Kunle Adelabu
-Rep. Benson gets commendations for reconstruction of road 38 years after
The Managing Director of JRB Construction Limited, the contractor handling the 13kilometres Igbogbo/Offin/Oreta Road in lgbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of lkorodu Division in Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, has assured the representative of the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson, and residents of Igbogbo, that the road will be completed and delivered by December this year.
Benson, a three – term lawmaker facilitated the reconstruction of the 13km road, which was built 38 years ago. The road, which connects the riverine parts of the council, was flagged – off on Monday.
On the same day, the lawmaker also flagged – off another road at Erikorodo, beside Lucky Fibre, in Ikorodu North LCDA.
Mr Jimoh Gbadamosi, Managing Director, JRB Construction Company, gave the assurance to the federal lawmaker, important dignitaries and entire residents of Igbogbo at the flag – off of the project, while also seeking for support and cooperation of the community, especially the youths.
At the flag – off were His Royal Majesty, Oba Semiudeen KasaIi, the Adeboruwa, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, former Deputy Governor, Lagos State and chieftain of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Asiwaju Oloprunfunmi Basorun, former Secretary to the Lagos State Government and chieftain of the GAC, Mr Wasiu Smart, Chief of Staff to Hon. Femi Gbajabiamiala, Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), representative, Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Gbolahan Ogunleye, representative, Ikorodu Constituency II, Dr Nurudeen Agbaje, Special Adviser, Community Development, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Gbenga Oshin, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Lanre Balogun, former Commissioner for Rural Development, Alhaji Badru Enifeni, APC leader, Alhaji Musiliu Animashaun (De Cubano), Hon. Jimoh Ogunmuyiwa, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Gbenga Basanya, former Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Taiwo Orenuga, Chairman, APC Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Sefiu Ogunyemi (Lobito), APC chieftain among others.
Also in attendance were Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman,Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Wasiu Agoro, Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju, Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, and Builder Adeola Banjo, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA.
Also, a large number of Igbogbo, Ofin and Oreta residents and Community Development Committee (CDC)/Community Development Associations (CDAs) representatives trooped out to confirm and witness the flag – off of the reconstruction of the 38 years old road.
”I have been working around here but most people don’t know me. This is an opportunity to make myself known to people here”, Mr Jimoh Gbadamosi said while addressing the gathering.
“I want to request for something important. I want assistance in talking to the youths and ensuring that they do not disturb us. The only way that they can help us in achieving the goal is to give us their cooperation.
“Bringing this project here is not an easy task for Hon. Jimi Benson, because I knew what he went through to achieve this. If the youths can be cooperative with us, I will be the happiest person on earth, because we will be able to achieve our project”, he added.
He assured that the company has the capacity to mobilise adequate construction equipment to ensure that the work is completed by the end of the year.
“We are going to mobilise a lot of equipment for the project and save from the raining, you will see what we can do the three months and give and take, we should be able to complete the project by the end of the year”, Mr Gbadamosi assured.
Facilitator of the project, Rep. Benson, also speaking at the flag – off, said that the road reconstruction is his party’s (the All Progressives Congress, APC) way of appreciating the votes that residents of Ikorodu gave President Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo – Olu, himself and other APC candidates.
“This road is facilitated here because you voted maximally for our party and you deserved it. Instead of you thanking me, I should be the one appreciating you all for your support, so also is our party, APC”, he said.
“President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sanwo – Olu asked me to thank you all for your support during the last general elections. We thank you for all that you did and still doing for our party, and we assured you that it will not be in vain”.
While reiterating the contractor’s completion date, Rep. Benson said that the road would increase the value of properties in Igbogbo, and also enjoined youths and the entire community to cooperate with the contractor.
“This is a 13km road and the contractor, JRB, has promised us that he would delivered the project with streetlights by December. This road would connect the jetties at Offin and Oreta and it will also improve the value of properties here like Lekki, Ajah and Banana Island”, he said.
“I am also asking the contractor to remember to engage our youths, men and women that are artisans, by giving them jobs and contracts when the project is on.
“I am pleading with our youths to allow the contractor to do their work. I have done my representation by facilitating the project and ensuring that the contractor move to site. He needs full cooperation instead of forcing him out”, the ranking lawmaker pleaded.
Builder Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, while commending the lawmaker, stated that the road after completion, will directly benefits 51 communities.
He also said that the road would aid the achievement of the THEMES PLUS agenda of Governor Sanwo – Olu.
