Kunle Adelabu
-States how she’s working with CDA to address challenges
The Councilor representing the Ipakodo Ward A in lkorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Enitan Jessica Oba, has stated that the Ebute – Iga community, which is an ancient town within her ward is in dire need of a good road network and drainage system to address the perennial challenges that the residents are confronted with.
She said that the community, which is located between the Lagos lagoon and Ipakodo which is an urban centre, is more or less a slum which also needs intervention to develop its economic and social lives to be able to catch up with modernization going on around it and in other places.
However, Hon. Jessica, who is the Council Leader in Ikorodu West LCDA, is not just stating the problems, she also spoke about the efforts that she had made so far to address the challenges, what Rep. Babajimi Benson had also done in this regard and response she is getting from the state government.
“I have had a lot of one-on-one contacts with the people of Ebute-Iga, on many occasions during which they have been able to present their needs. I give thanks to Hon. Babajimi Benson, for installing solar street lights in Ebute – Iga. The solar lights are quite a lot and they illuminate Ebute – Iga environment, but they still need more.
“The Ebute – Iga case is a bit serious, because during the raining season, their houses get flooded. In fact, they told me that fishes do come into their bedrooms, but it wasn’t funny. We were able to open up those channels and as a matter of fact, there were lots of moves between myself and the Chairman of Ebute – Iga CDA.
“We wrote series of letters to the Ministry of Environment to assist in constructing a concrete drainage. Due to the muddy nature of the place, whenever we open the ground, it always collapses and in no time, everything will close up again. But we were able to do palliative measure by opening up into the lagoon and since we did that about a year and half, it has been serving the people, because there has not been any case of flood recorded in the Ebute – Iga community.
“Myself and the Ebute – Iga CDA Chairman, have also approached the Ministry of Environment and as a matter of fact, we have gotten fantastic responses. We are told that they have noted the drainage system for the next year’s budget, because it would take quite a lot to construct such a drainage system needed in Ebute – Iga,” the deeply concerned Hon. Jessica Oba said.
Speaking about the importance of Ebute – Iga, especially as a Councilor seeking re-election to represent the community for a second time, the council leader said that good interventions in terms of roads, drainage system and other facilities would not only improve the standard of living of its residents, but also protect and preserve its rich cultural and traditional heritages.
“Ebute – Iga has quite a lot of educated people and professionals in various fields. So, these are people that should tap into the modernization going on around us, and it starts with a good road that leads into the community. Ebute – Iga needs a road and it is not such a long distance from the main road.
“The community has produced quite a lot of quality men and women such as Sen. Wasiu Eshinlokun and Prince Abiola Kosoko among others. There are so many things that Ebute – Iga can benefit starting with good roads and good drainage systems to help boost its economic and social lives so that the community won’t be left behind.
“Ebute -Iga is actually rich in culture and tradition, and such facilities would go a long way in protecting the cultural heritage therein. When we sit down to listen to how Ebute – Iga came about, how people came down there to engage in fishing, selling and exchanging during the era of trade by barter. Part of these histories is also the eight days market beside the ultra -modern Ikorodu West market.
“It is a market that we grew up to see existing and it is a market where you can find anything that you are looking for. So, people always look forward to it every eight days. Immediately after Ebute market, the next is Iworo market. From all that I have heard about Ebute – Iga, it was a very fantastic era,” Hon. Jessica Oba said.
