Kunle ADELABU
Residents across various communities in Ikorodu division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, have continued to embark on self-help intervention in making roads in their respective areas motorable.
From Ikorodu Local Government to Ikorodu West, Ikorodu North, Igbogbo/Bayeku, Ijede and Imota Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the division, there has been huge public outcry over the conditions of roads most of which are currently in terrible states of disrepair and in need of quick intervention from the government .
But since such intervention is not forthcoming, residents have been mobilizing themselves to fill potholes on the roads with stones and sand to ensure that vehicles move with ease on them .
Ms Omolara Awolesi, a young community activist, during the week, led members of Ireshe community to embark on the filling of potholes on the road from Ita-Elewa to Aga junction in Ikorodu.
According to her, the intervention was simply a community engagement.
She stated that she decided to mobilize some people in the area to fill the potholes with stones because they are getting wider and making it impossible for vehicles to move freely.
While calling on the government, both at local and state levels, to rehabilitate roads in Ikorodu, which according to her, are in very deplorable states, she also challenged other youths to engage in community services in their respective areas and not wait on the government for everything.
Hon. Olohunwa Oshodi, the Councilor representing Ward B at the Legislative arm of the Ikorodu Local Government, on Wednesday, July 31, also embarked on the filling of potholes on the road in Adeyeri Owuyo Street and Madadeje junction, Lowa in Ikorodu.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, the two-term Councilor stated :
“I decided to intervene because this is my political Ward and I cannot be watching while the road get deteriorated everyday.
“I understand that the ceaseless rainfall has been preventing government from embarking on the planned rehabilitation of roads across the division and that is why I had to purchase stones to fill the potholes on the road to make it motorable.
He added that he would extend the exercise to another road around the axis in the next phase.
Massive self-help rehabilitation of Igbe road is also ongoing in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA by the residents of the six Community Development Associations (CDAs) in that axis.
The chairman, Igbe road rehabilitation committee, Mr Adeniyi Joshua Abolanle, stated about N7 million is needed to achieve the planned palliative measure on the road.
So far, the community has been able to raise about N3 million used in clearing drainages, buying sand,stones and renting heavy duty equipment to stabilize the road that was in terrible state of disrepair.
Meanwhile, the two representatives of Ikorodu Constituency I and II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade and Hon. Nurudeen Solaja respectively, have appealed to the residents who have been experiencing hardship due to the states of roads across the division to exercise little patience over the situation.
They made the appeal in a separate press statements released on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, stating that the Governor of the state, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Lagos State House of Assembly are working towards ensuring that massive rehabilitation are carried out on roads across the state.
The two lawmakers added that the planned rehabilitation works will commence immediately the rain subsides.
