Kunle Adelabu
Residents of Ikorodu Division have called on the Lagos State Government to ensure that more roads are fixed across the six Local Government and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the division.
They also requested that Gov. Bababjide Sanwo-Olu should ensure that inner roads are given attentions while also commending his government’s efforts so far in renewing the infrastructure and other aspects of the councils across the Ikorodu division.
They spoke on THE IMPACT WhatsApp platform during a discourse on the performance of the Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration in the last one year in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, security, emergency management, youth affairs, transportation, agriculture and political appointments.
The administration clocked a year in office on Friday, May 29, 2020.
Mr Monday Ohi Obadan, a community developer and social media commentator, contributing to the discourse, scored the administration 50%.
He said that the government in the state is impeded by the rots left behind by the previous administration.
“I would score them 50% overall in all indicators”, Obadan stated.
“But first, bear in mind that the administration was faced with the enormous rot left behind by the previous administration which tampered with the original template of infrastructural development already in place since 1999.
“They were so bewildered overwhelmingly that the “foundation became faulty, hence the need to pull it down and reconstruct” in five stages of T.H.E.M.E.
“The cost of putting in place infrastructure has skyrocketed as a result of shortfall in revenue and the recent Covid-19 Pandemic.
“Factoring in some of these observed setbacks, I strongly believe these duo are on the path of recovery the template, the enthusiasm to accelerate the momentum is in the works. The will is there but the wherewithal is scarce”.
Going forward, Obadan called on the Sanwo-Olu administration to upgrade the human resources and infrastructures in rural areas to reduce the pressure on urban parts of the state.
“If permitted to suggest, going forward, the feeder town’s infrastructures (roads and human capital development) must be adequately be upgraded to take off the load from the urban centres of Lagos. Until this is looked into, would we continue to be round tripping”, he said.
Mrs Olanrewaju, a retired teacher, while commending the administration for doing great work within a year, stated that it should focus more on easing traffic on Ikorodu – Mile 12 Express road and Ikorodu garage roundabout where he said residents are facing hardship on daily basis.
“The man has done greatly within a year in office, but we need his attention in the area of traffic control on our roads. The traffic hold up at Ikorodu garage and Ikorodu to Mile12 is becoming worrisome. We want a permanent solution to this.
“We usually spent most of our useful time on the road on daily basis. This is strenuous, it is killing, it should not continue”, she emphasized.
The retired teacher also called on government to act in addressing the spate of cult killings in Ikorodu while also calling on Gov. Sanwo – Olu to find ways of productively engaging the youths most of whom she said are members of the cult groups disturbing the peace of the community.
“The cult issue is another area we want our Governor to intervene. Our future generation is being wasted on daily basis, people are living in fear and we are being seen by outside world as unserious people. Every day is like a war in a town that was once known as being peaceful.
“An idle mind is said to be the devil workshop. Our youths need to be positively engaged. They need serious employment and empowerment, not a temporary appointment or empowerment, they need something that can keep them busy, something that will keep them off the street”, she argued.
She also called for more government’s presence in the division to give residents sense of belongng.
“Government should try to bring governance closer to us. Let them bring government agencies to Ikorodu to enable us have sense of belonging. Let Government identify with us, if all these can be addressed, we are good to go”, she said.
A youth leader and politician in Igbogbo, Ahmed Lekan Aroyewun, commended the Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat government for embarking on massive road projects abandoned by the previous administration and the manner in which they effectively responded to the COVID – 19 pandemic.
“Mr Gov. have done well in last one year. He promised during campaign to continue the two major road projects in Igbogbo and Ishawo, the two projects are ongoing right now as contractors have moved back to site. He also added the construction of the Itamaga road which is moving at fast speed.
“Governor should not forget compensation for the owners of the houses demolished to pave way for the road projects”, he pleaded.
He also commended the interventions of the Public works on inner roads in Ikorodu under the administration, adding that roads that are critical and strategic to free-flow of traffic should be attended to quickly.
“Public works is doing a good job. Roads such as Oba Molaja Ogunlewe road and Babalola Aroyewun road have received attentions. We appreciate that greatly. But like Oliver twist, we can only ask for more.
“I enjoin public works to work on strategic and alternative roads like Omidina-Latuwa-Akidana road that will link Oseni tarred road to Basorun road which will in turn link Bola Ahmed Tinubu road to Agbele road”, he said.
“Also, Akin Ogunlewe road is very important and strategic. Public works should work on it to reduce the pressure on Obafemi Awolowo road which is usually on a logjam”.
“Ofin-Oreta road needs urgent and swift attention too. Those living in that axis are going through a lot.
“I was scared when the COVID – 19 broke out but the government responded very well and it has been effectively managing the pandemic.
“Generally, the government of Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat is living to its promises despite shortage in the revenue generation”.
President of the National Association of Ikorodu Division Students (NAIDS), Comrade Soyiga Samuel Adeshina, also contributing, stated:
“Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat’s administration has been a blessing to the state and I join millions of Lagosians to congratulate them.
