The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has mobilized the contractors, who recently won the bids to construct one hundred and fourteen roads in Lagos State of which two roads each are to be constructed in every local government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDA).
Already, work is in progress, especially in Ikorodu Division, where twelve roads are expected to be delivered soon since the division has one LGA and five LCDA’s.
When the Oriwu Sun crew embarked on an investigative tour of the affected roads in Ikorodu Division on Wednesday February 10, 2016, construction works had already begun on all the awarded roads across the local governments and local Council Development Areas of the division the challenges, specifications and scopes of each road project coupled with the residents opinions were gathered directly from reliable sources as the news crew moved from one local council to the other.
Here are the reports on each road across the division.
IKORODU NORTH L.C.D.A
When the press crew arrived at the Jimoh street, Parafa, Ikorodu North LCDA, where the D.C Engineering Company Limited was working and led by the project Manager, Engineer Bankole, the construction of the drainages was ongoing.
According to the residents, the road that is being constructed is not a link road as a result of the canal that is blocking it at one end of the road. But to Engineer Bankole, it is a link road, which its construction would be done in phases so that it could link Ijede areas.
The project manager also explained that it is a road that would still link Ijede, but the present construction work being done on it would not affect the link until the second phase of the road construction is carried out.
According to him, it is a long link road, which would decongest the major highway in the areas by the time it is completed. Engineer Bankole had this to say on the specification and scope of the road project:
“We have an eight metre carrier, the carriage itself is eight metres. We have drains on both sides, we have walkways and we have street lights. All these things are going to be very useful for the community. We know that where there is a good road, it opens up markets.
“And street lights alone boosts security since it is going to be powered and possibly, it will have its generator. So, even if there is no light, the street light would still serve as security booster because it will always be on. Therefore, I think right now that the residents should be happy that this is coming into their community.”
Engineer Bankole was quick to point out that the construction company was enjoying the cooperation of Community Development Association (CDA) in the area and that all the workers working on the project were taken from the community. He assured the residents that the project would be completed as soon as possible.
The CDA chairman of the area, Itamope Community, Mr. Owolabi Oteju also spoke about the road construction. He commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for embarking on the developmental project, stating that this was the first time that the dividends of democracy is coming to the residents of the community. He said that the residents were very grateful about this.
Mr. Oteju said that as CDA, they have been very supportive to the contractor handling the project. According to him, they have provided sound security to ensure the safety of the contractor’s equipment and workers.
The CDA Chairman also explained that the youths of the community who work with the contractor had been instructed to be security conscious and to work well and faster to ensure speedy completion of the project.
On whether the road is a link road or not, the chairman said, “It appears to be a link road, but there is a swamp in-between. There might be a bridge over it, which will make it a link road. The way the work is going now, in future, I think the government would link it to the other villages on the other side and then to Ijede Road.
It would be a welcome idea and we hope that they would carry it out so that this would become a thorough way to link Ijede and there won’t be any gridlock at Itamaga again,” he stated.
An indigene of the community, bricklayer, Mr. Muyideen Agboola, who spoke with Oriwu Sun confirmed that the road was very bad before the construction work started and thanked Governor Ambode for choosing it. He also expressed gratitude to the Special Adviser on Communities and Communications Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan for organising a workshop where CDAs were instructed to work with the contractors and ensure that the residents of their communities are employed for the job.
He said that he was motivated to work with the contractor despite some objections. The Bricklayer also commended the Executive Secretary of the LCDA, Hon. Adebisi Banjo for coming to the area to address aggrieved residents whose properties were demolished to pave way for the construction. He urged the government to consider compensation necessary in this regard.
Federal Low Cost Housing Estate by-pass to Itoikin Road being handled by DHV Nigeria Limited is the second awarded road in this LCDA. It was gathered that the survey work has been done on the road with some properties being marked for removal to pave the way for the new development about to occur to the road.
IMOTA LCDA
Imam Salisu Street and watch Tower Street, Imota were the two road projects awarded in the LCDA. The projects are being handled by an experienced and competent contractor, MESSRS YOTUNRANT NIGERIA LTD.
