Kunle ADELABU
-Work would start fully in August – Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA Chairman
-Compensation, raining season adduced as reasons for slow pace of work
-Government playing politics – Opposition
Residents of Ikorodu division have expressed their worries over the slow pace of work by the contractors handling the on- going construction of Igbogbo/Bola ahmed Tinubu/Igbe and Agric/Owutu/Arepo roads.
Hi-Tech Construction Company Limited, the construction company handling the work, had demolished houses to pave way for the construction shortly after being awarded the contract for the construction of the two roads by the Lagos State Government but are yet to make appreciative progress on the job about eight months after.
The two roads are in Igbogbo/Bayeiku Local Council Development Area and Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area respectively.
Hundreds of houses were demolished last December to give way for the rehabilitation and expansion of the two access roads which are expected to open up several communities in the division and reduce traffic bottleneck on Lagos – Ikorodu road upon completion.
According to the victims of the demolition and other residents, affected residents had given up their buildings for the greater good of the division but are disappointed by the way the construction works are being handled.
Mr Monday Ohi Obadan, a community developer and resident of Offin in Igbogbo/Bayeiku LCDA, speaking with THE IMPACT, agreed that the construction work in his area is not as fast as expected but enjoined residents to show understanding.
“It is true that the pace of work is very slow but we should also consider the view of the government with paucity of funds which was an aftermath of the projected income and expenditure but the brouhaha of increases in taxes has somersaulted these projections. I believe that has brought most projects, including those being constructed in my area, to be downscaled”, he stated.
“ Notwithstanding, I strongly believe that the foundational work is on schedule. My worry and concern, however, is the slow timing of compensation to the affected people. That should even be the priority of the government.
Barr. Adeboye Dankwo, a community activist, legal practitioner and resident of Igbogbo, in his own reaction, described the project as fraud and charade.
“It’s a fraud and charade masquerade as development”.
“It’s almost in comatose because it’s a fraudulent project”, he added.
Adeleke Aroyewun, a student leader and official of Igbogbo Students Union (ISU), in his own reaction, stated that the slow pace of work has dashed the residents’ hope despite sacrificing their properties, especially ancestral and historical buildings.
He warned against allowing the criminal elements to take advantage of the situation.
“The joy experienced by residents in the community when the construction of Ebute/Igbe/Ginti road was announced seems to be short-lived as a result of the slow pace of work on that road despite the massive demolition of buildings, some of which were ancestral buildings and notable historical sites within the community, the scrambles of demolished houses have now become hideouts for criminals while the road has now become illegal checkpoints for criminal extortion by police officers due to the neglect”, he stated.
“As much as I do not want to believe the project has been deliberately delayed for election purpose,a part of me cannot associate the delay to any other reason as this seems to be the regular practice in the state’s polity”.
He,however, urged the state government to reciprocate the good gesture of the people by accelerating work on the construction.
“I still want to appeal to the relevant authorities to as much as possible reciprocate the good gestures of the Igbogbo people who forfeited their homes, ancestral houses,places of work and worship in exchange for development by intensifying efforts and speeding up the process with a view to ensuring that the road is available for use at the quickest possible time”, he appealed.
Barr. Kayode Alabi, State Chairman, All Peoples Grand Aliance (APGA) and a resident of Ebute in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area, while also reacting, stated:
“Despite the pains and trauma caused by the demolition of properties along Ebute-Igbogɓo road and Agric-Isawo roaɗs for rehabilitation and expansion works, the projects have suffered inorɗinate delays. From diverse sources, some of the reasons adduced for the delay includes; the raining season, community and compensation related issues and Lagos State Government’s failure to release funds for the contractor.
He condemned the negative effects of the delay on the economy and residents of the affected areas.
“ I think it is unfortunate that the projects are being delayeɗ despite the huge cost in economic and human terms. Many businesses have been destroyed. Homes and families wrenched apart. The APC government should move quickly to alleviate these pains. Their credibility is at stake as so much sacrifices have been made by the communities without any tangible outcome”, he stated.
