-Hon. Agunbiade condemns FERMA for causing distraction
The Lagos State Government on Friday, January 12, 2018, commenced palliative repair on some roads in Ikorodu Division.
This is coming four days after Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the representative of Ikorodu Constituency I and the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, toured the roads in with the Lagos State government officials and assuring the public that palliative measures would be carried out on them.
The roads are Ikorodu-Shagamu road and Sekumade road in Ikorodu North LCDA and Ikorodu West LCDA respectively.
The repair which was facilitated by Hon. Agunbiade is been carried out by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC).
When our reporter visited the site of the rehabilitation work, workers of the Corporation were seen filling the pothole portions with hard stones and covering them with granite.
The engineer on site, while explaining the repair process to Hon. Agunbiade , stated that the hard stones are meant to form base for the badly damaged portions.
He added that the plan is to raise the road before covering it with granite stones.
While speaking with THE IMPACT, a driver lamented the negative effects of the abandoned road on economic and social lives of residents and other road users.
He thanked the Lagos State Government for its intervention while also asking the Federal Government to ensure that the road is permanently fixed.
Mr Wale, a Marwa driver, while also speaking stated, “We are not satisfy with the government at all for abandoning this important road. The effects of it on our vehicles and lives have been unbearable. I hope that the state government that is doing palliative measure will ensure that the stones are properly covered and the rehabilitation work is not abandoned half way?” he queried.
A woman, who also spoke with THE IMPACT, while thanking the Lagos State Government said people are only interested in the urgent repair of the road and are not care whether it is the federal government or State government that is responsible for the repair.
Meanwhile, Hon. Agunbiade had in a release earlier today titled; ‘Update On Ikorodu-Shagamu Road’ announced that work would commenced on the roads.
Also in the release, the lawmaker condemned what he described as ‘distraction’ by the personnel of the Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA) since his tour of Ikorodu-Shagamu road last Tuesday.
“The Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC) has since Tuesday, 9th January, commenced the deposit of bolders in heaps at the failed portions of the Ikorodu – Sagamu Road. More will be deposited today and hopefully, gradders will move in to spread the bolders as prelude to crushing of stones that would be applied to ease vehicular movement”, Hon Agunbiade stated.
“By next week, it is expected that excavator will move in to create earth drains on the sides of the road as a temporary remedial measure to tackle water stagnation.”
“The distraction allegedly being created by the Federal Road Management Agency (FERMA) since Monday, following my visit to the road in the company of LSPWC, if true, is unfair to the users of the road while the conscienceless pretence of cutting and fixing potholes on the portion of the road that is still wearing ashpalt , only immediately after the LSPWC and I left the road, without any intent to attend to the substantially failed portions, is not decent as it is shrouded in deceit”, he alleged.
“But this is not strange, FERMA did same severally on Ikorodu – Mile 12 road, each time the state Government made efforts to do palliative on the road before our State eventually reconstructed it. They did same on Ikorodu – Itokin road in December 2017, immediately the State Government commenced palliative work on the said road.”
On Oba Sekumade road,Hon. Agunbiade said, “The bad portion is receiving attention and the part fixed so far will be asphalted as planned, soon. The interlocked portion will also be set soon.”
While enjoining the residents to bear with the government, the lawmaker also appreciated the response of the Governor of Lagos, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode , to the situation of roads in Ikorodu division and the efforts of his counterpart in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Babajimi Benson, and other people who have interceded in ensuring that bad roads across the division, particularly the Ikorodu-Shagamu road, are fixed by relevant authorities.
“I appreciate all those that have interceded in respect of this road at different times and levels. The concern and efforts of our colleague in the Federal House of Representatives is commendable.
“I have no doubt that all our efforts and prayers of the road users over the road will bring permanent succour to us very soon.
“A big thank you to our responsive Governor and his wonderful men at the LSPWC.
“Please, bear with us a little more and cooperate with workmen while on the road.”
