Kunle Adelabu
-Compensation for demolished houses will be paid soon – Hon. Solaja
The management of the HiTech Construction Limited, the construction company handling the Ipakodo – Igbogbo – Bola Tinubu – Afa Road, has recommitted itself to accelerating work on the project and pledged to ensure that quality road is delivered.
Mr Dany Abboud, the Deputy Managing Director, Hitech Construction Company, gave the assurance on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, when he visited the Adeboruwa palace with his team and engineers of the Ministry of Works & Infrastructures that are supervising the project.
Representative of the Ikorodu Constituency II, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, was also present with his aides.
It was gathered that THE IMPACT news report published on February 5, 2020, with the title, “Your Work Is Behind Schedule – Special Adviser Tells HiTech Construction”, played a big role in calling for the meeting.
Mr Abboud, speaking at the meeting, stated that Hitech is fully committed to delivering a good job to the Igbogbo community.
“I commit myself to the project. We are starting fully and hopefully non-stop, with the support of the government”, he assured.
“We are doing this job (Igbogbo road) with that of Agric – Isawo road and we don’t want to offend any of the communities.
“Having said that, we are in the process of organizing and finalizing the construction of the bridge and hopefully we will move ahead very properly without any hassle by the grace of God and with your assistance”, he said.
“We would like to work in harmony with Your Majesty and we will see how we can move ahead with our work in this community.
“We have started the drainage already and the Ministry can testify to it. We are still casting as we speak and we will also have areas that we will be using for pre – casting and hopefully by the end of this month, there will be 1.8kilometres that we would have completed, including cover on top of the drainage.
He also said that they are putting into consideration the occurrence of last year where flood sacked both Igbogbo and Agric/Isawo communities by diverting water in such a way that will not affect the community ordestroy nature.
Mr Abboud added that the ministry and the consultant have been of immense assistance in this regard too.
He also assured the royal father, his chiefs and the lawmaker representing the Ikorodu Constituency II that the construction of the drainage will be going on simultaneously with the construction of the bridge.
Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, speaking, charged the contractor to focus mainly on drainage to ensure that residents of Igbogbo do not contend with floods like they did last year.
“You have mentioned bridges and other things that you want to do but I think that your major focus should be the construction of drainages. More so, that the rain is coming. If you were in Igbogbo last year and witness what happened (flooding), you won’t like that. Believe me honestly.
“What we want you to do is to start the construction of the drainage and bridge at the same time so that water flow will be properly channeled to prevent any havoc”.
The two – term lawmaker also charged the management of the construction firm to establish good relationship with the Adeboruwa palace for smooth operation and also enjoined them to employ youths in the community as labourers.
“Also, as you have said, you need to come back to see the Kabiyesi and the chiefs so that they can assist you. Relating well with the palace will assist you in a great way and prevent you from having any problem in the community and also makes your job go smoothly”, Hon Solaja said.
“You also need to employ people in our community. We have young men that are ready to work. This is very important. In construction, you need a lot of manpower and base on that, you need to assist the community by employing our people.
“Do liaise with the Kabiyesi and chiefs regarding that. My phone line is also available anytime that you are in need of my assistance”.
On the payment of compensation to those whose houses were demolished to create right of way for the road construction, Hon Solaja assured that the government will soon pay base on what the governor had promised him.
While acknowledging that the delay in the payment of the compensation has negatively affected many residents, the lawmaker stated that he is committed to seeing that the compensation is paid as soon as possible.
Engr. Bolanle Akinyemi, the project coordinator representing the Ministry of Works & Infrastructures at the meeting, in his own submission, took out time to explain the plans to divert water in such a way that would not create any flooding problem.
He explained that water is being diverted to three points along the while also confirming that the design of the bridge is ready and that the pilling machine is already on site and ready to commence work.
Akinyemi also stated that the Office of the Drainages has been contacted for the desilting of the canal to enable it accept more inflow and called on the Representative of Ikorodu Constituency II to assist in that regard.
The Ministry engineer added that they are working assiduously to avoid any flooding issue by diverting bulk of the water to the Lagoon through the Oreta/Offin road.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, in his royal remarks, charged HiTech Construction company to deliver a work that the company will be remembered for long after they might have completed the project.
“Our people are desirous of seeing work going on the project and your commitment is what they want to see and which will give them confidence.
“We have seen your works at the Pen Cinema and the Airport where you did good job. We want a beautiful road in our community; that is what you promised us and that is what we want to do since you have been given the job.
“We have seen what Arab Contractors are doing, not that we are comparing, but we want you to deliver a good job so that we can remember you long after the project has been completed so that we can pray for you and also acknowledge it.
The royal father also enjoined the contractor to give employment opportunities to youth within the community.
He added that their coming to the palace will give residents of the community further confidence that the project would not be an abandoned one.
“We also want you to engage our people and for their compensation to be paid”, the royal father told the officials of the HiTech Construction firm and state government.
“We want your full commitment and we promise that our people will not be of any problem to you while doing the work.
“We want to thank you for your coming. It is indeed a relief for us and this will also give our people assurances and will also let them know that the palace and our honourable (Hon. Solaja) have not abandoned them”.
High Chief Tjudeen Onasanya, the Odofin of Igbogbo, while commending the representatives of the HiTech and the Ministry engineers for the detailed information and analysis on the project, called their attention to the large water currently stagnating in front of the Adeboruwa palace, stating that it is causing mosquitoes attack for residents of the area and asked them to look into it as a matter of urgency.
Like other speakers, he also charged the ministry officials to hasten up the payment of compensation to affected residents whose house were demolished for the road construction.
Chief Onasanya added that Adeboruwa and his chiefs had appealed to those affected severally but that they no longer believe them again.
