By Esther Onyegbula

Ifesowapo Arojokun is one of several communities in Lagos State where residents are presently crying out for government’s intervention in addressing their lack of basic infrastructures. Indeed, life is said to have become unbearable for residents of the community located within the vicinity of Checkpoint Bus-stop, Araromi Ale, along the Lagos/Badagry Expressway on account of the problem.

The community which has over a thousand houses, a population of about 12,000 and a vast land still awaiting development cannot boast of a public school, primary healthcare facility, model market, police station, pipe-borne water and motor-able roads.

The only redeeming feature by way of infrastructure was the recently commissioned electrification project executed through communal efforts by residents under the auspices of the Community Development Association, CDA.

When Vanguard Metro, VM, visited the community recently, it was discovered that most of the roads there were in deplorable condition and therefore inaccessible due to several potholes. Among the most affected were Bakare Adala Street, Raaki Sadudeen Street and Adebola Adegbehin Street.

Those who spoke with VM lamented bitterly of the community’s neglect by successive governments over the years citing lack of basic facilities, including government primary and secondary schools, hospital, model market and police station, as evidence of this.

According to the Baale of Arojokun community, Chief Matthew Saturday Adegbega,   who recently celebrated his one year coronation anniversary: “The community has not benefited from past administrations as the train carrying the dividends of democracy has refused to get to Ifesowapo Arojokun after many years.

“The suffering and pain has become unbearable as our roads are bad, we don’t have any government school or hospital in this community. On our own we have done a lot to address the problem of bad road. For instance, we spent so much to sand-fill the community every year. This is why we are appealling to government to come to our aid. As the traditional ruler of the community, I practically bleed in the heart seeing my subjects go through so much discomfort because of these challenges.

“So, I am using the occasion(coronation anniversay) to call on the government of Lagos State to come to our community’s rescue. Now that we have a new government we are appealling to the government and the amiable governor, Akinwumi Ambode.

These projects, when done, will bring development to the community as well as create employment opportunities. And our children won’t have to trek long distances to Oko-Ofo or Ibiye to attend school, which is several kilometres from here. Imagine young children trekking such a distance to school daily”.

The chairman, Ifesowapo Arojokun community CDA, who gave his name as Elder Joseph Sunday Adeoye, said the bad road has created severe challenges for residents as the cost of transportation is currently on the high side. “Initially, from Checkpoint Bus-stop to Baale Street, for instance, used to be N50; now it is between N150 and N200. Many of the tricycle riders or Keke Marwa operators who usually ply the community route have moved to other communities because of the bad roads,” he said.

A non-native, Mr Chukwu Sunday said: “Ifesowapo Arojokun is a very peaceful community but what is missing is government’s presence by way of providing basic infrastructure. As you can see the roads are in bad shape; we can’t drive our vehicles in and out of the community without getting stuck in potholes or ditches.

The main challenge facing the community is that of roads; it is affecting the development of the community, it is affecting business operators; school children have to wear rain boats because of the bad roads. School buses don’t come into the community to pick children because of the roads. So many people have abandoned the construction of their buildings because of the road”.

Communal effort to the rescue

Recounting the efforts the community has made to alleviate the situation, Prince Adegbehin Adetarami told VM thus: “Whatever project or development you see here was made possible by communal effort. There is nothing the government has done to assist in the development of the community. For instance, the electrification of the community was done by residents.

“We spent so much to bring the light; we spent millions of naira on the electrification project, especially in buying electric poles, transformers and cables. Ironically, barely a month after we succeeded in bringing    electricity to the community, officials of the Eko Electricity Company came to disconnect defaulters even when power supply has been epileptic.

“The only accessible bridge was also constructed by residents in the community. We spent more than a million to construct the bridge. To sand-fill the community road, we spent over N600, 000. Early last month we brought about 15 tipper- load of sand to sand fill the bad portions of the road to ensure that people can easily go about their daily businesses. Unfortunately the rainy season is here and the rains began that same month and undid most of what we have done.”

Community’s demand

In calling on the Lagos State government to come to their aid, Elder Joseph said: “We all voted for the new administration, we are pleading with the government to rescue the community.  We don’t have public schools, hospital, market or police post; we want government to please help us. We want the government to assist the community by providing social infrastructures, especially good roads to enable free movement of persons and goods. We need a primary healthcare facility for the women and children.”

He furthered revealed that the community was willing to partner with the government in the execution of essential projects, adding: “We will provide the land for any of these project as well as moral support. We are law-abiding Nigerians and we pay our taxes. So, government should come to our rescue.”