Residents and Community Development Associations (CDAs) along Alaja–Olayemi Road in Ayobo–Ipaja LCDA have issued a strong and urgent call to the council chairman, Hon. Lookman Agbaje, and the Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, demanding the immediate completion of the long-abandoned road that has become a symbol of neglect and hardship.
On Friday, 23 January, 2026, community leaders and residents staged a peaceful protest to spotlight the dire condition of the road, which they say has been left unattended for more than ten years. The protesters decried the road’s deplorable state, describing it as a daily nightmare that worsens with every rainy season.
According to them, the abandoned project has inflicted severe hardship on residents, schoolchildren, traders, artisans, and commuters. They cited persistent flooding, poor accessibility, rising security threats, frequent vehicle breakdowns, and heavy economic losses as consequences of the prolonged neglect.
The protesters stressed that Alaja–Olayemi Road is not just another street but a critical access route whose rehabilitation would significantly improve mobility, safety, economic activity, and the overall quality of life across the Ayobo–Ipaja axis. They insisted that access to good roads is a basic necessity, not a privilege.
Speaking during the protest, a former CDA chairman and long-time resident, Alhaja Sanni Anibire, expressed deep frustration over what she described as years of broken promises and government indifference.
“I have lived on this road for over twenty years, and nothing has changed. Because of this road, about seven CDAs had to come together to form a joint forum. Work stopped here years ago, and since then, we have been left to suffer,” she said.
She recalled that the last major intervention on the road was in 2016 during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, when several roads were initiated across the state.
“Since then, we have spent millions of naira every year trying to maintain this road ourselves. Now we are exhausted. We are frustrated and disillusioned. Yet, the local government still comes here to collect taxes, which we pay. When it rains, our children cannot go to school, cars get damaged, elderly people cannot move freely, and persons living with disabilities are trapped in their homes,” she lamented.
Alhaja Anibire also accused the council chairman of failing to follow through on assurances given about five months ago.
“He brought sand and stones and dumped them on the road, making the situation worse. This is the dry season, the best time to fix the road. Rain is not an excuse. Are we supposed to live like this forever?” she asked.
Another protester, Reverend Nathaniel Olajide, a septuagenarian, appealed directly to Governor Sanwo-Olu and the LCDA chairman to intervene urgently before the next rainy season.
“Five months ago, we were told the council would rehabilitate six roads. We believed this important road would be included, but it was not. When we protested, the chairman asked for two weeks. Six weeks later, only sand and stones appeared, and nothing else has happened,” he said.
“At my age, I should not be standing under the sun protesting. We are law-abiding citizens. We pay our taxes. We are simply asking for help,” he added.
The community disclosed that it had earlier submitted a formal petition dated May 1, 2025, to Governor Sanwo-Olu, relevant ministries, the Ayobo–Ipaja LCDA Works Department, and the Lagos State House of Assembly member representing Alimosho Constituency II, detailing the worsening condition of the road.
In the petition, the residents described Alaja–Olayemi Road as the only major access route serving more than fifteen CDAs, warning that it becomes virtually impassable during the rainy season due to flooding from adjoining roads, including Koloba and Megida.
They listed the effects of the neglect to include loss of productive hours, damage to vehicles and property, heightened insecurity at night, and the steady collapse of local businesses and community development.
While acknowledging ongoing infrastructure projects across Lagos State, the residents appealed for urgent intervention, noting that thousands of lives and livelihoods depend on the rehabilitation of Alaja–Olayemi Road.
They expressed hope that their protest would finally compel the authorities to act in the true spirit of responsive and people-centered governance.