The press crew met the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mr. Tunde Adenuga, who conducted them round and explained the specifications and scopes of the projects, including inherent challenges.
On Imam Salisu Street, Tunde Adenuga explaining said that by ‘length the road is 640 metres while the width is 7.5 metres and it is going to be one with full infrastructural facilities like covered drains on both sides of the road.
According to him, it is a single carriage way and the state government has already constructed a road at Araromi, which the bad state of Imam Salisu Street and others have not been made to attract good usage.
Talking about Watch Tower Street, which also link Imam Salisu Street, the CEO stated that it is 590 metres in length and eight metres in width. He explained that it would also have all the modern features of a standard road with drainages on both sides. Mr. Adenuga also noted that the two roads are going to be asphalted roads with 75mm thickness, 50mm thickness for binding.
After it is certified by the authority that good job, has been done, another 25mm thickness, 50mm thickness for binding.
After it is certified by the authority that a good job has been done, another 25mm thickness would be laid. The press crew was also conducted round to a place where imported plywood and planks to be used for the drainage construction were being prepared.
Other places visited were some sections of the roads where engineers were busy working. Mr. Adenuga also pointed out the challenges they are facing in executing the project. One is the grievances being expressed by the owners of properties marked for demolition. They want compensation and another one was how to relocate some public utilities like electric poles.
According to him, relocation work on the poles has already started. Again, aggrieved residents whose houses, shops, fences were affected, he said the CDA were trying to resolve them.
While commending government and the people of Imota n the project he said: “For the Executive Secretary and the entire people of Imota, because I want to believe it is a collective decision, for them now to have achieved making those roads a priority, I give them kudos. They are link roads between the new site in Imota which probably the people are regarding as their GRA, today. They bring them out to the new road constructed sometime ago by the state Government which now put them more into the town ship, so that is basically the essence of these two roads we are constructing in Imota.”
IJEDE LCDA
In Ijede Local council development Area, Osenat Ahmed crescent and May Flower crescent were awarded. While MESSRS YOTUNRANT NIGERIA LIMITED handles Osenat Ahmed Crescent, MESSRS. BREEVE GLOBAL RESOURCES LIMITED is in charge of Mayflower crescent. While giving the specifications and scope of the road project of Osenat Ahmed Crescent, Mr. Tunde Adenuga, the CEO/MD of the company handling the project, stated that it is going to be an asphaltic road, 674 metres length and 7.5 metres width, with two sides concrete drains streetlights, road marking and keeps. He said service dots which also prevent any road user from cutting the road in case of running cable in the nearest future, is part of the road features. He said each road being handled by the company in both Ijede and Imota would come with service dot of about 200 metres internal and all the roads have six months duration.
On the contract’s challenges in Osenat Ahmed Crescent, he said almost all the properties on the road were marked for demolition and the people are seriously complaining. He also identified the relocation of electrical facilities as another challenge but said his company had commissioned electricity company and their officials are on the relocation work already. He talked about how project monitoring committee from Lagos State Government intervenes into NIPP high tension and conductor on the road, among others.
The hardworking Chief Executive Officer of MESSRS YOTUNRANT, did not forget to commend Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for bringing greater development to the grassroots, especially for approving and awarding two roads in each Local Government Area and Local Council Development Area. He also appreciated the Ijede LCDA for choosing YOTUNRANT, with experienced and hardworking people to handle the project. He assured the residents that his company would live up to expectation by doing a good job on the road.
At the other road in the LCDA, the May Flower Crescent, digging of drainage was on going when Oriwu Sun got there but a lady engineer on site refused to speak with Oriwu Sun saying unless she sees a notice from Ijede LCDA she would not say anything on the project. When Oriwu Sun got to the council, the Executive Secretary was not on seat and Council Engineer too, so we proceeded to another LCDA.
IGBOGBO/BAIYEKU LCDA
In Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area, Kola Ogunkoya Street, Igbogbo and Alhaji Oseni Street, Igbogbo, being handle by FATUB Engineering Nigeria Limited and CONSTENG LIMITED, respectively, are two roads under construction by the LCDA through the approval of the State Government. At Kola Ogunkoya Street, the drainage construction work was in progress and the residents are happy about the development.