Mr Lekan Durojaiye, Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ikorodu, in his own reaction, said that the state government is playing politics with the projects.
“For the roads, the arrangement is just political! The petty nature of our people and probably, the zeal to be ruled by deceit, have always blocked our sense of reasoning”, he stated.
“The roads were all opened for construction for political reasons. There are numerous of such roads around in so many communities. Numerous properties have been demolished to show seriousness but because of the coming elections, some of these projects have been intentionally abandoned. Be rest assured that once the elections are close by, massive work will start to show that indeed, Buhari, Ambode and others are all working.
“The summary of the abandonment of these roads is that there contruction is just for sheer political campaign and gains. Be rest assured that pretty soon, most of the projects will be kick started at almost the same time to show rapid and massive developmental scope of a working government. Whichever way, I guess it makes a lot of sense when projects to be embarked upon are well timed and duration spaced out instead of deliberately punishing the already suffering masses living or doing businesses around such areas”, he stated.
Mrs Funke Awoyemi, a community development leader in Igbe area of Igbogbo/Bayeiku LCDA, also alluded to funding as the bane of the slow pace of work.
“Mobilization fee is the major challenge Hitech (the construction company handling the projects) is having and this has been slowing down the pace of work”, she stated.
“I’m also aware that relatives of those buried at the cemetery along Ebute-Igbogbo road have been asked to exhume their bodies and rebury them farther down the cemetery. They were given time frame too. I can’t really say if the time given is up or not.
“However, Mr George, the Hi-tech Engineer, is very optimistic that once real work starts, the whole construction work will be speed up and that’s the more reason why they have been working on challenging points before the real work will start. A good example is the swampy areas on the Ebute-Igbogbo road and the one at Afa area down to Igbe road”, she added.
When contacted, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, the first Secretary to the Lagos State Government, also expressed concern over the slow pace of the construction work on Igbogbo – Afa – Ijede rroad.
He appealed to the contractor to speed up work to encourage the people who sacrificed their houses for the development.
“Some of us have expressed our feelings concerning this, but it seems the contractor is taking his time. Although, we have been seeing them in the past few days, but like others, we are also worried and I want to appeal to the contractors to move faster because several people were displaced and we regarded the road as sadness that would bring goodness. But the goodness seems to be slow in coming and we want it faster.
“We do not know the value of the contract but we are aware that it is a short term project and we want it to move faster. The contractors are not taking off as fast as we expected, but I have noticed in the past weeks that some works have been going on there.
In a phone chat, Comrade Sesan Daini, the Chairman of Igbogbo/Bayeiku Local Council Development Area, pleaded with residents for understanding while assuring them that when completed, the road would improve the social and economic status of Igbogbo community in particular and Ikorodu division in general.
He stated that the major reason causing the slow pace of work on Igbogbo/Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Igbe road is the desire of the government to pay residents whose houses were demolished to pave right of way for the construction.
Other reason adduced by the Chairman for the slow pace of work is the raining season.
“What I also gathered is that the state government want to pay the residents whose houses were demolished to pave way for the right of way”, said Comrade Daini.
“In the government thinking, it’s proper to pay the affected residents before the construction works kick-off fully. These are our people and the government is greatly concerned about them. Everything is been done to pay them in good time.
“The government cannot be constructing the road while those affected are not compensated and taken care of.
“Another reason is the weather. The raining season is also another factor affecting the construction work.
“But I learnt from the Ministry of Works that work would start fully by August. I just want to enjoin our people to be patient with the state government. August is just around the corner”, he pleaded.
Speaking with a Commissioner in Lagos State, he assured that the state government would complete the roads currently under construction in Ikorodu in good time, while also stating that the road construction and other state projects in Ikorodu division are borne out of the desire of the government to bring meaningful development across the state and not an attempt to achieve any political gain.
Attempts to speak with the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy and the management of Hi-Tech Construction Company Limited proved abortive as our reporters were unable to get their views as at the time of going to press.
