Kunle Adelabu
The residents of Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, have been assured of many more developmental projects to come into their community.
This was the assurance given by the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajide Benson, at the commissioning of the Obun Ale market and the vocational centre in ljede.
Rep. Benson, who was represented by Mayor Deen Sanwoola, the Director – General, iCare Foundation, the operational platform of the lawmaker, speaking at the commissioning, expressed delight at the completion of the projects, adding that developmental projects will not be concentrated in the urban part of his constituency.
While the market is located directly opposite the General Hospital, Ijede, the vocational center is situated at Igbe Oguro which is also part of the Ijede LCDA. Both facilities were commissioned and formally handed over to the council on Monday, August 7, 2023.
“I am happy when I got here today, because I knew how this place was before our intervention. I am happy because it was constructed the way we planned it”, Rep. Benson said.
“What we are doing is to ensure that those in the rural part of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, are also benefiting from our developmental projects. The perception that development should only be concentrated in the urban areas is wrong. That is the mentality that we are changing. We believe that those in Ikorodu and Ijede, deserve better like those in the urban areas of Lagos.
“For us, this is just the beginning in Ijede LCDA, because the council chairman is part of our team, and she is always asking us for support and intervention”, Rep. Benson assured.
The three term lawmaker also assured the residents of Ijede LCDA, that other requests of their council boss, will be met including the construction of the Abule – Eko road that links Gberigbe.
“She has demanded for the construction of the Abule – Eko road that link Gberigbe, which we are going to do as soon as the budgeted sum for the purpose is released. She has equally requested for another road which is not long and we had sent for the inspection of the road. We are going to do it as well”, he said.
“She is concerned and want development for her council. Of all the six council chairmen, we received more request from her on one thing or the other that she want us to do. We will continue to listen and do whatever she requested for, because she is a good person and chairman.
“The vocational centre that we are also commissioning today, is to empower the youths. It is only through youth empowerment that a community can grow. That is our own thinking and we must not let it slide.
“In Ijede, we are also constructing an industrial borehole with 15 taps. All these that we have listed are done within a year and we are still going to do more”, he said.
While asking for further support and cooperation from entire residents, Rep. Benson also pleaded with stakeholders in Ijede, to ensure that workers that are implementing facilitated projects, are not disturbed by residents.
The Ijede Council boss, who was full of praises for Benson, said that her request for the rehabilitation of the market, to give traders befitting environment to trade, and prevent them from street trading, was promptly responded to.
While requesting for continuous support for her administration, Alogba assured residents that she will not fail them.
“We appealed to our representative, Rep. Babajimi Benson, to assist us redeveloped our market since we are the ones asking our residents not to trade on the road and therefore, must provide a conducive environment for them to carry out their trading activities”, she said.
“He immediately responded by redeveloping the market, and that is why we are all here to commissioning it. I appeal to you to take advantage of the market by requesting for space and not sell on the road. I enjoin you all to always pray for Rep. Benson for all that he is doing for the Ikorodu Federal Constituency.
“He also facilitated a vocational centre for us in Ijede, which has since been completed and providing our youths platform to learn skills and be empowered.
“I pray for continuous support which you have been given to my administration. I have been working with other elected and appointed representatives. We are all working for the advancement of the Ikorodu Division.
“I will not disappoint you all. I will continue to deliver and perform to your expectations”, she said.
The Regent/Olisa of Ijede, High Chief Aliu Musediq, speaking with THE IMPACT, thanked the lawmaker for the gesture, and also requested for his intervention in the area of roads, especially the main road that leads into Ijede, which he said is in deplorable state.
“We are happy with what Rep. Babajimi Benson has done for us in Ijede. We were all glad when we got to the market and saw that it has been rehabilitated into a modern market which is very befitting”, the traditional head of Ijede said.
“However, we are requesting for more projects from him in Ijede. We need his intervention on our roads which has been preventing us from going out with our vehicles. I am pleading for him to assist us in making the major road into Ijede, motorrable.
“We are also requesting for his intervention in assisting us to rehabilitate inner roads in Ijede that have also collapsed”.
High Chief Babatunde Aliu Ogunmuyiwa, the Odofin of Ijede, also speaking, said that Ijede will continue to thank Rep. Benson for his gesture.
Like the Regent, he also requested for the lawmaker’s interventions in the areas of road and school.