While speaking with Oriwu Sun about the project, the project engineer, Engineer Irabor Kingsley, stated that FATUB had gone far with the project having done 150 metres out of the 320 metres drains. He said the features of the road include street lights, drainages with covers, which would have something like a curve in front, whip-hole where the water will be drain among others. Talking about his challenges on the job, he identified impatience on the part of some residents who usually complain about inconvenience. He said “I always keep on telling people that once project is going on like this, there is every tendency that it will bring inconvenience, but after the project is achieved, it will bring development to the area; economic situation will definitely improve because more people will ply the road.”
Getting to the second road in this LCDA, it was gathered that work has been ordered to stop on the road on the ground that the contractor was not working according to specifications and scope of the road project.
A source who does not want his name in print said when monitoring committee from the state government got to the site, they discovered that the necessary demolition which the contractor was expect to effect was left untouched while drainage construction was in progress, therefore they ordered the contractor to stop the project. This source said since then work had stopped on the road. Oriwu Sun captured the images of some of the equipment and materials on the site.
IKORODU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA
In Ikorodu Local Government Area, Adeniyi/Oluwakemi Street, Ikorodu and Bolaji Benson/Soroga Street, Igbo-Oluwo, Ikorodu, are the two roads the local government awarded for construction in line with the state government’s approval. Adeniji/Oluwakemi Street are around Califonia, Ikorodu, the road project is being done by DE-CUBANO NIGERIA LIMITED. According to the managing director of the company, Alhaji Musiliu Lawal Animashaun, the construction work being done on the streets is a standard one with good features such as well-constructed culvert, covered drains on both sides and street lights.
Alhaji Animashaun, who commended Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for his developmental projects across the state, especially in Lagos communities, stated that security issue and attitude of some youths who claimed to be Omo-Oniles and reactions to demolition carried out in the area were major challenges on the project.
He explained that there was a time 120litres of diesel was removed from a caterpillars at the site, but local vigilante had been employed to tackle security at the site. While responding to question on compensation for the property-owners whose properties were affected to pave way for the road construction, he said they could only write letters to the local Government and State Government on that since his company is not in a position to compensate them.
He later urged the residents of the area to appreciate what the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is doing and what the Executive secretary of Ikorodu LGA did by identifying the roads in the area for the beautiful, modern and standard construction.
He stressed that by the time the project is completed the major highway in the area would be decongested since Adeniji/Oluwakemi Streets are link-roads.
At the other road, Bolaji Benson/Soroga Street, properties that fall within the road alignment were found to have been marked for demolition, with the LGA issued notice pasted on fences that such properties be demolished by their owners within three days to avoid the government carrying the demolition out at their own cost.
IKORODU WEST LCDA
Taiwo Molajo Street is one of the roads being handled by FATUB Engineering Nigeria Limited. According to the project manager, Engr. Irabor Kingsley of FATUB, the project is 260 metres length with drainage on both sides which is about 1,230 metres drain.
“We have excavated 350 metres, we’ve done the base for 300 metres; then we just started the wall; so, we are working on the drainage aspect for now. The challenges we’ve been experiencing now is traffic cogestion, both vehicular and human traffic.
They disrupt the work. As we are working, they will say they want to ply, the road.” He, therefore, urged residents to exercise patience with them until the project is delivered, noting that they are the beneficiaries of it.
However, residents have continued to commend Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s initiative to develop communities in the state, which he has started with the construction of 114 roads across all the LGAs and LCDAs in the state.
One of such commendations came from a community leader in Imota, Otunba, Asiwaju Eleluku and Lapini Awo of Imota, Chief Ola Bello, who lauded the road projects in his locality and appreciated the governor for a well thought out and executed projects. “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is doing the right thing, this project will create employment for people in this community; and I believe the people are very happy.”
During the rainy season, this place is usually flooded and that is why most people here are cooperating with the contractor because they want an end to their challenges whenever there is rainfall. Also, the contractor who is handling the projects is going to carry out the execution in a standardized way because it is a standard company with quality human and material resources,” he stated.