Kunle Adelabu
-Again, confirms HiTech returning to site on Monday
-Visits site with Ministry, HiTech officials to resolve flooding problem
Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun (AMA), the representative of the Ikorodu Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly, has assured his constituents and other users of the Igbogbo/Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Igbe Laara Road, that the Lagos State Government is committed to the completion of the road which was started about eight years ago.
Aro also said that there will be no stopping of the project again once the HiTech Construction Company, the contractor handling the project, resumes to site on Monday, following the release of money to them by the government for the project, on Friday.
THE IMPACT had reported that the Lagos State Government has mobilized the construction company on Friday, and directed them to resume to work on Monday.
The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Public Private Partnership (PPP), gave the assurance on Saturday, after he led another visit comprising officials from the Ministry of Works & Infrastructures and HiTech, to the Afa bridge section of the road where they resolved to find means of channeling the flood preventing access to the road.
“There is nothing much that I can say for now, but by Monday when you come around, you will see their equipment and other materials needed to put in place some measures to allow people have access to the road”, Hon. Aro said.
“I can confirm again to you as I have done yesterday, that HiTech Construction will move back to site on Monday, and by then, you will see proper construction work starting.
‘But, first, they are to ensure that people have access to road when it rains or not. That is what we are here to look into”, he added.
While assuring that the contractor would find a lasting solution to the perennial flooding at the Afa bridge axis, Hon. Aro also appealed to the people to continue to exercise patience with the government over the road.
“I am very confident in him (HiTech Engineer) and the company that they have the wherewithal to handle the situation and make the road passable and relieve our people”, he restated.
“My message to the people is to put their minds at rest. The patience that they have been having with the government for years will not be up to what they have to exercise now.
“I am confident that with the reimbursement of the construction company by the Lagos State Government, once HiTech restarts work on Monday, there will be no stopping or abandonment again. It is to finish the project. I can assure them”, the lawmaker said.
The HiTech engineer, also speaking with THE IMPACT, said that the flooding will be contained.
“We discussed how we will resolve the flooding issue by addressing the flow of water from a side of the bridge to the other.
“We plan to put in place measures to drain the flood first. We plan to bring in culvert and fix it for the water to have passages instead of flooding the road.
“By Monday, we will start bringing our equipment and other things for the work proper”, he said.
Engr. Balogun Abiodun, Chairman, Lade Community Development Association (CDA), Igbe Laara and General Secretary, Zone 10, Igbe Joint CDA, emphasized the position of Hon. Aro on the need for residents to be patient, more so, that the contractor has been mobilized to continue with the project.
He appealed to the government to ensure quickly completion of the project.
“Like Hon. Aro said the other time, the patience that we have all exercised since the project started till this moment can never be up to what is required of us to get results. I will just encourage our people to just be patient with the government to deliver what they have to do.
“To the best of my knowledge, and from what I have seen and how far I know about this project, I am aware that the government is on it and I will just encourage our people to be patient a bit. God will help us”, he appealed.
“I will just appeal to the government to rescue us from this hardship by ensuring timely delivery of the project. Looking at the road from Ginti to Igbe Laara, it’s very terrible, while from Igbe Laara to Igbogbo is cut off. It is like the entire Igbe is completely cut off from Ikorodu, but we are on it and not resting until government complete the project.
“During rainfall, it is always difficult for our children to go to school, even those of us that have vehicles, we find it difficult to put our cars on the road.
“I just want to beg the government to come to our aid in good time. I know serious work is ongoing to move the contractor back to site, but the government still needs to do more”, he added.
