Kunle Adelabu
-High cost of construction stalls many projects – Commissioner
Traditional Chiefs from Igbogbo and Egbin Kingdoms in Igbogbo/Bayeku and Ijede Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) respectively, in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, have called on the Lagos State Government to intervene in the abandoned road project and land disputes in their various councils.
While the Odofin of Igbogbo, High Chief Tajudeen Duduyemi Onasanya, called the attention of the Lagos State Government to the Igbogbo road which has been abandoned for many years and the protests by the property owners demolished for right of way, the Olisa of Egbin charged the government to intervene and permanently resolved the issue of boundary between Ijede and Egbin.
They both made their pleadings at the formal presentation of the Ikorodu Sub Regional Masterplan to the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, other traditional rulers and stakeholders in Ikorodu at the Ikorodu Town Hall on Tuesday.
High Chief Onasanya, appreciating the government for the road infrastructures in Igbogbo.Bayeku LCDA and other parts of the state, pleaded for the payment of compensation to residents yet to be paid and completion of the project that has been on for about eight years.
“In Igbogbo, we appreciate what the Lagos State Government is doing for us. The road, which is still under construction, is very wide. The road, which connect Ipakodo, is very important because anyone coming from Lagos can link Igbogbo, ijede, Imota and also connects Ijebu Ode, Epe and other parts of the country without going through Ikorodu”, the community leader said.
“We commend the government’s efforts in terms of infrastructural developments and the money is so little that which prevents timely completion, but despite this laudable efforts, some of our residents are protesting to the Adeboruwa palace, to demand for the promised compensation for their demolished houses which created right of way for the road projects.
“Some of them have been paid, but others that are yet to be paid are very agitated and have been disturbing us. Our Kabiyesi has been to Alausa on several occasions on the issue.
“To complicate the matter, the project has been abandoned and the contractors have vacated the site for months and removed its construction equipment. Many parts of the road are impassable because of the ongoing construction and our people are disturbing the monarch over the situation.
“We are using this medium to appeal to the Governor not to forget us in Igbogbo and as a matter of urgency, should mobilise the contractor back to site to complete the road project which has been on for many years, and should also endeavor to pay compensation to remaining residents that are affected by the demolition”, High Chief Onasanya said.
The Olisa of Egbin Kingdom, High Chief Lateef Saminu Sokoya, also speaking at the presentation, called on the government to intervene in the boundary issues between Ijede and Egbin, to resolve the matter which he said has been disturbing the peace of the two communities.
He also called on the government to support the Obateru of Egbin, in the establishment of a secondary school and his quest for infrastructural developments, by making lands available.
“We need the Lagos State to intervene and resolve the boundary issues between Egbin and Ijede. This has been causing rifts always. It has been one crisis to the other in the last ten years until recently when we have some respite. The boundary issue is a major problem for us in our area. We want the government to intervene and resolve the issue permanently”, Olisa of Egbin said.
“Secondly, there is no public school in Egbin, but our monarch bought a parcel of land to build a Nursery and Primary School after which the government took over it. He is at the momemt working on a building he bought to establish a secondary school. When the Obateru needed more lands for the school, he was prevented from using the community land because of the land dispute between these two communities.
“We are pleading to the state government for intervention to permanently resolve the matter:”, he said.
The traditional chief commended the state government for improving on the welfare of traditional rulers, while he on behalf of the traditional chiefs in Ikorodu Division, enjoined the government to see to their own welfare too.
Dr Olumide Abiodun Oluyinka, Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development, in his reaction to the pleading by the Odofin of Igbogbo, said that the high cost of construction materials is responsible for the delay in many projects across the state, adding that the projects are undergoing review.
“Regarding road infrastructural development, we are all aware of the laudable works of Mr Governor. There is no Local Government that has not felt his impacts in terms of roads and other projects”, he said.
“About two months ago, we were at the executive council meeting when the Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructures made a presentation on the road projects, because some of the contractors have stopped work. This is because between December and now, we are all in the know of how the cement price have increased astronomically.
“We are also aware that other materials for reinforcements have also gone up and this exceeded the budget sum. The presentation was made about two months ago and certain amount was requested as additional cost for the projects.
“At a point, cement was sold for around N15, 000 and later N11, 000. Meanwhile, when the contract was awarded, a bag of cement was around N4, 000”.
