The road houses construction giant, Julius Berger Nig Plc

BY IKENNA ASOMBA & CHINYERE ABAZIEM

WITH the rains here again,residents of Ajegunle have continued to lament the horrible state of the road which links the ghetto community to the ever-busy Oshodi/Apapa expressway.

The residents who described the road as difficult to access during rainy period, however disclosed that for over 14 years, it has been neglected by successive administrations of the state, adding that several appeals for palliative measures have fallen on deaf ears.

According to Uche Egesimba, a resident: “This road has become a horrible experience for us, as it has been deplorable for more than 14 years. Not only is the road deplorable, there are no street lights along this road, even up to Boundary market. This makes it a safe haven for hoodlums.   I was robbed on this road last December, likewise many other residents. If the Lagos State government had done something about it,   the mess will not be happening here. ”

Another resident, Christian Ifechi, said: “I feel bad about this road which has been like this, since I came to Lagos 10 years ago. During rainy season, especially whenever there is downpour, it’s always difficult for us to access the road. So, what drivers do is that they stop half way at School or Oja bus-stop and passengers trek the remaining distance. We pray they repair the road soon.”

According to Oluwatosin Awoyale: “This road is very bad, we want government to do something about it. It causes regular traffic snarl and makes vehicles   develop mechanical faults. Most times, heavy trucks and articulated vehicles do not help matters, as containers fall on the road causing traffic.

“What we keep on hearing is that Julius Berger, JB, whose yard is along the road offered to repair it, but was asked to pay a whooping N5 million to the local council before they commence any repairs.” Decrying the continuous neglect, Kenneth Kalu said ; “If this road does not kill someone, the state government won’t repair it.

Governor Babatunde Fashola is supposed to come here to see how horrible this road is. From what I heard, anytime he comes on visit, they take him through the Marine Beach route which makes it difficult for him to get first hand information about the deplorable state of the road.”

Palliatives: Meanwhile, when contacted, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Ottor-Wharf unit claimed that it has been providing palliatives on the road over the years with the support of JB, whose yard is sited along the road.

One of its officials who pleaded anonymity said: “This road has been like this in the past 14 years. The local government and the state government have refused to do anything about it over these years. We don’t have option, we have been repairing the road with our money, because if we fail to do so, it will be to our own detriment.

“The union no longer gets enough revenue accruing to it daily because most drivers now prefer to ply other routes such as the Boundary-Alaba or Boundary-Wilmer routes to avoid additional expenses incurred on repairing their vehicles. In fact, we are even confused on whose responsibility it is to repair the road. We don’t know if the road belongs to the State government or the Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area.”

Whooping sum: Reacting, the council boss, Hon. Kamal Bayewu clarified that his administration had never at any point, demanded any money from JB to repair the horrible link road, noting that he had severally written the Lagos State Ministry of Works for intervention, but to no avail.

Reiterating that the allegation was untrue he said; “It is never true. This road in question belongs to the State government and not the council, so if Julius Berger accepts responsibility to reconstruct it, won’t it be stupid of us to demand such a crazy sum from them before they could fix it?

“What I know is that sometime in 2011, Julius Berger approached the council that they would like to repair the road, but that we (the council) will provide 10 per cent of  the money, which we agreed.   But till date, we have not heard anything from them.

Confirming the fact
So those alleging that we asked Berger to pay us N5 million before they could repair a road that will benefit everyone, are only talking out of ignorance,” adding, “you can contact Julius Berger to confirm this fact.”

Strange allegation: When contacted, Julius
Berger’s spokesperson, Mr. Clement Iloba, noted that the allegation that the council boss demanded N5 million from his company before it could fix the road was rather strange.
“This allegation is rather strange. It is not true. I have contacted my Lagos office about the road, Euro 65, but no one seems to have information on this allegation. This does not make sense,” he said.

Awareness: Also reacting, Mr.  Obafemi Hamzat, Commissioner for Works, Lagos State, said his ministry was aware of the deplorable state of the link road, pointing that the state government cannot do everything at the same time.

His words: “My ministry is aware of the road, but the fact remains that government cannot do everything at the same time.   The governor is working assiduously to fix all the bad roads in the state. And even at the moment, the state government is currently constructing 211 roads with a total length of 211.337 km in various parts of the state,” adding “a total of 105 roads were constructed in 2013, and from 2011 till date, over 161 roads have been constructed across the state and handed-over to the people.”