Kunle Adelabu
-Says Afa bridge pre – cast is ongoing at HiTech yard
The representative of Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), has, again, confirmed that funds have been released by the Lagos Sate Government, for the completion of the Igbogbo/Bola Tinubu/Igbe Laara road project.
He said that the initial contract sum that caused the delay has been reviewed accordingly and 70% part payment made to the contractor, with the completion date put at 18 months from April this year.
Hon Aro revealed this following recent protests by the residents, especially the constant agitation by Engr. Dayo Osore, a resident of Igbe Laara, over the delay in the completion of the road which has been on for over eight years.
Hon. Aro, who spoke with THE IMPACT on Monday, also said that the pre – cast for the Afa bridge construction is being done at the construction company’s yard in Ibadan, and will be moved down in a few weeks for construction.
“I quite understand the grievances and frustration of our people. It’s due to the delay in the completion of the project which started several years back. But the truth is that we have made giant steps forward towards the completion of the project.
“The fact is that the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, is a listening Chief Executive Officer who has not only listened and heard our appeals, pleadings and sufferings but at the same time, released funds for the completion of the projects.
“I revealed this some months backs which your newspaper reported and again, I am reiterating and emphasizing it. The initial contract sum has been reviewed and adjusted, and large sum of money running into several billions, has been released to HiTech, which the company has acknowledged its receipt.
“The truth is that the government has done the needful. After my public appeal to Mr. Governor, he approved and released ₦25,206,311,934.17 (Seventy Percent of the total contract sum) for the project. This amount is sufficient to complete the road.
On the delay of the Afa bridge construction, a section of which has cut – off residents of Igbe Laara, Gintin and others from Igbogbo due to the deplorable state of the road and that of Gintin, he said that the company has duly informed him that the pre – cast for the bridge is being done at its yard in Ibadan, and would be moved down soon for construction.
“Additional, HiTech management has duly informed me that the bridge pre – cast is currently ongoing at their main yard in Ibadan, and that they will start moving them to the Afa construction site in the next one month and half or so.
“At the moment, the pre – cast is ongoing as they have duly informed me and the state government”.
The state lawmaker also debunked claim that nothing is happening on the road since his public plea with the Governor during the commissioning of the modern block of classrooms and sporting arena at Keme Balogun Secondary School in Ibeshe, some months back.
He said that HiTech has moved back to site some months ago, and work has been ongoing from the Igbogbo Stadium axis of the road down to the cemetery.
“It is not true that nothing has been happening on the road since my public appeal to Mr Governor over the road. In actual fact, it was following that that the contractor returned to the site to continue its work. Since then, work has been done on the massive drainage channel from Bola Tinubu Road which was diverted through Zumratul Islammiyyah Secondary School, Igbogbo, to Offin/Oreta Road.
“Laying of interlock stones have also extended from the stadium down to Agarawu, Club 24 and beyond.
“In the same vein, serious construction work is ongoing from the Igbogbo cemetery axis upward”, Hon. Aro further explained.
He added: “I am presently engaging the contractors to fast-track the process, and I assure you that I will not relent until this road is fully completed and delivered for the benefit of our people. Kindly continue your constructive agitation, we are closer than ever to the finish line”, he added.
The concerned resident, Engr. Dayo Osore, in a letter sent to the lawmaker on Sunday, and a copy also sent to THE IMPACT and shared on some platforms, commended his efforts so far over the road which he said has negatively affected the social and economic lives of the residents in the last nine years.
He demanded for the true position of things over the road.
“When you see Oliver Twist telling you that all is alright, please, take note that there is a big problem…Because for Oliver twist, asking for more is inevitable…
“First and foremost, I would like to thank you for your efforts so far regarding the state of the above-named road. I saw a video clip recently where you prostrated to the governor because of that road, begging him to complete it for the good of your constituents…Since that time, nothing has been done…We no see aboki, we no see nama!
“Please, let me draw your attention, again, to this important road. As it is, people living in that axis are not happy, and their standards of living have been badly impacted, because of the way your government is handling the project.
“You will recall that so many houses were demolished, just to pave away for the construction of this important road, which started sometime in 2016/2017…Almost a decade later, the road is yet to see the light of the day.
“WHAT IS HAPPENING?…. THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW!!”, Osore demanded.
While reminding the lawmaker that the mandate that he is holding belongs to the people and that he must use it positively for them, Osore also said that there has been no progress since his public appeal to the Governor.
He added that the situation has prolonged people’s sufferings and also caused insecurity.
“I want you to know that you are there in the Assembly, for the people of Ikorodu constituency II in particular, and the entire Ikorodu in general…
“The road that, normally, is supposed to improve the living standards of people, has now become the one draining their finances and causing them untold hardships….Cost of transportation has tripled on that axis, in addition to kidnapping around the AFA segment of the road.
“To add salt to injuries, some motorists now terminate their journeys from Ikorodu, at that same Afa section, because of their inability to continue the journey further….Can you imagine this? Terminating journeys at the Lions den!
“To drive home my concerns further, Hon, I want you to know that prostrating for the governor, and begging him was enough for him to do the needful, even though you didn’t have to do so”, the concerned resident said.
He urged Hon. Aro to use his oversight power in presenting the matter again on the floor of the House, to secure the Assembly’s resolution that would compel the Governor to act in the people’s interests.
“At this juncture, if after some months, you did that gesture for the sake of your people, and the helmsman, Mr Sanwo-Olu, did not hearken to the voice of reasoning, it is an indication that your efforts that day weren’t appreciated and respected…You may want to prove me wrong with facts, sir..
“As it is now, this matter needs to be taken to the floor of your Hallowed Chamber, even though, you might have done that in the past.. I want to assume Mr Governor needs more than your personal noble gestures to do the right things as far as that road is concerned.
“Please, Inform the Governor, through your house resolutions, that the people living in that corridor are anxious to know what is happening, and that they want that road to be completed without further delay”.
Osore further added:,”If, per adventure, someone had been paid to complete that project, but had instead done that on papers only, please, tell the Governor the time is NOW to complete it physically…Enough is enough of projects being completed in the cloud…..
“Anyone who needs to be called out should be called out!..
“It is not until several lives are lost before a responsible government does the needful to those they claim they are serving, even when it is very very clear who is a servant and who is a master…
“I will like to draw the curtain on this matter by letting you know that until the needful is done about the road once named after the President of this great country, the ball will keep rolling.
“Thank you very much, Hon, even as I look forward to seeing this matter put behind us”.
