Kunle Adelabu
It has been all smiles, prayers and commendations from residents of Igbogbo, especially those of Oliwo/Amoju streets and adjoining areas, for Omo’ba Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun (HOA), the Executive Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), as their road, which is very strategic in decongesting traffic on secretariat/lgbogbo garage road, has been salvaged after about four years of being in a state of disrepair, and will soon be completed.
The administration of Aroyewun has started its intervention on the road at the beginning of October, and assured residents that it would be completed within its first 100 days in office, a promise that he has kept to a large extent as at Tuesday that he was marking his 100 Days of his assumption into the executive capacity in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA.
Key stakeholders in the community complained that the streetlight attached to the road project constructed by the immediate past administration about seven years ago, did not work for a day despite the provision of a generator.
When fully completed, the road that the council is fixing in partnership with the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC), would be covered with asphalt, streetlights and refurbished walkway on both sides and clean drainage system to allow for free flow of water.
At the commencement of the full rehabilitation, when the total evacuation and clearing of the blocked drainage system was carried and re-enforced to allow a lasting project, Chairman Aroyewun assured that his administration is setting a standard in community project implementation.
“We’re not just building a road; we’re setting a new standard for community infrastructure. We started with the drains to fix the flooding issues so that the investment in the road will last for many years to come”.
Also speaking on the quality that the residents should expect, Engr. Gbenga Ogunlewe, A Director with LSPWD, noted:
“Quality begins with preparation, and this project shows that the groundwork has been done right. With drainage sorted first, the road will last longer and serve the community better”.
When our reporters visited the road project at the weekend, the road has been stabilized and now motorable for vehicles and other road users, and waiting for asphalt laying and installation of solar -powered streetlights.
Mrs Abosede Josephine Eyikogbe, Chairman, Aliwo/Amoju Community Development Association (CDA), speaking with THE IMPACT, commended Aroyewun for his intervention in resuscitating the social and economic lives in the area.
“We tried a lot to see the former council chairman, Daini, on the condition of the road and he promised to fix it back. There were a lot of complaints by traders on the effect of the road on their trades and it is true, because the state of the road before now actually shut down economic and social activities.
“At a point, we closed the road for big vehicular movement to preserve the remaining sections that were good.
“We must commend our youths that took it up with Aroyewun who pledged that the road would be done within his first 100 days, and we have been cooperating with the workers since its reconstruction started.
“We suffered greatly for about three to four years over this road before the intervention of Aroyewun whom I always pray for. He shall succeed and get a bigger position to serve us”, she prayed.
The CDA’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Bakare Abisoye Aboidun, also emphasised agonies that residents had to contend with in the past years that the road was totally unmotorable and impassable after it was damaged by heavy duty vehicles and uncleared drains.
He said that all the efforts by the community in writing, paying visit to the former council chairman, Daini, and pushing through their Councilor who is serving a second term, to get the road fixed proved abortive as the previous administration promised to resuscitate the road but was unable to.
“We pushed our letter forward through our honorable councilor in charge of our area, but they said they would do something about it. Council also sent their officials to come and observe what was going on.
“So, we kept on pushing and meeting them, and because we are law abiding citizens, we don’t want to block the road so that it will not cause problems among us.
“Our economy was brought to zero level. It hits us badly, because people no longer pass through the road again. Immediately the road was cut off, shop owners started complaining, and after the expiration of their tenancy, they packed out to another place because there was no patronage again for their markets. Motorcycles also stopped coming to our area.
“While we were still dealing with all that, miscreants took advantage because nobody was passing through the roads and it was always quiet with everybody inside in the evening. As a result, they started to burgle shops. For about seven months, that was what we experienced”, he narrated residents’ experiences.
He commended the intervention of the new administration and also acknowledged the friendly disposition of the personnel of the LSPWC whom he said have been cooperating with the CDA.
“So, for now, they are working fine, and we are cooperating with them. Nobody is disturbing them. We say thank you as we welcome a new development.
“Every resident in this area is happy over this development. The road gives an easy access to connect Baiyeku, Bola Tinubu way and Offin/Oreta roads. It is a road that should not be closed or left unattended to at all. It’s a busy road, and I think it’s going to add to the economic value of Igbogbo, because it will help greatly in decongesting the Igbogbo/Baiyeku road.
“When this road was motorable, people passed through; the volume of vehicles passing through it was high.
“With this reconstruction, the new administration has added value. We are thus, greatly grateful to our Chairman, Hon. Hammed Aroyewun, for this intervention and development.
“We thank him for the good work that he has started, and I pray that God will be with him”, he prayed.
Chief (Mrs) S.A Idowu, an elder in the area, also speaking with THE IMPACT, thanked Aroyewun for not only keeping his pledge, but also for being a good son of Igbogbo.
“We thank God for allowing us to see its full reconstruction by the new chairman. We actually visited the former chairman to assist us when tippers damaged the road.
“The road badly affected our economic and social lives; shops were locked up and tenants packed out of the area because our houses are always flooded whenever it was raining.
“That was why we went to the new chairman and he acted as a true son. He has commenced its rehabilitation, and by God’s grace, he shall complete it and do much more for the people of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA”, the elderly woman said.
The Assistant CDA Secretary, Mr Abubakri Faruq (Hasbunallah), also described their experience as a tough one.
“It was a very tough experience for everybody, and we’ve been trying our own efforts to reach out to the state and the local governments. We even called on some prominent Igbogbo indigenes. But now, the state of the road has turned this community into an avenue for burglars who burgle people’s shops at will.
“I can show you the records. Within three months, we recorded about 13 cases of shops being burgled. This is because when there’s no movement, the community is usually deserted between 7 and 7:30 pm. By this time, everyone will go inside
“So, we thank God that the road is being rehabilitated, and I say a big thank you to the CDA Chairman, executives and the entire residents for their efforts and more importantly, to the Chairman, Iggbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hon. Hammed Aroyewun.
Abubakri also complained that the streetlights did not work at all for the entire time that the road was constructed by the last administration.
“The last time I knew that the light came on was when they came to test run while they were still constructing the road. They powered the lights and they have been permanently off since then, despite providing a generator. I am talking about six to seven years ago, if I am not mistaken”.
Speaking about the new chairman, the CDA scribe said that people’s expectations of him are very high but he has been responding.
“Our expectations are high, but I will say to you that his government is a listening one and ready to work for the people. He’s a good person, that I can confirm. We have been on his neck and he is responding positively. So, for me, he will deliver despite the fact that our expectations are high”, he said.
Barr. Gbemileke Bakare, a former students’ union leader, LASU and youth leader in Igbogbo, also commenting, said:
“To the best of my knowledge, this road was constructed during the first tenure of the former chairman and for about three years, it was abandoned. Now, for the new chairman to pick it up as a priority shows that he understands governance. Governance is about continuity, and this is commendable. This road is major, and neglecting it would hurt the community.
“Instead of chasing new projects for recognition, he chose to revive this one, which is exactly what the people need. I appreciate him and congratulate the chairman for this idea to revive our area. It’s a good step”.
Mr Sulaimon Kamordeen, a resident of Oliwo/Amoju, who owns a shop and has been dealing with residents that have been pursuing the need for the road rehabilitation in the media, especially on radio stations, also recalled the implications of the bad condition of the road on social and economic lives of the area.
Speaking on the intervention by the new administration, he said:
“We are really excited. We’ve been talking to him about it and he promised us that he will fix it. So, we were really happy when he came in to begin the reconstruction.
“We really appreciate what they are doing. We are really happy about it. The entire community are glad seeing what they are doing”, he said.
