…Projects remain largely completed in ‘govt’s book’ — Oke-Asiwaju
…Communities spend N13.5m in 3 years to construct culverts, drainages, grading of roads — Onaolapo
By Seun Ibiyemi, Seth Akande, Uthman Salami and Konyisola Dawodu
Despite earmarking over N77.78 billion for infrastructure in the 2022 budget, which is meant to revamp the sorry-state of roads and other infrastructure projects by the Ogun State government, roads in Ado-Odo Ota local government area and Ifo Local government area, parts of the State that have remained the major economic hub, continue to wreck havoc to the residents, destruction of businesses as well as bludgeon the commuters into hours of inescapable gridlock. This includes Sango-Ijoko road, Dalemo-Plaza-Joju, Ijoko-Onihale road, Itoki-Ajegunle road, Toll Gate- Abule Iroko, Gasline-Itoki road, Onijoko Palace Road, Ntabo road, Mobil – Iloye road, New Garage- Iloye road, Adedokun College-Iloye road, CAC Agbala Itura road, Ota GRA road, Ago Adura road, Start Right road, Ijoko- Agbado road, Agbado-Toyin road and deep potholes along one lane Sango-Ijoko road among others.
This is even as transporters and residents plying Ota-Lafenwa road linking to Ayobo area of Lagos and Ijoko road to Berger continue to count their losses over the poor state of roads in the state.
Recall that the Ogun State past administration led by Senator Ibikunle Amosun started the construction of the road project linking Sango-Ijoko road to Berger before he handed over to the current Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun in 2019.
Since the handing over of power, the attention of the government to complete these deplorably torturing and eyesore road projects have received massive agitations.
Other deplorable roads that have seen the government’s neglect include the road linking Ota-Lafenwa to Ayobo area of Lagos, which falls under Ado-Odo Ota Local government area.
Concerned citizens have speculated that one of the reasons why the roads in the two local government have not been tended might be because the projects are in the ‘completed book’ of the governent, thereby making it difficult for subsequent one to rehabilitate.
Some motorists who spoke exclusively with Nigerian NewsDirect lamented that the road are always a nightmare anytime it rains, saying that everywhere collapse completely, giving room for impunity and lawlessness by road users, as both private and commercial drivers abandon their vehicles and commuting themselves, using motorcycles to their various destinations.
Communities spend N13.5m in 3-year to construct culverts, drainages, grading of roads — Onaolapo
Speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect, the Vice Chairman, Ado-Odo, Ota Zonal Community Development council, Prince Olatunji Onaolapo said they had written array of letters to the State Government about the status of the roads but only received acknowledgement with no action.
He said, “The protest (Complaints) is to state our grievances on the state of our bad and deplorable roads, neglected by the Ogun state government for the past 10 years.
“The roads linking Ayobo town in Lagos state to Ota in Ogun state, our unhappiness stemmed from the moment the raining season commences every year, thus making all our major link roads impassable.
“For the past ten years, a series of letters have been written to various past and present administrations of Ado-Ota LGA and the State government, on our deplorable roads, but without any concrete solution.
“Every year, the communities have to spend about N3million to construct culverts, drainages and grading of roads. About N4.05 million was spent in 2019 and N8 million was also spent in 2020 on other road projects.
“Since we are paying taxes and VAT and these are being shared by the three tiers of government, it is not compulsory for the Ogun state government to do it alone, but by any of the governments through their agencies.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government, Ogun state government, Ado-Odo Ota local government and other stakeholders to urgently come to our rescue, as we totally need rehabilitation and reconstruction of our roads for betterment of our people and other social amenities.”
Also speaking to Nigerian NewsDirect, a transporter, Ajayi Ibrahim said that the state of deplorable roads is so bad that they have to voice out.
“I work on these roads on a daily basis for my daily bread, but these roads have been an issue, after paying N1,200 for a ticket in the morning, one will still end up at the mechanic workshop fixing the arms of the vehicle.
“Hardly (you) will find any transporter on this route that doesn’t visit a mechanic to fix one thing or the other. Economically, this is not wise, we are running into loss.”
Also in a chat with a road user, Mr. Daniel Oladipo said “this road has been like this since the administration of Amosun.
“Amosun started the construction of Ijoko road and after he left office, since then no government of the state has even made an effort to make the roads in the area better.
“I live at Anishere, Sango. I have lost two cars due to the bad road network in this area, because of higher cost of maintaining the cars, one of the cars is spoilt, I left it at home. The car I drive currently, I had to park it around Sango bridge vicinity and then take a bike or napep.
“There is a lot to be done by this government in Ogun state, especially concerning these bad roads.
“Many lives have been lost on this ijoko road. There is a lot to be done by this government honestly.”
Projects remain largely completed in ‘govt’s book’ — Oke-Asiwaju
A public affairs analyst, who is also the President, Yewa-Awori Youth Council, Yomi Oke-Asiwaju spoke with Nigerian NewsDirect on the deplorable state of roads across Yewa-Awori area, said nothing may remain changed until concerted efforts are channelled at pressuring those concerned for actions.
Speaking on what is being done about the bad roads of Ado-Odo Ota/ Ijoko road, he said, “The reason we are so concerned about Ijoko road is because we ply it every day. It’s just a fraction of other roads that require the same attention.
“Now, I must be frank with you, the road itself is an abandoned project from the previous state government led by Ibikunle Amosun. In the state government’s book, the road has been recorded as a completed project because it was commissioned by President Muhammad Buhari, ably represented by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the plaque is at Sango Bus Stop when Ogun state clocked 40 years.
“That was when the road was said to have been completed and it has been recorded as a completed project. That is why it is difficult for any administration to bring it up because it will need a lot of reviews as to why it is not completed.
“Though the current government has promised to take up the project, but of course, it may not be on its priority list as we speak. Let us be hopeful it is part of the project that will be attended to. I just cannot say when it will be done.”
Speaking on the confusion as to whether Ota, Lafenwa road is state government’s road, he affirmed that, “It is a state government road and the same promise we got from the governor is still that it will be attended to.
“As a matter of fact, the new Local Government Chairman is personally interested in that road because there are business activities going on along the road and so he has been talking to people about the bad road.”
Responding to question on the number of roads the current Government has touched in Ado-Odo Ota local government in terms of construction, he reeled out “Osi Kola Navy road in Ota, completed; Joju road to Iyana Ota, Idi-Iroko also completed, Ado-Odo Ikola road in Ado axis that leads to Badagry is currently under construction.
“We have Igbesa, PPP arrangement… Atan beside Agbara road which is also under construction as we speak.
“So these are some of the things that have been given attention under Gov. Dapo Ogun state government, some are completed while some are ongoing.”
When our Correspondent reached out to the Media officer of the ministry of road infrastructures, Mr. Olayinka, he said he was not authorised to speak for the ministry except through the Honourable Commissioner himself, Engr. Ade Akinsanya.