PHOTOS: Ota Residents Block Abeokuta-Lagos Highway To Protest Bad Roads | AgegePulse Magazine

  By Ayodele Ifasakin 

Ota road

Scores of travellers on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Monday were stranded after residents in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State staged a protest over bad roads in Ota and its environs.

Credit: Daud Olatunji, Saheed Olugbon

Punch 

TIPS FOR SAFE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC - AgegePulse

1. Slow down on a highway in heavy traffic. This is not the time to get to your destination in the shortest time. It won’t happen and you may end up in an accident.

2. Stay at least 8.0 km/h within the speed limit, even on a highway. In fact, slow down a bit to allow for those other impatient drivers.

3. Keep extra distance between you and the car in front. Allow for a sudden stop- be prepared to head off the road to the shoulder if necessary.

4. Uses D3 in an automatic transmission.It is normally used for stop and go driving. In a manual transmission, for stop-and-go traffic, you will use both first and second gears.

5. Be extra alert for sudden or unexpected moves by other drivers. Know where your car will end up if someone cuts you off, or forces ahead of you.

6. Find another time to drive if you can, to avoid bad traffic, or carpool to take advantage of any special lanes.

7. Practice patience, because you won’t get to your destination faster by pushing everyone else. You only become more dangerous.

8. Be defensive. Pretend every other driver is not as smart as you, and think how you will save yourself.

9. Limit your commute times in bad traffic if possible, and only do it once a week or so. You’ll have less stress.

10. Exit the freeway if it makes you too nervous. It’s better to stop at the lights and take more time, than sit in traffic and just get angry.

POLICE DISPERSE PROTESTING OKADA RIDERS IN OJO

Ojo Police Division led by CSP Abubakar Umoru, with the support of Okoko division, Rapid Response Squad and neighbouring divisions as well as army officers from Ojo cantonment, this morning dispersed hundreds of miscreants and motor cycle riders who blocked Lagos - Badagry Expressway to protest the enforcement of Lagos State Traffic Laws.

The riders along with miscreants as at 7:00 a.m. converged close to LASU main gate threatening to block the expressway in protest against plying the expressway, as stipulated in Lagos State Traffic Law.

Their presence on the highway in large numbers drew the attention of the DPO Ojo Police Division, CSP Umoru, who speedily mobilised his officers along with  Alhaji Usman Kanua, Chairman of the Motorcycle riders in the area.

The team appealed to the riders to cease action and eschew actions capable of causing chaos in the area. The protesters agreed and dispersed peacefully.

The protesters were to re - emerge later in greater numbers creating bon - fire and blocking both sides of the expressway.

The protesters who were wielding dangerous objects and hauling stones at police and passing vehicles, which shattered the windscreens of several vehicles, also injured some police officers.

It was at this point that the DPO called for reinforcement from other police divisions and Ojo Cantonment of the Nigerian Army.

At about few minutes to 10:00 a.m., the team had successfully dispelled the rioters while normalcy had since returned to the area.

It was gathered that contrary to Government's restriction of okada (motorcycle) on the highway, okada riders make fast money cashing in on the road construction on the route, to charge between N500 to N1000 from Ojo to Trade Fair Complex.