Hope James
The worsening traffic at the Longbridge, Ogun State end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway due to ongoing construction has created an avenue for touts to make money.
According to report, a group of boys dug a tunnel under the Longbridge to enable motorists and commercial drivers to beat traffic on the road.
With the tunnel, motorists connected to an untarred road at the Warewa area and drove against traffic towards Berger, Lagos State.
It was also noted that the tunnel was flooded.
However, there was a pumping machine and a pipe which, according to a commercial bus driver, was used to drain some of the water to ease the movement of vehicles.
The touts, numbering about six, were seen directing motorists into the tunnel while also demanding money before granting them passage.
Some of them were seen smoking a substance suspected to be hemp and also drinking alcohol from sachets.
However these touts were seen displaying violent behaviours as one of them dragged the shirt of a bus driver while the bus was in motion for refusing to pay.
While speaking in Yoruba, he said, “Give me money. Or do you think you can pass through this tunnel without paying?”
A banner placed on the side of the bridge where the tunnel was, read, “Please, kindly assist with any amount. And may God bless those that make it work. Thanks. (Underbridge Management).”
The supervisor of the Lagos-Sagamu section of the expressway, Wale Adebote, said the construction was ongoing in three sections simultaneously.
Adebote said, “We are aware of the hardship motorists are facing in the course of the road construction, which we also face as well in course of work.
“Our main goal is to complete the road project before the end of the year. We are trying to utilize this period now that rain has stopped.”
The Ogun State Sector Commander, FRSC, Hammed Umar, said his men were working with the police to keep sanity on the road.