Man Claims He Was Forced to “Settle” Area Boys Before Fixing Pothole in Egbeda
A Nigerian man has shared his frustration after allegedly being forced to pay local “area boys” before he could repair a pothole on his street in Egbeda, Lagos.
Narrating his experience, the man said he took it upon himself to fix the damaged road, which he described as dangerous and capable of damaging vehicles. He explained that he purchased asphalt and hired labourers, only to be stopped before work could begin.
According to him
“I tried to fix a pothole on my street in Egbeda.Nobody sent me. The thing was swallowing tyres and I was tired of it.I bought asphalt. Hired labourers. Came back the next morning ready to work.Area boys stopped us before we even started.Oga, you wan do work for this street? You need to settle first.”I was not fixing a government building. I was not tapping electricity. I was filling a hole. On a public road. With my own money. I settled them.2 years ago I reported a pothole on my street in Toronto through 311. They fixed it in 3 days.I just stood there staring at the smooth road like a mûmû.”
