Residents spend N83m on drainage, want roads tarred

The drainage channels in the estate
 | credits: Sodiq Oyeleke

Residents of UNILAG Magodo Estate, phase 1, Ikosi Isheri, have called on the Lagos State Government to assist them in tarring the roads in the estate.

According to the residents, about N83.9m has been spent on construction of drainage channels and making the roads motorable.

They said apart from the drainage channels they constructed along 10 roads in the estate, other infrastructure, such as re-alignment of electrical poles and annual grading of the roads, were also done through communal efforts.

Chairman of the estate’s Community Development Association, Mr. Moses Ogunsola, said the residents funded the self-help project to assist the government.

He said a team from the Lagos State Government had come to inspect the projects and described them, especially the drainage channels, as up to the standard specified by the government.

Ogunsola, however,  lamented that despite their self-help efforts, the government had yet to do what the community wanted – tarring of the roads.

He said, “Our roads had been very bad. We have made several attempts to plead with the government to come to our aid without positive result. We now decided to undertake  self-help projects. The ultimate goal is to eventually have the roads tarred by the Lagos State Government.

“Tarred road is our immediate need. We don’t need light or water for now; let them just do our roads. Despite the cooperation of residents here, we can do only little concerning the roads. This means that government intervention is needed.

“We know government cannot do everything alone, so we have assisted the government by constructing the drainage channels, government should now do its part by tarring the roads. At least the cost of constructing the drainage channels is out because the community has done that.”

The CDA chairman said the residents had reached out to some politicians for assistance on developing infrastructure in the estate. He added that the initiative had not yielded any fruits.

“Last week, some people came here under the aegis of Ikosi-Isheri legislators. They said they came to inspect some roads constructed by the local government council. They found out that there was nothing of sort,” Ogunsola said.

The Treasurer of the association, Mrs. Seranno Olabisi, said the residents had been wondering why the government was not willing to help despite the huge amount expended by the residents.

“We have spent more than N83.9m on self-help projects executed by the CDA. The association sourced for the funds from monthly subscriptions, levies paid by members and donations from residents for the drainage project. We want the government to applaud us by tarring our roads,” she said.

President of the association’s women wing, Mrs Olanlokun Tolani, said, “We have been living here for more than 16 years. All other CDAs around have been getting government support, so we should not be neglected.”

September 5, 2013  by Sodiq Oyeleke
http://www.punchng.com/metro/residents-spend-n83m-on-drainage-want-roads-tarred/

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Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE

Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner