Airport-Oshodi bad road denies Nigeria polish image – analysts

Communication analysts have expressed worry over the alleged frustration of the Lagos State government by Federal Ministry of Works and Housing on the plans to reconstruct the Murtala Mohammed Airport road which has been in dilapitaded condition for several years.

They said the poor state of the road has assisted to deny Nigeria a polish image as most international visitors and investors coming to Nigeria go through the road

Last week, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State told Nigerians that his administration has made plans to reconstruct the international airport road but his efforts are being frustrated by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing presently overseen by Babatunde Fashola, former governor of Lagos State.

The governor hinted that the state government had already made provision in the N812.99 billion 2017 budget for the reconstruction of the airport road to a standard road benefiting an international aiport.

“The state government presently has a design for the reconstruction of the road as well as the funds to embark on the project but the Federal Government was yet to grant approval”

Communication analysts who assessed the non-reconstruction of the road and its impact on national image, re-echoed Ambode’s statement that the present state of the Murtala Muhammed International Aiport road linking Oshodi and other major parts in Lagos is a national disgrace and required immediate attention to salvage the nation’s image.

Tokunbo Modupe, CEO of TPT Internationaal, a brand building agency said it is strange and unexpected in country where people are hungry for development that a state government ready to re-construct an important road is said to be facing frustration from another government agency over its plan to develop an area. “There are cries to make things happen but it appears that politics is becoming an albatross. It is strange that leaders in the same party are facing this kind of issue”

Akonte Ekine, CEO of Absolute PR, a top public relations agency based in Lagos agreed with Ambode that the poor state of the road has created negative image for Nigeria as it is the main business gate to visitors using flight to Nigeria.

He said that Lagos is a big commercial market in West Africa believing that the success of the state would trickle to other states.

Some visitors to Nigeria through Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos have over the time wondered why the road to such heavy traffic international airport is in such dilapidated state.

It surprises them when they consider that Nigeria is oil rich country and Lagos is a big commercial hub in West Africa.

In a swift reaction, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing denied that it was frustrating Lagos in reconstructing the road. The ministry said that Lagos State request to reconstruct the road is before Federal Executive Counicl. But analysts believe that the Ministry of Works can expidite action on the request as it did in granting Lagos rights to manage the street light on Third Mainland Bridge to support security initiatives and approval of yards at Oworonshoki to construct layby to ease traffic.

The communication analysts wondered why application for development of infrastructure would create an issue but said early resolution of any issues and subsequent approval for the re-construction of the road by FEC would go a long way in giving Nigeria a positive image.

Daniel Obi