Ona-Iwa Mimo Street construction ready next month – contractor
…as residents commend Lagos/Ejigbo govts
By Abolaji Adebayo
Ona-Iwa Mimo Street, Ejigbo under construction
The ongoing reconstruction of Ona-Iwa Mimo street, Ejigbo would be completed and ready for commissioning in May this year.
The project, about 1km road, which was being executed by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, was awarded to Aleyun Ventures Nigeria Limited.
According to the contractor, the earlier six months period slated for the completion of the project has been reduced to four months and as such, would be delivered in May instead of July.
Ona-Iwa Mimo Street, Ejigbo under construction
Speaking to Echonews on the project, the Director of the Company, Mr. Oni Yusuf, said that the company had to speed up the project to impress the government and the residents of the street who were eager to see the completion of the project on time.
According to him, since there was no any delay in terms of finance and logistics from the governments, there was nothing that would delay the completion of the project beyond May, 2018.
He added that the company was trying to work with about 80 per cent of the money released by the government for the job.
Although the project, which started on February 10th, 2018, was supposed to be delivered in July, it would be totally completed by May 2018 since the contractor sped up work on the street.
Alhaji Saheed Shittu
However, the Supervising Engineer, Engr. Babatunde Olarewaju, maintained that the speeding up of the project would not in any way jeopardize the quality of the work billed for.
He disclosed that with the rate and speed at which the company was working, the first 200 meter from the main road would be completed with street lights mounted by next week, while the who 920 miter street would be fully completed and delivered in May.
“As you can see, the job is about 80 per cent complete. We have completed the drainage on both sides. we have also laid cross stones from the main road to about 200 meter, we are about to lay asphalt on it and by next week, that one would have been completed with street light.
“By May, we would have completed the whole street and deliver it to the government.”
On the demolition of fences of some affected houses, Olarewaju disclosed that although there was no compensation for anybody, the company planned to mend their fences by rebuilding them in half. He maintained that that was what the company could do for now to compensate them.
According to him, the owners of the affected properties on the street knew themselves that they were beyond the boundary.
Meanwhile, the residents of the street confirmed to Echonews that the contractor did not compromise the quality despite speeding up the job. They declared that the worker have been cooperating with them and danced to their tone as the quickly amend whatever they (the residents) wanted them to rectify.
For instance, the self-acclaimed first resident on the street, Alhaji Saheed Shittu, said the work has been okay so far, adding that the contractor has always been listening to their complaints and correct all anomalies detected in the job.
“In fact, since they started not long ago, the work has been standard; there is no shortcoming in the job. They always listen to us, correct whatever we feel should be corrected. This has made the job to be of good quality. We thank the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for his hand of fellowship, and for not forgetting us here. Indeed, this is commendable. And the job is also speedily executed, we appreciate.”
He commented the Governments of Lagos State and Ejigbo Local Council Development Area for being sensitive to their plight, saying the project was one that would benefit every resident of the street. He noted that the project was started by the local government before the intervention of the state.
Shittu, who noted that the reconstruction of the street was started by the Kehinde Bamgbetan’s administration while he was the Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, said the project could not be completed then due to lack of fund by the local council.
The Management of Saratoga Garden and suites, located on the street also commended the two governments handling the project, saying their effort would contribute to the development of the area as well as boosting business activities.
Also commenting the governments on the project, the incumbent Chairman of Ona-Iwa Mimo, Majiyagbe, Ifesowapo and Koya lane, Peter Kehinde Olayinka, said the execution of the project was timely and that its speedy was commendable.
He however maintained that the work on the street was not speedy enough; noting that rainy season would soon come and may affect the job if not hastened although he was optimistic that the project would be delivered in May as promised by the contactor.
Meanwhile, Olayinka commended the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Communication for facilitating the project which he could not complete during his time as the Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA.
He said that his intervention had had greater impact on the reality of the project.
Bamgbetan, who is also a resident of the street and former two-time Chairman of the local council, had recently declared his intention to contest a seat in the federal house fo representatives under Oshodi-Isolo constituency II. His political intention declaration was widely supported by his constituents.
