roads and other public infrastructure.

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The agency’s Director of Public Affairs, Samuel Ayetutu, disclosed this in a statement on behalf of the General Manager, Tokunbo Ajanaku, on Thursday.

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The statement acknowledged the inconvenience being experienced by motorists, commuters, and residents due to the deterioration of some roads across the state, assuring Lagosians that efforts were ongoing to keep the road network safe and motorable.

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Speaking on the corporation’s response to the situation, the General Manager, Tokunbo Ajanaku, said the unusually heavy rainfall being experienced was not unique to Lagos, noting that many cities around the world had also witnessed flooding and extensive damage to public infrastructure.

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“It is important to note that the unusually high volume of rainfall recorded this year is not peculiar to Lagos alone. Across many cities around the world, extreme weather conditions have led to flooding and significant damage to public infrastructure.

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“In Lagos, however, the challenge is even more pronounced because of the state’s unique terrain, with large portions lying below sea level. This makes roads particularly vulnerable to persistent groundwater pressure and torrential rainfall,” Ajanaku noted.

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He stated that the corporation had utilised the last dry season to carry out extensive road maintenance and rehabilitation across the state, significantly improving the condition of many roads before the onset of the rains.

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He, however, explained that the continuous downpour had limited the effectiveness of permanent road repairs because asphalt works require dry weather conditions to ensure durability and long-term performance.

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“Continuous and heavy rainfall has limited the effectiveness of permanent road repairs, as engineering standards require dry weather conditions for durable asphalt works to achieve the desired quality and longevity.

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“While LSPWC has continued to deploy its maintenance teams across the state to provide palliative interventions and repair potholes where conditions permit, many of the current repairs are necessarily temporary measures aimed at providing immediate relief and ensuring safer passage for road users,” the statement added.

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The General Manager said engineers of the corporation were monitoring road conditions across Lagos and carrying out emergency interventions wherever it was technically feasible, with plans to commence comprehensive and permanent repairs as soon as weather conditions improved.

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He stressed that delivering durable and long-term road solutions remained the corporation’s priority.

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Ajanaku also urged residents to support government efforts by protecting public infrastructure, warning against indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels, adding that blocked drains worsen flooding, accelerate road deterioration, and increase the cost of road maintenance across the state.

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The appeal comes amid growing public concern over cases of flooding in Lagos following weeks of persistent rainfall, with motorists and commuters reporting an increase in potholes, failed road sections and traffic congestion.

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The state government has intensified efforts to mitigate the impact of the rainy season through continuous clearing of drainage channels and flood monitoring.

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