Kunle ADELABU
-Assures residents of rehabilitation of Itamaga-Ijede, Sekumade road, others
-Construction works on abandoned Igbogbo/Igbe, Agric/Owutu roads to start after raining season
The Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, has stated that he is not folding his arms concerning the agonizing experiences that residents of Ikorodu division are going through on daily basis on roads in the division.
He also stated that he is deeply concerned about the flood ravaging many communities in the division.
He stated these in a release that he personally posted on social media platforms related to Ikorodu Division.
In the release, which was first posted on the THE IMPACT WhatsApp platform on Tuesday evening, the lawmaker also highlighted his efforts so far in making sure that there are motorable roads in Ikorodu division.
The release is titled, “The Bad Roads And Flooding In Our Communities”.
Hon. Agunbiade’s reaction was coming on the heels of the current lamentations by residents over the dilapidated state of virtually all the roads in the six Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ikorodu division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
The four-term lawmaker assured that the executive and legislative arms of the Lagos State Government are working together to ensure that roads across the division and other parts of the state are fixed as soon as rain subsides.
He spoke about one Mr. Eyebiokin whom he said has been going round to take pictures of bad roads across the division and sending them to him for action and appreciated him for his efforts while he also charged other residents to learn from the way and mannes Mr Eyebiokin tasked his representative without recourse to abuse.
He disclosed that the efforts made by him and Chairman of Ijede LCDA have led to the nomination of Itamaga/Ijede road for rehabilitation.
The ranking lawmaker also stated that he is hopeful that the Governor would eventually listen to their plea for the rehabilitation of Igbodu/ Gberigbe/Agura road that is currently in a very terrible state.
Also, he stated that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured the representatives of the division at the state Assembly that work would commence on the abandoned Agric-Ishawo and Igbogbo-Igbe roads .
He emphasized that the governor has reinstated his commitment to fix the roads after the raining season .
Another road that the active and performing lawmaker spoke about in the release was the Sekumade (Port Authority) road which the heavy duty trucks of Nigerian Port Authority Terminal and Dangote company have contributed in no small measure to its collapse.
He also assured the residents over the repair of the bad portions of the Mile 12 – Ikorodu road causing heavy traffic and the Ikorodu ring road among others.
Speaking on the flooding that has been ravaging several communities in Ikorodu, Hon. Agunbiade stated that the Lagos State House of Assembly has setup ad- hoc committee to look into the environmental challenges in the state, part of which is flooding.
He stated that the flooding challenges at Odogunyan, Ishawo and Anibaba areas among others have been reported to the committee and that its members will soon be visiting constituencies across the state.
The lawmaker assured that he and his counterpart in Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja, are working together in the interest of the division to see that infrastructures in the division are upgraded in tune with the reality on ground.
The text of his release reads thus:
The Bad Roads And Flooding In Our Communities
“It is a known fact that during raining seasons, roads in Lagos State usually experience bad conditions which leave us with harrowing experiences.
“Amongst other causative factors is the topography of Lagos state being below sea level.
“I want to appreciate many of our constituents like Mr. Eyebiokin who went round and sent to me, pictures of bad roads within the Ikorodu Constituency 1 that require urgent attention with highly commendable comments that show civility of criticism.
“But I want to assure all and sundry that without being told, I am conversant with the happenings in the communities in my constituency. This is the reason I don’t live outside our community, I move around Ikorodu most weekends.
“Let me assure us that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, as well as the House of Assembly are not folding arms and watching the good people of Lagos State go through the daily hardship meted to them by the bad roads and flooding. A lot of efforts, that will soon start to manifest, are currently going on.
“I am aware that Itamaga/Ijede road is among the roads that have been nominated for repair after the raining season. This nomination is from the House of Assembly and through Ijede LCDA Chairman respectively.
“We are making frantic efforts to push for Gbodu/ Gberigbe/Agura road and we are very hopeful of getting Government’s attention soon.
“I can confirm that our recent meeting with Gov. Sanwo-Olu on Sunday 28th July, further threw up the issue of Ishawo and Igbogbo road projects and the Governor reiterated his commitment to fix the roads after the raining season. The deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has visited the roads in person and recounted the ordeal people go through.
“I am aware of the condition of Sekumade Ipakodo road and necessary representative action has been taken to recommend it for repair by the Public Works Corporation.
“In the same vein, the ring road in Ikorodu ( Ojubode- Alhaji Street through Ota – Ona – Ireshe to Owolowo – Ojubode) has also been recommended for attention.
“I am in constant touch with the Chairman, Public Works, in respect of the bad portions of Mile12- Ikorodu road (just before the pedestrian bridge). I wish to assure us all that as soon as the rain subsides, the area will be fixed and the daily traffic gridlock caused by the portions will disappear.
Let me make it clear that Hon. Nurudeen Saka Solaja and I are united and on the same page on this issue of infrastructural and environmental upgrade in our constituencies and he is making his own recommendations to the appropriate authorities as well”.
Resolve on FLOODING
“The Lagos State House of Assembly has resolved to investigate environmental challenges in the state; part of which is flooding and to the effect, an Ad-hoc Committee has been set up and will soon be going round constituencies in the state for first hand feel of the challenges. The flooding issues around Odogunyan, Ishawo and Anibaba areas among others have all been reported for the attention of the committee’s recommendations which shall be made available to the Ministry of the Environment after ratification by the Assembly.
“As your representatives, we can only plead that you bear with us a little more. We have a new government that is showing commitment to welfare and security, we only need to be a bit more patient with the government that is also making efforts to settle down after recent elections. Commissioners were just been nominated for consideration of the Assembly which has constituted a screening committee for that purpose. Issue of inherited budget and evaluation of the roads are also factors that need to be resolved plus the intervening factor of rain.
“The Bottom line, however, is that Governor Sanwo-Olu and his team are set to deal with our perennial problems of bad roads shortly and the House of Assembly is collaborating in this regards, let’s encourage the government with more prayers, please”.
