Residents of Akoka community in Bariga Local Council Development Area of Lagos state have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to complete the rehabilitation of the long stretch of road that connects their community to other parts of the state.
The residents made this appeal during an inspection tour of the Lagos House of Assembly Committee on Works and Infrastructure headed by Hon. Desmond Elliot.
The Nation observed that the long stretch of St. Finbarrs’ College Road Akoka — a road leading to UNILAG from the Bariga axis was partially rehabilitated, while some other parts are in a deplorable state.
The residents, carrying different placards with the inscription: “Save our soul in Akoka”, “What is our offence in Akoka”, “Akoka is totally neglected”, we’ve been imprisoned in our own community”, “our business is dying daily”, called for government attention because the road had been abandoned for about three years.
Elliot who led a 5-man delegation said: “We’ve looked around and we are a bit disappointed with the pace of work. We’ve instructed the contractor that before anything, he should open up access routes, and also create a sort of palliative to make it motorable.
“The Lagos State government has given a substantial amount to have gotten this job to 90%. The contractor received 69% and that means it should be accessible, but now cars are using one single lane, that’s not good enough. We are not resting on our oars in making sure we deliver on making life easier for people.”
The chairman of the planning committee for the St. Finbarrs Road abandonment project, Segun Adesanya, and the Akoka CDA chairman, Idowu Goriola in their separate remarks appealed to Governor Sanwo-Olu to hasten the completion of the road to alleviate the suffering of members of the community.
According to the residents, plying the road daily has subjected them to hardship and has equally affected their businesses.
A resident, Deaconess Showunmi noted that if the road construction was completed, it would aid the economy of the community and help to decongest traffic.
She said: “They’ve been promising us they will start, up till now, they didn’t do anything. We want the government and the contractor to speed up the road completion.”
Appealing and assuring Akoka residents, Elliot disclosed that the Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa mandated the House committee on works and infrastructure to commence oversight on all roads both ongoing and abandoned with a view to assessing their conditions prior to the presentation of the year 2024 appropriation bill.
