By BOSE ADELAJA

IN Lagos State, Access 57 stands for the  20 local governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas with the sole purpose of bringing  government closer to the people.

All things being equal, citizens are to enjoy portable water supply, quality education, good roads with drainage, adequate health care and security of lives and property as the case may be. By so doing, the primary focus should be geared towards developmental purposes at the grassroots.

Unfortunately, investigations show that majority of them have failed to fulfil their reason for existence as they are found wanting in almost all the areas.

In nearly all the councils, Vanguard can say that adequate security is missing as citizens no longer sleep with their two eyes closed; portable water, good roads with drainage are also rare.

In view of this, citizens were asked to assess the impact of the state government’s Access 57 on the quality of life. They also bared their minds on the performances of their Council Chairmen so far. Lagos Island, for example, is wearing a new look and being upgraded everyday in terms of infrastructure. Also places like Apapa, Lekki, Eti-Osa, Ojo, Yaba, Surulere and Coker/Aguda have displayed a bit of decency with a clean environment.

Partial closure

The drainage was okay with motorable roads, also, vehicular movement was in order but for gridlock which may have been occasioned by the partial closure of the Third Mainland Bridge.

Many residents poured accolades on their chairmen but complained about lack of portable water to take care of their domestic needs.

Unlike the councils earlier mentioned which could boast of some level of development, the reverse is the case at Ejigbo, Oshodi/ Isolo, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Igbogbo/Bayeku, Ojokoro, Ifako/Ijaye, Ikotun, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ajeromi, Agbado/Okeodo, Kosofe, Egbe/Idimu, Mushin, Ipaja/Ayobo and Agbonyin/Ketu to mention just a few where residents lament lack of good governance.

Dotting these areas were deplorable roads as well as lack of security for lives and property. Investigations also revealed that the public taps in these areas are not in good condition while students still seat under trees and make shifts to receive lectures in some public schools especially at Community Junior and Secondary Schools, Bayeku.

Many access roads have been taken over by flood, potholes and craters especially at Aboru, Isheri/Oshun, Idimu, Meiran, Alapere, Owode/Elede, ogijo, Casso, Kolinton, Ejigbo, Isolo, Itokin, Imota, Iyana Ipaja, Igbo/Elerin,Egbe, Idimu, Iju/Ishaga and Ijegun among others.

Residents of Ikorodu and its environ said cultism is now the order of the day as many primary and secondary school students have taken to cultism.

At Alapere, a car owner, Mr. Ibrahim Alawode whose car broken down because of the poor road said he could not go home for fear of vandalism, ‘’around 2am, some area boys came with diggers to destroy the road in order to cause gridlock at day time to boost their patronage when there is gridlock.’’ he said.

As at the time of filling this report, most of the 57 Local Council bosses could not be reached through their official numbers as their phones were either switched off and some did not respond to their calls around 10am.

However, Hon Mursiq Durosinmi of Ojo simply said, ‘’Seeing is believing, I believe our works will speak for us,’’ while Hon Adegbenga Basanya of Igbogbo/Bayeku was said to be at a meeting when he was called.