More than 1.5 million residents of the 10 estates around Jakande Roundabout in Lekki, Lagos State, have called on RMB West Port, owners of Shoprite, to provide alternative routes for them before opening its mall on the planned date, Dec. 17.
The residents from the 10 estates, each with at least 150 residential buildings, said that the presence of the mall in the area would create untold hardship. According to them, traffic on the Lekki–Epe Expressway had always been chaotic before now; opening of the mall would attract more human and vehicular traffic to the area.
A resident, Mr Idowu Johnson who resides at Friends’ Colony, told Vanguard that the main entrance and exit to the mall serves as the same one that leads to their estate.
“We are all aware that wherever the mall had been located, they used to attract many customers and this had always resulted in congestion.
“We are not against their operation because we will also patronise them, but they should also understand our plights and come up with alternative routes so that we will not suffer.
“This is the only route for the no-fewer-than 1.5 million residents and we are all mobile, how do you think their operation will not affect our daily routine?
“We are appealing to the government and the management of the mall to look for alternative routes so as to ease traffic for residents of the area and intending customers,” he said.
