Kunle Adelabu
-Contractor moves back to site
builder Olusesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/bayeku LCDA 
The project board at the commencement of the construction of the Market Stree, igbogbo
The Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Authority (LCDA) in Ikorodu Division area of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, has moved back to site for the construction of the Market Street which was flagged – off about five months, following public outcry.
There has been outcry by residents since the council abandoned the project which was initially said would be completed in four months when the contractor handling the project – Western Concrete Nigeria Limited, moved to site and erected a project board.
According to a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Builder Sesan Daini, when the project was flagged – off, he stated that the project would have drains on both sides of the road ( both sides reinforced concrete with cover slab); surfacing with interlocking stones; marking of the road and painting of kerbs and installation of street lights.
The Council also said that after completion, the road will escalate the value of the Ultramodern Market and Motor Park, and also serves as alternative route for vehicles plying the axis.
When our reporter visited the site on today, residents told THE IMPACT that the they saw the contractor on Friday moving back to site.
Our reporter saw that the drainage iron, which has been fixed for months, covered with plank while the road, which has been impassable due to dug sand, has also been leveled.
There has been outcry for alternative road in Igbogbo following the commencement of the rehabilitation of the Igbogbo/Bayeku Road during the week, a situation which consequently led to the closing of Awolowo Way/Ojubode/Igbogbo/Bayeku Road junction as well as the Solawon Street which has already been closed due to the ongoing construction of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Road, Igbogbo.
Samuel Bolaji, a resident who has been consistent in calling out the Council Chairman, Builder Sesan Daini, on the abandoned project, had, again, last week said that four months after the announcement by the Council which generated accolades, the project has become an abandoned project.
“Soon, it shall be September 16th, exactly 4 months after the Chief Press Secretary to the LCDA Chairman, said the road behind Igbogbo park would be delivered”, he recalled.
“He said in a post that the work would take 3 to 4 months, but right now, the road has been abandoned. If that market road are in a good condition today, the suffering that the ongoing construction is placing on residents would have been less.
“What is happening with the market road?”, Bolaji asked.
“When that post was made, people gave the chairman accolades and kudos. Why is everyone silent today seeing that the road has been abandoned?
Furthering his chat on The Peoples Forum (TPF) WhatsApp platform, Bolaji said that the post in which the Council announced the flagged off and date of completion of the road, has disappeared from the Council Chairman’s official Facebook page.
A search by our reporter also revealed that the post is no longer there.
“It is also quite intriguing that this post disappeared from the chairman’s Facebook page after the last time I referred to it and asked questions about it here. I opened it that day and it was still there. Few days after, it disappeared”, he said.
Elder James Alabi, popularly called the ‘Black Pope’, who is a community leader and public commentator, contributing to the discourse on TPF, called out Builder Daini to explain the situation regarding the project to the public.
However, till date, the Council Chairman who is a participant on the platform has not responded.
“Chairman, over to you. Come and give us answers to these questions, and tell us why we should allow you have breakfast or lunch today”, he said while calling the Chairman out.
“If we can blame the President for inaction, we should be able to do same within our primary enclave”, he added.
The elder statesman suggested constitution of a monitoring committee by the platform members to monitor the project and liaise with the council.
“I suggest we set up a THREE or FIVE Man/Wonan Committee, whose responsibility would be to monitor the activities of the contractors, liaise with them and the Local Government Chairman, and ensure we get feedback on this platform, at regular intervals, until the task is completed”, Elder Alabi said.
”Also, they can be a standing COMMITTEE to identify and initiate further activities in that direction.
Alhaji Fatai Adewale Gbadamosi, the platform’s Chairman, in his own contributions, said that the road is critical as it would serve as an alternative while construction is on going on major roads in Igbogbo.
Like other residents, he urged the Chairman to expedite action on the project.
“This is an issue that deserves to be highlighted at this particular point in time because of the relevance of that road to act as one of the alternative roads to ameliorate the sufferings of road users by the time the actual construction of Bayeku road takes off”, he said.
“We call on the local government chairman of IBLCDA to call the contractors handling the market street project to expedite work on the road in order some to reduce the pains being experienced by motorists along that corridor so that the intended purpose for the construction of the said road will not be lost”, Gbadamosi added.
Meanwhile, residents that spoke with THE IMPACT on Sunday pleaded with the Council to ensure that the road is not abandoned again.
They also charged that the Council should ensure that the contractor do a quality work on the road.
