The Residents of His Glory Estate has sent a “Save our soul” (SOS) message to the Minister of Power, Housing and Works, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) to update him on the sorry state of Sagamu Road, which has brought untold hardship to many motorist, commuters and residents alike. Fatal accidents are also common features along this axis.
While speaking to Oriwu Sun recently in Ikorodu during an investigation, the Chairman of ‘His Glory’ Estate Community Development Association, (CDA), Prince Ademola Otiki, who lamented the neglected condition of the road revealed that the captured section of the road sent to the Minister attracted this response from him: “Please bear with us, we are developing a solution that requires some extensive planning.”
The CDA chairman was particularly concerned that whenever there is a heavy downpour, there is usually heavy gridlock on the road. In his words, “There is a particular section in between the Sawmill and the Lagos State Polytechnic, which is a very dangerous section. Heavy trucks find it difficult to ascend and descend that slope, resulting into serious accident.”
Prince Ademola stated that the last accident that occurred on the road on September 1, 2016, happened when a truck coming from Odogunyan tried to ascend the dangerous slope but due to heavy load it carried, it couldn’t and it rolled back and crushed a motorcyclist.
He said that on two weeks intervals, accidents do occur on the road inspite of the palliative measures being undertaken by the state government and sometimes their CDA. According to him, they have done a lot of palliative measures at their own expense sometimes at the cost of two hundred thousand (N200,000) at a go.
The chairman, however, disclosed that all efforts he made through their representatives like Hon. Jimi Benson concerning the road have not yet yielded any fruit. The petition was also sent to Oba Shotobi, who invited him when he got it and gave his word that he would discuss it with Hon. Jimi Benson.
Prince Ademola also admitted that Hon. Benson responded and assured him that it had been discussed in the house. In a note of appeal, the CDA chairman said, “We all know that the road is a federal one and we all pay our taxes. So, we are imploring the state Lagos State government to collaborate with the Ogun State government and find solution to this intractable problem,” he stated.
Mr. Babatunde Adegoke, a businessman, who plies the Sagamu Road on daily basis for business said that, it has really jeopardized their business because they spend several man hours on it.
He urges the government to come to their rescue and save them from unnecessary pain and frustration.
Another resident, Mr. Olanrewaju Otiki, wants the government to take the issue of rehabilitating the road seriously and accord it the priority it deserves because it was an old interstate road. He reminded the government that they also pay taxes.