“I want to appreciate and place on record that this road will ease the movement in and out of Offin and Oreta communities, and those residents that have moved out of these areas will come back soon”, he said
“I want to make it clear that this road is going to be beneficiary to 51 CDAs. I need to equally state that among the 51 CDAs, we have 13 from Ward C1 and 38 CDAs from C2
“This road, when completed, will also aid the THEMES PLUS agenda of Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu, because it would boost the marine business and economy generally in this area. About 10minutes away from Offin on water is Banana Island and 12minutes away from Oreta is Ajah, and if they can be selling land for about N500million in those places, same thing can happen here.
One of the major factors militating against development in Offin and Oreta is the bad road and today, Hon. Babajimi Benson has added value with this road construction, to the THEMES PLUS agenda of Mr Sanwo – Olu and on his behalf, I say thank you. Also, on behalf of people of Ikorodu and Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA in particular, I say thank you”, Builder Daini said.
He emphasized that the road would make residents of Ikorodu make use of the ferry at Offin, which has not been optimally used because of access.
“Some months ago, the Governor opened a ferry terminal in Offin, and it has been under – utilized because of the bad road and I stand to say that the Lagos Waterways will record one of the highest number of people commuting on water from Offin, because of this road”, he said.
In his royal remarks, Oba Semiudeen Kasali, commended Rep. Benson and said that the reconstruction happened suddenly when no one expected it.
The royal father also stated that the road, when completed, would turn around the axis and his entire kingdom for good.
“What we are seeing today is an important development. Some people would have called others liars if they had said that this road would be approved last year and constructed this year, but it happened in a divine way and if today, people are rejoicing over the flag – off of the road construction, they deserved to”, he said.
“This road would bring socio and economic developments to Igbogbo.
“Many are here to confirm if it’s true that construction is beginning on the road or not, because of what they have gone through over the years. I want to thank you (Hon. Benson) on behalf of our people that we really appreciate your concern for their well – being.
“We also believe that you will continue to remember us for other developmental projects. We still have lands for such beneficial projects. We want more secondary schools, primary health centres, transformers among others”, Adeboruwa said.
The highly revered royal father also charged those aspiring for political offices, especially at the council level, to understudy Rep. Benson, to know how he has been making use of power.
Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, in his remarks, saluted the people of Offin and Oreta, for their patience in waiting for 38 years for the road to be rebuilt.
“I thanked our representative who deemed it fit that the people at the grassroots should also enjoy good environment like they are enjoying in Abuja”.
“When Bayeku road was done in 1983, Offin and Oreta were left out but we thanked God that in 1986, when late (Mike) Akhigbe was the Governor, the road received attention. After he finished the construction of the Igbokuta road, he decided to construct the Offin/Oreta road and he used a contractor who lives on this road, Consteng, to build the road.
“You can imagine that the road was built 38 years ago! I salute the people of Offin and Oreta for their forbearing”, Asiwaju Basorun said.
He charged residents of Offin and Oreta, to ensure that the government’s gesture is reciprocated when another election comes around.
“Please, reflect what the government is doing for you now, because when it is time for you to cats your votes, some of you will start telling stories”, Asiwaju Basorun said.
“Two roads built 38 years ago and today, the government has come all the way from Abuja, to rebuild them. You must show this when the time comes. We thank God for this and we commend our representative who has deemed it fit to give us pleasure back home”, he addded.
The old political warhorse also charged residents to cooperate with the contractor.
Asipa Kaoli Olusanya charged political holders to always use positions for the benefit of the people instead for personal enrichment.
He commended Benson for building trust with the people with his representation.
“What Jimi Benson is doing is the demonstration of the mantra of his political group which is ‘iCare’. That shows that he really cares. He demonstrates that he really cares, loves his constituency and that he is working to relief people of his constituency”, he said.
“Many of us, when we came to Oreta and Offin to campaign, we were usually faced with difficulties. I remember when we came with AMA (Aro Moshood Abiodun) last year, we were told that they didn’t want to see us because of the road that they have been asking to be reconstructed for years, but nothing was done.
“Thank God that He has sent a messiah. When I heard that Jimi Benson will do this road, I was astonished, because it is not a small road.
“He is building trust between the government and the people. Without trust, we cannot move forward together. Jimi Benson, well done, and on behalf of our people, I thank and appreciate you so much”, Asipa Kaoli said.
At the flag – off, students of the Andus D Great Schools, whose school is located along the Igbogbo/Offin/Oreta road, staged a special performance to appreciate and honour Rep. Benson for the facilitation of the reconstruction of the road.
