The residents of Elepe Community in Ikorodu Local Government Area are angry. Why? Because for more than two years, they have been suffering of bad road, which they plied on a daily basis by more than five thousand residents.
The residents wondered why such an important road would be abandoned even though, the local Government chairman and other important personalities are plying the road; yet they refused to make any input.
Again, they are wondering why this road, which connects so many communities like Igbodu, Gberigbe, Ijede, Eleshin and Imowonla among others are presently in bad shape. One of the motorists told Oriwu Sun that he gathered that the road had been approved for construction but abandoned midway two months ago.
The road today is just being given palliative measure.
Oriwu Sun’s visit to the site revealed that granite, iron rods cast and others were found with some appreciable work being done but no drainage construction.
We also observed the sign post, which bears the image of Ikorodu LGA chairman, Hon Wasiu Adeshina, informing the community that the project was approved by his administration.
Residents in the area told Oriwu Sun that the delay in the construction was due to the failure of the council to release funds for the project. They lamented that the poor condition affected their movement.
The community wants Adeshina’s urgent intervention by mobilizing the contractor to the road. An okada rider, Mr. Iku Kenny, was angry because more than half of his wages goes into maintaining his bike.
Hear him: “This road has affected our business a lot. I earn two thousand naira (N2,000) every day and spend about one thousand (N1000) for maintenance and drugs. And sometimes, I have very little left.
“The state government has not been able to do something concrete as they dig gutter and leave it like that,” he stated.
A resident, who expressed his disgust about the abandoned road, said that each time he plies the road he always had an urge to curse those who are handling the project. He said that the road had been approved and yet, nothing is happening there.
Another resident, Olamilekan, said that, though, Elepe is a thriving business area with various markets and shops, the issue of the bad roads had really affected businesses. He appealed to the government to quickly come to their rescue.
…And Igbo Olomu communities too
The residents of Igbo-Olomu, a community between Lagos and Ogun States boundary, have asked their Community Development Associations (CDAs) to declare a state of emergency on their road, which has become a source of nightmare for a long time.
The dilemma they are facing today is, which of the state governments is responsible for the repair of the road, which has been giving them sleepless nights for a few years now? According to them, they had made several efforts to reconstruct the roads by grading them on several occasions and also constructed culverts to make the roads passable.
During rainy season, the entire roads are waterlogged and impassable due to lack of drainages, which causes erosion.
The residents have now renewed their appeal to either Lagos or Ogun State government to come to their aid and do the roads which has been taken over by erosion with potholes because of lack of drainages.
In an interview with Mr. Adebayo, former secretary to Igbo-Olomu CDA, he said that in the past, the road was funded and maintained by the CDA.
He also explained that Igbo-Olomu leads to about forty seven (47) communities and appealed to the government to do something urgently.
Alhaji Kadri Abiola, the CDA chairman of Peace – Estate, Igbo-Olomu, lamented that the community do not enjoy the presence of state government because the road is being maintained by them.
Another resident, Mr. Ekpenobi, warned politicians not to come during campaign or bribe them without doing something about the road. He was angry that the residents can’t drive to Agric from Igbo-Olomu unless they take bike.
He urged Oriwu Sun to bring their plight to the notice of the Lagos State Government to end their ordeal.