Since his election into the House of Representatives as a lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in 2015, Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson has no doubt added value to the lives of the people of lkorodu division like never before with the mandate freely given to him.
Aside sponsoring several people oriented Bills and engaging in robust legislative discourse and law making process in the hallowed Green Chamber of the lower cadre of the National Assembly with the ultimate aim of impacting positively on the lives of Nigerians, particularly those in his Constituency, the young and cerebral Federal lawmaker, who is passionately well loved by his people, has equally sponsored and facilitated various empowerment programmes to better the lots of people of his Constituency, notably among these are the monthly food items distribution tagged ‘Apo Anu’ (Bag of Mercy) and Start-Up Capital programme for young entrepreneurs in Ikorodu division.
His latest exploit is the facilitation of the repair of the collapsed Igbe road in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) which is currently under construction by Federal Government agency.
The construction was in fulfilment of the pledge he made to the people of Igbe community to ensure the full rehabilitation of the collapsed road which has been impassable for over a decade, a situation which according to report, had inflicted great pains on the residents of the area.
Hon. Benson, who is serving his second term at the Federal House of Representatives, had on Saturday, February 29, 2020, embarked on a tour of the road to see the efforts being made by the joint Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Igbe to repair the road.
The effort of the lgbe community, which is made up of nine CDAs, under the Igbe Road Rehabilitation Committee and entire residents who mobilized funds and materials, through community self-help, to stabilize the strategic road, had impressed the lawmaker during the visit and as a result, promised to make the completion of the road part of his constituency project.
And true to his words, the contractor on Monday, September 28, 2020, moved to site to commence the construction of the road to the delight of the Igbe residents who were full of praise and commendations for Hon Benson for fulfilling his promise.
Before the intervention by Hon Benson, Oriwu Sun gathered that the joint CDAs had spent several millions of naira to stabilize the road which was constructed in the 80s under the administration of former Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
On Friday, October 2, 2020, Oriwu Sun visited the site of the ongoing project and met the construction workers already engaging in excavation work from the Igbe junction along Oba Omolaja road, Igbogbo, to the end of the Oriwu College fence in readiness to start the construction of drainages on both sides of the road before asphalting it, while construction materials like iron rods, bags of cement, granite, sand and others were also seen on the site.
Oriwu Sun also learnt that the 1.7km road project will be completed between 4 and five months and that there will be cross culverts into various streets connecting the road while the existing one lane each on both sides of the road will be maintained.
It was also gathered that the construction work will start from the Igbe junction and stops at Oreyo in Igbogbo where it is expected to connect another road being constructed by the State government.
Although, the site Engineer, identified as Engineer Mohammed, was not on ground when our reporters visited the site, one of the site workers, who did not reveal his name because he was not authorised to speak to press on the project, said that the project was moving on fine as expected and that the construction of the drainages would commence fully as soon as the excavation work is completed.
He also said that the cooperation they are currently getting from the community, particularly from the youths of the area, is not impressive but that the stakeholders are already working to ensure that everyone gives them support towards having conducive environment to work in order to deliver the road at the stipulated time.
Meanwhile, in a brief interview with Oriwu Sun, Engr. Adekunle Hamid Oduborisha, a notable politician and a resident and key stakeholder in Igbe community, lauded Hon Benson for his exemplary gesture in facilitating the repair of the road which he described as very strategic.
He particularly commended Hon Benson for making the construction of the road his Constituency project, stating that the gesture shows that the lawmaker has genuine interest in improving the living condition of the residents of Igbe community.
Engineer Oduborisha also expressed his surprise that Hon. Benson majorly worked and consulted him while making plans to facilitate the construction of the road without considering their political differences and said that such gesture is a proof that his plan for the road project is not political but for the benefit of the people and urged other politicians to emulate his exemplary political philosophy.
He said that the intervention of Hon Benson on the road is a big relief to the community since there has not been any significant intervention from both the State and Local governments despite the challenges posed by the bad condition of the road which he said had forced many residents and shop owners to relocate from the community.
Engineer Oduborisha, while stating that he and other residents of the community had contributed and spent over N10million to repair the road in the past years, said that he personally invited Hon Benson to inspect the road with the aim of seeking his assistance over the proper construction of the road.
He said that the road, when completed, will improve the economic and social conditions of the residents of the community and will also serves as alternative route for people going to areas such as Ijede, Imota, Gberigbe, Isiu and others.
He also disclosed plans by the community to further strengthen the road rehabilitation committee to oversee the maintenance of the road and ensure that it last longer after completion.
Engineer Oduborisha equally assured that all hands are on deck to ensure that all stakeholders and residents of the community cooperate with the contractor to ensure that nothing hinders the smooth construction of the road.
While also briefly speaking with Oriwu Sun, Mr Tunji Adebayo, the Chairman of Ifeoluwa CDA, one of the Joint CDAs in Igbe community, was full of praise for Hon Benson for facilitating the full construction of the Igbe road and the one in Ifeoluwa community.
He described the gesture by the federal lawmaker as very commendable and worthy of emulation by other politicians.
Like Engineer Oduborisha, he also assured that residents of all the joint CDAs in Igbe community will give necessary support and cooperation to the contractor to ensure that the road is completed in good time.