The Lagos State Government has swiftly sealed a dangerous open manhole along the Ikeja corridor leading to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, following a viral video that triggered public outrage.
Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, visited the site on Sunday and confirmed that officials from the Public Works Corporation and the drainage unit were mobilised overnight to address the hazard.
“We must commend the citizen who raised the alarm. Once it was brought to our notice, agencies were immediately deployed. The Lagos State Public Works Corporation, the drainage team and the General Manager all came here last night. As you can see, work is ongoing,” Daramola explained.
Accompanied by Tokunbo Ajanaku, General Manager of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, and Mahmood Adegbite, Director of Drainage, Daramola expressed concern over recurring cases of vandalised manholes across Lagos.
He recalled recent incidents at the Ogudu Bridge and Ogudu Link Bridge, warning that tampering with public infrastructure is a punishable offence.
“Government will continue to act promptly, but citizens must also play their part. Road abuse is a serious crime. The principle should remain: if you see something, say something,” he stated.
The government’s intervention came less than 24 hours after broadcast journalist Deji Badmus mounted a warning sign inside the gaping manhole to alert motorists.
In a widely shared video, Badmus described the uncovered manhole as a “death trap,” narrating how he narrowly avoided an accident while citing several crashes that had occurred at the spot over the past three months.
“It’s disturbing that such a danger was ignored on a road linking both the international and local airports,” he said.
By Sunday afternoon, Badmus posted an update confirming that the manhole had been covered by government officials.
“Less than 24 hours after we raised the alarm, the Lagos State Government moved in to fix it. This is the type of swift response Lagosians expect. However, I urge the authorities to show the same urgency in tackling the many other open manholes across the city,” he added.