“History will never forget them on how they helped Lagosians to fight the deadly coronavirus regardless the State’s population.
“In the area of infrastructure, we cannot pretend that we are not seeing the good works of the administration in every part of the state, including our own division. I will just like to remind them that the reward of hardwork is hardwork”, he said while charging the administration to do more.
“In the health sector, I want to rate the administration above 100 percentage. My prayers are with the Governor, his Deputy, Prof. Akin Abayomi and other members of the state cabinet as well as our health workers who are the heroes of 2020.
In the area of education, the students’ leader enjoined the administration to work towards ceaseless academic calendar even when students are not in school due to any challenge.
He also charged the government to accord community students’ organization recognition and use same to get across to them during critical periods.
“In Education, the state has done enough but they can do better. There is a need for our academic calendar to keep rolling whether we are at home or not. There should be no reason for its delay.
“Community Students’ organizations should be recognized by the state. They remained the best channel to get across to the students at this critical time in the state such as the present situation, considering that majority of the students are at home.
“The state has done well by paying part of the students Bursary but they can still complete the remaining payment even if that will be our own palliative.
“The state should do more in securing lives and properties of its citizenry.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has also done well. The state should do more for the youths. On transportation, this administration is committed to making the state a mega city.
“On appointment, the state can still do better for Ikorodu Division”, he said.
Madam Funke Awoyemi, a community leader and social media activist, while stating that the administration has done well for Ikorodu, also noted that there are still lots to be done.
“While appreciating the duo of Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy on development attained by the Lagos State so far under their watch, I feel they should’ve done better for Ikorodu as a division… “.
“In terms of road, there’s a lot to be done. The Governor must concentrate more on the most roads with traffic lights. He should also increase the number of inner streets through the LGs or LCDAs”, she stated.
She complained that the administration’s zeal for execution of its polices has dwindled.
“Governor must hold a firm grip on execution of its laws. I have noticed that the zeal for further execution has dwindled for some time now”.
Mr Olusesan Moses Odueyigbo, a politician, also contributing, stated that the government needed to tackle the security issue in and around Ikorodu.
“My opinion is that the administration of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has great intention to surpass past administration.
“The administration needs to ensure that Ikorodu and its environs are secured. Security problem in lkorodu must be tackled once and for all and the stakeholders must be involved in achieving this”, he said.
Meanwhile the main opposition party in Ikorodu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has scored the administration low in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, security, emergency management, youth, transportation, agriculture and political appointments, especially as it concern Ikorodu.
Examining the administration on infrastructure, the party stated that the Sanwo-Olu administration is yet to make any significant stride in the area of road construction, adding that the Governor is yet to attend to roads abandoned by his predecessor.
“PDP Ikorodu LGA is really concerned about the performance of the Sanwo – Olu/ Hamzat led APC administration in Lagos State, particularly in Ikorodu LGA.
“Having observed critically the achievements of this administration in the areas of Infrastructures, Health, Education, Security, Emergency Management, Agriculture, Youth Affairs, Transportation and Appointments in Ikorodu LGA, our submissions are as follows:
“Infrastructures: We noticed that in the area of infrastructural development, the administration started poorly. Oba Omolaja road in Igbogbo, Itamaga to Ijede road and Agric to Ori-Okuta road that were abandoned by the failed Ambode administration further experienced neglect from the Sanwo- Olu administration and inflicted enormous havoc on motorists in these axis while world class traffic logjam was also experienced on these roads but clamour by our great party PDP and good people of Ikorodu for urgent attention on these roads was not heeded”, he stated.
“These roads were re-awarded but the contractors complained of lack of fund and had since disappeared from these sites. AP junction to Gberigbe to Agura road is no go area while some other popular roads also need urgent attention and upgrading.
In the area of health, PDP also passed a failure verdict on the administration for poor funding of the sector.
“In the health sector, Sanwo-Olu administration performed woefully in Ikorodu to the extent that the member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikorodu constituency 1, Hon. SOB Agunbiade, went for a medical treatment in the UK and was stranded there.This is to tell you the level of decadence in our hospitals in Ikorodu. The general hospitals in Ikorodu are poorly funded and under equipped.
The opposition party also alleged that pupils and students are still sitting on the floor in the classrooms during lessons while many classrooms are overcrowded.
“Sanwo-Olu led APC administration in the State has also failed in the area of Education in our local Government as pupils still sit on the floor in our schools while we also experience crowded classrooms in our schools.
The opposition party also scored the administration low in the area of security in Ikorodu based on the current state of security in the community due to the constant rampage and wanton killings by cultists which, according to the party, has disturbed the social and economic lives of the community.
“Security in Ikorodu division is a no go area as we can no longer sleep with our two eyes closed in Ikorodu division due to cultism which has now become a culture of our youths. This administration has also failed to protect our lives and properties in Ikorodu division”.
