Wale Jagun & Boluwatife Oresajo
-Road nearing completion
It’s a new dawn in Lambo – Lasunwon community, also called the First Gate by students of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) formerly Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) because of its location opposite the main gate of the institution, along the Ikorodu – Shagamu road, lkorodu, as the 1.6km road within the community is nearing completion.
The road construction, facilitated by Rep. Babajimi Benson, the three – term representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, kicked off about four months ago.
Our reporters, who have been monitoring the progress of the construction, reported that residents of the community were jubilant when the asphalt laying and erection of solar street lights started last week and last weekend, respectively.
The residents said that the road has changed the face of the area and improved its economic and social activities.
The Deputy Leader and the Councilor representing the Agbala/First Gate, at the Legislistuve Arm of the Ikorodu North LCDA, Hon. Adeniran ‘WakeUp’ Adeyemi who has lived within the Lambo – Lasunwon community for 22 years, speaking with THE IMPACT, recalled the agonizing experiences by residents, including his before Hon. Benson’s intervention.
“I moved into Lambo Lasunwon Community 22 years ago, as the population grew over the years, commuting before the intervention by my Wonderful Egbon, Babajimi Adegoke Benson MHR, used to be very difficult. A good number of residents sold their cars because they couldn’t meet up with the constant need for maintenance and others sold their houses owing to the bad state of the major road.
“I will never forget one experience l had on the road in 2011, when l was to meet my Inlaws. I had properly ironed my white ‘Isalę-Apoti’ (best attire) and l got a bike to convey me to the bus stop where my brother woud pick me, while on the bike, another bike splashed mud on me and got me stained such that l had to go back home to pick another clothes which l wore when l got to the main road.
“Shop owners on this road usually experience very low patronage once the torrential rains starts till the unpredictable time the storm water gets evaporated”.
He was, however, extremely grateful for the intervention of Rep. Benson.
“So many ugly experiences recorded by the residents until JB came through for us and we are sincerely very grateful.
“On behalf of the residents of Araromi, Lambo Lasunwon and Ęginrin Ękun communities, I say a resounding thank you to JB, our Rep! Ikorodu iCare steadily”, Hon. Adeyemi said.
Mr Chijioke Dennis, who operates a POS business along the road, commended the construction which he said would improve businesses in the area.
He said that the road project has transformed the community into an attractive one.
“The road construction is very nice and commendable. When I came in January, the road was bad and there was no hope that it would be done. In fact, I was like wowed when they started this road.
“Thank God, you know this is a student area where there are lots of businesses, so, the road has improved the activities, both commercial and social, with night life now picking up.
“They are not just constructing the road alone, there is also street lights. This project will greatly develop this area. It has turned this place that was like a village, into a good settlement that is now attractive to people and investments.
“The road that is being constructed is very good, and I hope that you can see that yourself. This has transformed this place”, he added.
Another resident and a trader, Mrs Perpetual, also commended the road construction.
“I think the construction of the road is a good start for the development of this community. Though, it has not been completed, but they have made lots of improvement.
“They are really trying on the project, but there is room for improvement, especially if they can be faster because of dust, as you can see that people are wetting the ground to prevent dust”.
Mrs Victoria Egwu, who is also a trader, expressed gratitude and satisfaction over the project and its facilitator.
“Actually, this is a very long awaited dream that has come through, because we have suffered a lot when this road was bad for many years and the government wasn’t forthcoming about it.
“We experienced situations where people were falling into ditches, especially during raining period.
“Honestly, we never knew a day will come when this road would be done like this. In fact, it is a dream come true. We are very grateful to the facilitator and the government that did it. May God bless the facilitator”.
A student of LASUSTECH, Bimpe Onakoya, described the situation as a beginning of a new life in the community.
“I came into this area not too long ago, but it has been harrowing experience because of the state of this road until now. In fact, nobody believed that they are going to do it, because we have been told that it had been like that for several years.
“Thank God the honourable representing Ikorodu in the House of Representatives, has come to our aid by facilitating its construction, and we are happy and grateful for that.
“The construction is a new beginning for the residents and First Gate community. It will improve the economic and our social lives. lt is a good thing and we are appreciative of it”, she said.
