By Kingsley Adegboye

A LAGOS-based real estate development and investment firm, Messrs Propertygate Development and Investment Plc and residents of Olusi community in Sangotedo in the Lekki axis of Lagos State, have embarked upon the upgrade of Olusi Street, the road which links Lekki-Epe Expressway to the community.

The road project which is an initiative of Propertygate, involves the construction of pre-cast concrete drains and kerbs, as well as the grading of the 350 metres road. The second phase of the project will involve asphalting the entire road which is expected to take place some time next year.

A visit to the road project at the weekend revealed that work is going on at a fast tempo.

Drainage channel

While the digging of the drainage channel which is on one side of the road from the main gate into the community is almost manually completed, the laying of pre-cast concrete drains will soon commence.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Propertygate, Mr. Adetokunbo Ajayi, said the company had already completed part of the road on Kolade Abayomi Street with interlocking paving stones and kerbs to complement the landscape of the area.

Ajayi who noted that it is not just enough to build beautiful houses without infrastructure to complement them, said the firm embarked on the project as its corporate social responsibility to the community. According to him, Propertygate had earlier installed street light fittings to light up the community at night.

“The company will do everything possible within its capacity to uplift our built environment, with a view to making our cities liveable,” he said.

Ajayi who said the state government has failed in its responsibility to provide good road in the community even after the company had paid development levies which the government said would be used to provide road infrastructure in the area. He however thanked Governor Babatunde Fashola for giving his company the land upon which Alexandria Quarters was built in Olusi community.

He explained that one of the conditions for the grant was the payment of capital contribution made by the company in addition to infrastructure development charge it had earlier paid to the government. “The state was expected to provide primary infrastructure such as roads, drainage, electricity among others within the government Skyview Residential Scheme, Sangotedo, while we as developers were only expected to service our development tract. It is regrettable however, that we are again shouldering huge financial responsibility in this regard. I therefore appeal to Governor Fashola to help address the challenge of the community in terms of infrastructure needs”, Ajayi appealed.

Continuing, he said; “When investors eventually believe that you have to shoulder expenses on primary infrastructure, having paid the government for same services, it does not augur well. It reflects badly on government’s esteem. We know that our governor knows the implications of the state being perceived as not keeping its obligations in business parlance”, he said.

The immediate past Chairman of Hope Estate Residents’ Association, Mr. Dibia Christian while commending Propertygate for its efforts in the community, disclosed that the residents of the estate have been spending huge sums of money on the road, particularly during rainy seasons.