Kunle Adelabu
About eight years after the ground breaking ceremony was performed for the construction of a monumental secretariat for the Imota Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ikorodu Division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, the outgoing Chairman of the council, Hon. Wasiu Adekunle Agoro, is set to commission the project and hands it over to the incoming administration.
The project, which commenced in 2019 and was initially supposed to be completed in four years, according to Hon. Agoro, will now be commissioned on Saturday, July 26th, 2025, which is the eve of his handing over to his successor, Hon Sunday Benson who incidentally served as his Vice Chairman during his eight years in the saddle.
With the new structure, the outgoing Chairman, has, no doubt, etch his name in history too as chairman whose administration bequeaths the new council secretariat to the people of Imota LCD, just like his colleagues in the division who did ssme.
The structure is sited on five plots out of the two acres of land that the council bought, while there’s still a large expanse of lands at the front and back of the Secretariat building for the construction of other structures for the use of the council.
The entire structure is made up of over 80 offices and facilities.
Located on the upper floor of the building are the Chairman’s section – Chairman’s office, offices for the Chairman’s staff, Chairman’s boardroom, rest room, receptions/waiting rooms, offices for Personal Assistants and other aides and toilet facilities. Adjoining the Chairman’s section are offices for the Secretary to the Council, Council Manager, Special Advisers, Council main conference room, offices for HoDs and toilet facilities.
In the middle of the structure is a large space that the Chairman said would serve as the lobby with an open roof above. He also said that the design of the building is in such a way that its roof will not be seen from outside with water fallen on the roof being channeled to a particular point. The space will also accommodate the Hall of Fame.
On the ground floor are the offices of the Vice Chairman, which is first at the left side of the main entrance into the building. There are also the main reception and offices and changing rooms.
Also on the ground floor are the legislative section consisting of offices for Council Leader and five Councilors which are constructed with staff offices and toilet facilities like every other office in the building. There are also the offices of the Clerk of the House, Legislative Chamber and Supervisors.
Other offices and facilities on the ground floor are offices for the Council Treasurer; Head of Departments (HoDs); Engineering Workshop; Sick Bay: Male and Female Wards and directly facing it is the office of the Medical Officer and Doctors; Council Canteen; Council Hall which will be facing the main gate; Registry, Office of the Registrar, ICT Centre and Toilet facilities.
Sometimes ago, while explaining the delay/challenges faced in the construction which delayed the completion beyond four years planned for its execution, Hon. Agoro mentioned that COVID – 19 played an adverse role and also stealing of building materials when the project started, coupled with the fact that the structure is the only building in the isolated place where it is sited.
He also attributed the inability to complete it in good time to high cost of building materials.
“When we started this project, a ton of rod was N165, 000 but now, we are buying at N103 Million. You can imagine tons that we have to buy”, the Chairman said months back.
When our reporter visited the secretariat on Wednesday, work was still going on in various parts of the secretariat in a bid to get it fully ready for commissioning on Saturday.
