Kunle ADELABU
– Write Petition to representative for intervention
-There is need for concerted efforts from the residents – Hon. Agunbiade
Seven years after the construction of Soberu Ogunsanya road, popularly called ‘Powerline’ road, was abandoned by Eko Akete Engineering Construction Company, residents of the area, under the aegis of Olori Powerline Community Development Association(CDA), have called on the Lagos State Government to reconstruct the road and safe them from incessant flooding.
The road was awarded around 2012 by the former governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, and was abandoned for over a year by the construction company owned by a popular Lagos politician while work resumed in 2014 and again abandoned till now.
Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, representative of Ikorodu Constituency I and the Majority Leader of the Lagos House of Assembly, visited the area on Saturday, March 24, 2018, in company of Hon. Gbenga Awobajo, Ward A Councilor, and others to inspect the abandoned road and measure its effects on the residents.
The road was awarded by the Fashola’s government to divert vehicular movement from Haruna through Powerline to Ojokoro Cementary area to reduce traffic on Ikorodu garage roundabout.
In a petition, titled ‘Complaint Letter For The Poor Condition Of Our Road’, written to Hon. Agunbiade, a copy of which was also sent to THE IMPACT, the residents appealed to the lawmaker to use his good office to address the issue.
“We use this medium to draw your attention to the poor condition of our road which is the main access road into our community.
“The poor state of road has limited the movement of motorists that ply our route and this has led to low commercial activities.
“Other consequences of the terrible state of the road are spending of more money on transportation by residents, experience of frequent breakdown of vehicles by car owners and reduction in commercial activities in the area.
“The collapsed drainage system, which is one of the effect of the abandonment of the construction of the road by the contractor, is also part of the problems facing the residents as the community is exposed to constant flooding.
“We are, therefore , appealing to you to use your good office to assist us by constructing drainages and grading the road. These, if done, will revive economic activities in the area and save us from constant flooding,particularly during the raining season.”
Chief Ajayi S. O , the Olori Powerline CDA Chairman, explained that they had written severally to the state government for intervention without any result, adding that it was as a result of that they decided to approach their representative ( Hon. Agunbiade) for intervention.
Hon. Gbenga Awobajo, under whose jurisdiction the road falls, while speaking with THE IMPACT stated:
“I decided to lead the community to Hon. Agunbiade because what is required to put the road in good shape is beyond the community’s capability. The abandoned road is causing the people of the community great agony”, he stated.
“The road has completely made movement of human and vehicles impossible because the road is no longer passable. The incessant flooding is also something of great concern to us”, Hon. Awobajo added.
A youth leader in the CDA, who spoke with THE IMPACT, lamented the effect of flooding whenever it rains and how residents usually park their vehicles at unsafe locations as they cannot drive to their homes due to the collapsed road.
Mr Aderemi Amusa, an elderly man from Olori Radelu Community Development Association,one of the CDAs in the area, also stated that their own CDA had written several separate letters to the state government on the road.
Hon. Agunbiade, while addressing the residents during the inspection, stated that the grading of the road without the completion of the drainage reconstruction would be a wasted effort as it would only serve the community for few days.
“I have seen the extent of the damages of the road and the drainages on both sides with devastating effects on the residents”, Hon. Agunbiade said during the inspection.
“What is required here is beyond palliative measure of grading the road because it has completely collapsed.
“The drainages on both sides no longer hold water which is the cause of the incessant flooding. What is required here is for the government to re-award the project to a new contractor.
“This is a very important road that would ease the traffic congestion on Ikorodu garage roundabout if completed.”
“Rather than working separately, I want to appeal to the CDAs affected to let us work together in achieving the goal of ensuring that the road gets needed attention from the state government. We could have achieved our aim if we had worked in unity and had responded in good time but it’s better late than never”, Hon. Agunbiade stated.
‘We are going to start working as a team and I can assure you that we will achieve our aim of making the government re-award the contract in good time so as to make the road serve its intended purpose and improve the social and economic lives of the residents”, he added.
