By Felix Kuyinu
Residents of Ijeododo area in Lagos have called on the state’s government to provide succour over the experiences of bad roads in the community.
The Ijeododo road which connects Ijegun and Festac Town areas has been an eyesore for so many years which has largely affected movements and business transactions in the area.
According to the community leader, Chief Jelili Ododo, residents in the area, due to the worsening situation, experience hike in transport fares put up by commercial vehicle drivers and motorcyclists, who themselves also complain of the bad roads affecting their movements in the area.
Ododo disclosed that the condition gets worse during raining season.
He mentioned that the community situated in Iba Local Government Area, which also connects Mile 2-Badagry Expressway is in need of urgent rehabilitation. He called on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to bring normalcy to the road in ensuring improved living conditions in the community.
“I have been paying for the grading of the road intermittently,” the High Chief said.
“The owner of a grader charges N150,000 and with two working daily for a week, it is a huge. I did not ask the residents to pay me back. You can verify that from them.
“But painfully, after three months, the road would return to its bad state.
“Only when the road is tarred will the problem stop.”
Chief Ododo, who is the Oba-elect of Ijeododo Kingdom, continued saying, “The issue of encroachment on the right of way by some landlords, which initially made the government to stay action on construction of the road, had been settled by the court.
“I commend Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approving the road for construction, however , I am appealing to him not to forget them.
“Politically, the people here are Progressives and have been in that camp right from the days of the Action Congress through to the All Progressives Congress, APC. We have always voted for them and by doing that, I see no reason why we should not be allowed to enjoy the dividends of democracy.”
Also reacting, the Former Central Working Committee (CWC) Chairman, Olatunji Lawson, supported the High Chief. He said, “I recalled in 2021, some disgruntled elements sought an injunction to stop the construction. However, it was vacated in October 2021 and the community was agog by the development, hoping that work would soon commence on the road. But this was not to be.
The Councillor, Ward A, Iba LCDA, Kabir Ododo, also appealed to the government to help begin a quick action concerning the road rehabilitation.
“This community is strategic as it has boundaries with Iba, FESTAC, Ijagemo, Ijegun, and Amuwo Odofin.
“We are in the centre Of these thriving communities.”
