Kunle Adelabu
-Calls for cooperation of residents on reconstruction of Oba Sekumade road
The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, has stated that the government, in its attempt to make the Oba Sekumade and other roads in the state motorable, had to access bonds to finance their construction.
She disclosed this on Thursday, October 8, 2020, at the Stakeholders’ meeting for the reconstruction of the Oba Sekumade road in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State.
Engr. Adeyoye also disclosed that Oba Sekumade road and other roads in the state will, henceforth, be constructed with rigid pavement to ensure that they last long and adequately serve the public.
THE IMPACT had on its online platform in June this year published that the road has been awarded to the construction giant, Arab Contractor, for reconstruction.
The meeting provided residents with the opportunity to raise their concerns and observations regarding the project.
Some of the concerns raised by residents and other stakeholders were: maintenance of the road, drainage, parking space especially for heavy duty vehicles, palliative work on access roads, creation of U – turn/access into link roads and consideration for local contents in terms of employing residents as workers and patronizing local construction materials sellers.
According to the Special Adviser, the state government took a recourse to the bond market to finance the project because they did not get positive cooperation from the Organised Private Sector that the government had approached for partnership for the construction of the roads, despite the fact that the road is equally serving them.
“As a matter of fact, there are three roads that we attempted to fix with rigid pavement when we came on board. This road (Oba Sekumade), lkosi and Oba Akran roads and we tried to engage members of the Organised Private Sector to partner with us, more so, that they are the ones using them”, Engr. Adeyoye said.
“We didn’t get a positive result until we got the bond and you know that bond money is like handcuff money. You must go straight in one direction and must not sway. You must use it for what you have requested to do with it.
“In order not to run into any problem, we decided on a tested contractor that would deliver and will make our financial advisors see that we are using the money well. That is exactly what we have done”.
Providing details on the road, she said that:
“The duration is 14 months and the terrain is very well known to us with the design of the road already taken care of.
“In addition, because of the excess loads on it, that is why we have it in rigid concrete pavement and not semi – rigid.
“The design of the road is such that it takes care of dedicated lanes for LAMATA busses, so that people can join the LAMATA buses once they alight from ferries”.
Engr. Adeyoye also stated that the current administration of Mr Bababjide Sanwo – Olu has made stakeholders meeting compulsory before any project commences in order to make the people buy into the project and see it as theirs.
“If you notice from the inception of this administration, stakeholders’ meetings are a prerequisite. It was last year that the State Executive Council passed the resolution that there must be a stakeholders’ meeting before any project commences in Lagos State.
“The reason is for people to take ownership because there is no point building something with tax payers money and at the end, people are not buying into it; that has been the bane of projects that we have in this country. The people should be able to see the project as their own”, she said.
“People just think for people and give them something that they don’t desire”.
Further stating why the road was awarded to the Arab Contractors, Engr. Adeyoye said that the construction giant is familiar with the Ikorodu terrain and can easily access logistics needed to have smooth operation .
“We are trying to fix Oba Sekumade road today, Same with Ijede, Agric – Isawo and we are also trying to work on Igbogbo.
“The contractor (Arab Contractors) is one that has worked in this locality. The reason which the contractor was picked is because they can harness logistics quickly because they have been around and will be able to coordinate themselves easily.
“The topography of this place is bad and tough. It’s swampy. Attempts have been made to fix it but it has never lasted for two reasons. The design doesn’t take note of the excess load that will be plying the road”.
She encouraged monitoring by the public which she described as the real owners of the road and who knows the quality of work that they want.
“In terms of monitoring the project, I have told my Engineers in the monitoring team to do their job but there are other monitors who are the owners of the project. These are the people that are here at this stakeholders’ meeting who understand what we are going to deliver to them”, the Special Adviser stated.
“I get text messages from them at all times telling me that Arab Contractors have not moved to the site and also telling me, whenever they see them on site, about the number of trucks that are plying the road. I always get their reports. That is where ownership comes in. You have been able to express yourself and told us where you are feeling the pains.
“You can put all your information on our social media handles. What you are doing is to make us be on our toes and not relax”.
The Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon SOB Agunbiade, who has been working for several years to get the road fixed, commended the government of Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu and Dr Obafemi Hamzat for awarding the contract for the reconstruction of the road.
He stated that the road, when completed, will put smiles on the faces of residents and road users who have suffered greatly over the years that the road has been deplorable.
“It is a thing of joy that this project has commenced today. It signals the preparedness and the determination of the government to repair the road which has inflicted a lot of sufferings on the people”, Hon. Agunbiade said.
“I never rested on the issue regarding the repair of the road and l fought so many battles on social media and WhatsApp groups calling for its reconstruction. The Kabiyesi has challenged me several times and I always asked for time. I have also done many press releases on social media asking our people to bear with our government.
“Our Senatorial candidate never leaves me alone because he wwould always call me on phone anytime he passes this road to know what we are doing about it. Today, he has joined us and he will use his connection with the Governor and his Deputy, both of whom he had worked with, to complement what Hon. Babajimi Benson, myself and Hon. Nurudeen Solaja have been doing it.
