By Akintola Omigbodon (Dr)

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State aptly demonstrated a commitment to obtaining solutions to our economic problems by his prompt visit to the Arepo area following on a recent vandalisation event of the petroleum products pipelines in the Arepo area.

The petroleum products pipelines coming from the Lagos Ports area cross from Lagos State into Ogun State south of Ajuwon, Ogun State. The pipelines cross the River Ogun south of Akute-Oja and, east of the river, they reach the Lagos to Ibadan expressway at Warewa, they continue in a north-easterly direction through Arepo before crossing the River Owuru.

East of the River Owuru, the pipelines pass south of Ilara-Ajeregu, they reach the Ikorodu to Sagamu road between Labori and Kamalo and then continue to the NNPC depot, east of the Ikorodu to Sagamu road.

Warewa on the Lagos to Ibadan expressway and Ita-Oluwo on the Ikorodu to Sagamu road are at about the same latitude. North of these two places and as one moves towards Sagamu, the Lagos to Ibadan expressway and the Ikorodu to Sagamu road are separated by a distance of about 11 km.

The River Owuru is located between the Ikorodu to Sagamu road and the Lagos to Ibadan expressway until the expressway crosses the River Owuru north of the Redemption Camp. The Redeemed Christian Church of God has, from its own resources, provided a bitumen – surfaced road from Simawa with a bridge crossing of the River Owuru at Ebute Bonwun thus establishing the first road link between Likosi on the Ikorodu to Sagamu road and the expressway. This road link joins the expressway at the southern gate of Redeemer’s University.

If one has to make a journey between Warewa and Ita-Oluwo, one route would be from Warewa to Ojota on the Lagos to Ibadan expressway, next on the Ikorodu Road from Ojota through Mile 12 to Ikorodu Town roundabout and finally on the Ikorodu to Sagamu road from the roundabout to Ita-Oluwo.

The route length is about 39km. The Ogun State Government, OGSG, has an industrial estate at Ogijo, a town on the Ikorodu to Sagamu road, 2 km north of Ita-Oluwo. There is also an extension to this industrial estate planned for near Ilara about 3.8 km west of the Ikorodu to Sagamu road.

The OGSG should provide an east-west road link from the Ikorodu to Sagamu road to the expressway which link would provide access to the industrial estates at Ogijo and Ilara and for resolving issues with the petroleum products pipelines. The OGSG should now identify and acquire the land corridor for this road link.

One such corridor could be from Ita-Oluwo through Imusin-Ajegunle, Bolorunduro, Imunti, Imegbon and in a north-westerly direction until the route crosses the petroleum products pipelines and next in a westerly direction with a bridge crossing of the River Owuru, and the route reaches the expressway between Arepo and Magboro.

The route should avoid the swampy areas through which the pipelines pass. The OGSG should acquire land along the route in order to secure the pipelines and to ensure that development in the area adds significant value to the area.

This road link, when constructed, would provide a relief road taking traffic from the Lagos to Ibadan expressway to the Ikorodu to Sagamu road whenever traffic blockages occur on the expressway. The road link would allow the OGSG to view the land on both sides of the River Owuru as part of a metropolitan area stretching from the Redemption Camp in the north to Isheri North in the south and not as parcels of land on the fringes of Lagos State.

The OGSG would be able to plan for and provide municipal facilities for this metropolitan area and in particular use the River Owuru as source of raw water for water treatment facilities. With the provision of potable water to homes and establishments in the area, the OGSG would have data of the residents who should be paying their income taxes in Ogun State where they reside.

The vandalisation of the petroleum products pipelines has resulted in substantial pollution of the River Owuru south of Arepo and the pipelines. The opening up of the area around Arepo and the petroleum products pipelines should lead to a significant reduction in the vandalisation that leads to leakages of petroleum products which are the major cause of the pollution of the River Owuru.

The OGSG and private interests have residential/industrial estates close to Lagos State, namely, Riverview Estate, Opic Estate, Lonex Gardens and Guiness Cooperative Estate. These estates could yield substantial revenue for the OGSG if steps are taken to prevent the floods that occur when the River Ogun overflows its banks. The measures that should be adopted by the OGSG will be discussed in this column next week.