Bad road
The abandoned road project in Aliowe community in Ipakodo, Ikorodu, Lagos is turning the community into a slum. Residents can no longer drive into the community with their vehicles and most of the houses and hotels that are affected by the construction of the drainage are in bad shape. Residents of Alliyu Musa Street are worried that the abandoned drainage project has rendered the street impassable since September 2021.
A resident, Mrs. Adefemi Adeyinka, noted that the project has exposed many houses to marauders, as the gates of some houses were removed.
She said: “It has been pathetic. Scavengers come in here to steal. The pace of work has just been too slow. We are also calling the firm that constructed Oba Sekumade Road, to open the section that connects our street with Oba Sekumade Road.”
The Chairman of Alliyu Musa Community Development Association, Mr. Ayo Johnson noted that though “the project is meant for the public interest, it should not be at our own discomfort. The government should please come to our aid, if they want us to believe government still cares for its citizens.
“We now park our cars on other peoples’ streets within the estate because we don’t have access to our compounds. We cannot quantify our losses. We expect the government to compensate us by helping to tar the road after the construction of the drainage and those whose properties were destroyed should be compensated.”
A resident, Mr. Rotimi Oyedele regretted that the abandoned project has affected business activities.
“This canal construction that was channeled on our street has been a menace to us since its abandonment. We are unable to drive in our vehicles from the main road, our estate’s security has been compromised and the canal has also turned to a death trap to residents.”
He said that they really appreciate the Lagos State government for the construction of Oba Sekumade Road in Ipakodo, Ikorodu, but the other aspect is the abandonment of the canal project that was channelled to Alhaji Alliyu Musa Street.
Many houses were demolished for this canal to be constructed.
Alhaji Musa Alliyu recalled that from the way they came,” we knew it was the government that was behind the project and we were very happy. They said that they were going to construct the drainage and afterwards, they will use the opportunity to tar our road.
“We were told that the project was going to take about six months. We were surprised that since September 2021 when the work started, it has not been completed. We implore the government to expedite action on the work. Street urchins now snatch phones from our people because everybody is now vulnerable to danger. It is now a common sight to see reptiles entering people’s houses.”
In his reaction, the engineer handling the project, Engr. Idowu Mustapha once told The Guardian that as soon as the government releases more funds for the project, work would continue. He said that even before the governor came to commission the Oba Sekumade Road, they had taken some steps to make the government release funds for the project. “As soon as the government does that, work will continue. The people should bear with us,” he pleaded.