“As we are clamouring for this, others too in the Councils and LCDAs in Lagos State are also clamouring for their own roads and the government must do it one at a time with the limited resources at its disposal.
“ Yes, Lagos State has a lot of money, but the money is not enough to take care of the many contending issues in the state”.
While commending Arab Contractors for always doing good work and delivering on road projects in Ikorodu in time, the ranking lawmaker charged the construction giant not to make the Oba Sekumade road an exception to its good work.
“Arab Contractors have been doing well in this area of the state. We thank you for the road that you constructed from Ipakodo to Ibeshe. You are currently on Itamaga to Ijede and also you did Ota – Ona to Itamaga by popular demand of youths.
“I am sure that that has informed the contract given to you to do Oba Sekumade – Ogolonto road and we are sure that the road will not be an exception to your good work and timely completion of contracts. Thank you for the good job that you are doing”, he said.
“The road has been awarded and construction will start very soon. It’s been awarded truly to trusted and tested construction firm. We are sure that when it is completed, we would all enjoy the benevolence of the government”.
He commended the Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, and his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, both of whom he said he had troubled so much regarding the repair of the road and other roads in Ikorodu and thanked them for awarding the contract for the reconstruction of the road.
“I am sure that one of the messages that the Deputy Governor will be missing from today will be messages from me on the road because now that the road is about to commence, it is a case closed on it”, he added.
Hon. Agunbiade further buttressed the importance of Oba Sekiumade road, stating that the road which, according is him, is serving over 30 communities in Ikorodu West LCDA, is also a link road to about four other LCDAs in Ikorodu Division.
“Beyond the recommendations that this road serves as a link to over 30 communities in Ikorodu West LCDA, it also links about four councils in Ikorodu Division.
“It is a link road to Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Ijede LCDA, Ikorodu LG while many people pass through here (the Oba Sekumade road)”.
He charged the Ministry of Works and the contractors to work on the inner roads to serve as access roads and pleaded that local contents, in terms of employing residents as labour and patronage of residents dealing in constructing materials, should be giving consideration.
Engr Lateef Ayomide Somide, the Project Director, in his presentation of the technical details of the project, said that the road project is in line with the T.H.E.S.E agenda of the present administration with the intention to integrate intermodal transportation systems.
“In line with T.H.E.S.E agenda of the Gov. Babajide Sanwo – Olu’s administration, where T’ as the first acronym, stands for Transportation and Traffic Management, and encourages integrated intermodal transportation systems.
“This particular road will complementing this ferry terminal because the design of the terminal accommodates BRT buses within its premises which can take about ten buses at a time.
“It also accommodates passenger shelters that would take over 100 people at a time. This is a way to synchronise the road and water system”.
He said that a side of the road will remain open to motorists to ply throughout the duration of the reconstruction.
“The intention of the ministry is to ensure that one side of the road is constantly passable till the end of the project. The way we are going to structure the work is that we will be working on one side while the other will be passable throughout the duration of the project”, Engr, Somide said.
Engr. Somide, however, called for cooperation of residents and other road users throughout the duration of the reconstruction.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Bashir Animasaun Sotonwa, the Sekumade of Ipakodo, in his royal message, thanked the state government for listening to the yearnings of the people by awarding the contract for the reconstruction of the Oba Sekumade road.
The royal father assured the people that the reconstruction of the road is in good hands of the Ministry which he said is made up of competent and dedicated professionals and the construction company which he said has track records of excellent delivery on critical jobs.
The Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. (Princess) Jumoke Jimbo – Ademehin, in her remarks, also commended the state government for awarding the road, which she said is critical to the social and economic lives of residents in the division, for reconstruction.
She also pledged the total support of the council to the reconstruction of the road.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructures, Engr. Olujimi Hotonu, speaking earlier, spoke on the importance of the Oba Sekumade road.
He stated that the award of the road for reconstruction is a further signal of the readiness of the present administration to improve infrastructures in the state and encourage economic developments.
“The Oba Sekumade road, a major strategic link road, serves as alternative route for the lkorodu road and it connects about 20 communities in lkorodu West LCDA to Ogolonto on the Lagos expressway.
“This Stakeholders’ engagement is another step by the administration of the Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu towards ensuring the buying of Lagosians into government projects and good governance.
“We believe that such a forum would create the opportunity to inform all stakeholders about what the project is all about and address all concerns that may ensue in the execution of the project.
“Oba Sekumade road enables several communities to link the Lagos – Ikorodu road but it has deteriorated overtime and presently in a highly deplorable condition. Road users experience heavy traffic, delay travel and sometimes suffer damages to their vehicle.
“The news today is that our governor has responded to the yearnings and aspiration of the good people of Ikorodu.
“The reconstruction of Oba Sekumade road will terminate the sufferings and bring relief to the people that are living in this area and also promote socio – economic activities”.
He also added that the project will boost the local economy and bring about direct and indirect jobs and open up windows of opportunities.
