A resident ignited online discussion after sharing how he was compelled to pay local touts before he could patch a pothole on his Egbeda street.
Lagos Resident Details His Ordeal with Street Touts
He explained that, after watching his vehicle suffer from the deteriorating pavement and seeing neighbours inconvenienced, he took it upon himself to fix the damaged stretch.
He bought asphalt, hired workers, and arrived ready to work, only to be halted by area boys who insisted on a ‘settlement’ before any labor could start.
He stated, “Nobody asked me to do this. The pothole was destroying tires, and I had had enough. I purchased asphalt, brought in labourers, and returned the next morning prepared to work. Before we could begin, the area boys approached us, saying, ‘Sir, you want to work on this road? Pay us first.’ I wasn’t repairing a government structure or siphoning power; I was using my own funds to fill a hole on a public thoroughfare.”
Contrast with Toronto’s Prompt Response Draws Reaction
He contrasted the situation with an earlier encounter in Toronto, where he filed a pothole report via the city’s 311 service and saw the repair completed in just three days.
His remarks triggered a broad reaction, with numerous Nigerians criticizing inadequate infrastructure upkeep and the prevalence of extortion by local gangs.
In recent times, many Lagos residents have undertaken community road repairs themselves, citing governmental delays, and frequently share the efforts online to highlight deteriorating infrastructure.
See the image below for a visual of the situation.
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