A Nigerian man has sparked widespread conversations online after sharing his experience of being allegedly compelled to “settle” area boys before repairing a pothole in Egbeda, Lagos State.
In a post that has since gone viral, the resident explained that he took the initiative to fix a badly damaged section of his street after becoming frustrated with its condition, which he said was constantly damaging vehicles and inconveniencing residents.
According to him, he personally bought asphalt and hired workers to carry out the repair, but the project was disrupted before it even began.
“Nobody sent me. The pothole was swallowing tyres and I was tired of it. I bought asphalt, hired labourers and came back the next morning ready to work. Area boys stopped us before we even started. They said, ‘Oga, you wan do work for this street? You need to settle first,’” he wrote.
He expressed frustration that even a self-funded community effort on a public road could be subjected to such demands, noting that he was not carrying out a government project or any commercial activity.
The man also drew a comparison with his experience in Toronto, Canada, where he said he once reported a pothole through the city’s 311 complaint system and it was fixed within three days.
The contrast, he said, highlighted the difference in how civic issues are handled in both environments.
His post has since triggered reactions online, with many Nigerians expressing concern over rising extortion in some communities and the lack of effective public infrastructure maintenance.
Others also shared similar experiences, noting that some residents have resorted to privately fixing roads due to delays in government intervention, despite facing challenges from local groups.
The incident continues to fuel broader discussions about governance, civic responsibility, and urban infrastructure in Lagos.
