Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state is definitely a man of his words. Since he assumed the leadership of the Gateway State, he has been walking his talks and drawing plaudits for them. Senator Amosun had demonstrated this feat more in his road reconstruction revolution drive. He believes that good road network remains a conveyor belt for the delivery of democracy dividend and loathes the stratification of roads into federal and state-owned. To him, “the people are not interested in which road is federal and which one belongs to the state. Road is one of the most important social amenities a government can provide. ” He walks the talk. While monitoring compliance with July’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise; the governor declared his administrations zero tolerance for the existence of pot-holes on roads within the state. Senator Amosun had visited several places within the state but when he got to the popular Itoku-Abeokuta market, he revealed that his administration would soon flag off a mass rehabilitation of roads within the state as way of correcting the poor state of roads in the state. The governor told a crowd at Igbore-Ago-Oba junction that he is issuing a red card on the reign of potholes on roads in the state and that driving must no longer be a nightmare to the people. Although the crowd roared in appreciation, some of them remain skeptical due to the previous disappointment by past political office holders. Indeed, one of them was overheard saying in Pidgin English, “na today? Na so dem they talk, anyway we go belief if dey do am”. Although such skepticism might be understood when juxtaposed with the disappointing performance of the last administration in the area of road repairs, but Senator Amosun is determined to prove that he belongs to a different genre of politicians. The skepticism must have disappeared barely two days after, when men of the state Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, led by their commissioner, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite, swung to action. Within that week, the pothole riddled Sapon- Itoku- Ago-Oba-Lafenwa road, Kuto-Isabo road, Kuto-Okemosan road, Isale-Abetu–Abiola Way as well as the Lafenwa-Brewery road were immediately repaired. Several roads within the state were also given similar treatment. Roads within Sango-Ota which have suffered criminal neglect in the recent past were repaired. Roads in Iganmode and Mefun areas in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government have also been rehabilitated. A similar rehabilitation exercise was also on-going in Folagbade area of Ijebu-Ode, Makun, Sagamu, Ilaro, Ago-Iwoye as well as Ijebu-Igbo towns. For better effect, the governor also launched a remedial operation to end commuters’ nightmare on roads. The administration initiated a rehabilitation and reconstruction operation on 28 roads across the three senatorial districts in the state. The remedial effort, according to Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuph Olaniyonu, would involve the rehabilitation of drainage and construction of some new ones, where they ought to be but are not. He said direct labor will be used in some cases, adding that this will provide jobs to idle youths in the state. Strikingly, this is in line with the policy of the Amosun administration’s avowal to engage productive youths in the state. Some of the roads are to be awarded to experienced and reputable contractors. Olaniyonu added that roads to be affected by the reconstruction effort during the first intervention would include Ago–Ika–Itoku–Sapon–Ijaye- Iyana Mortuary–OGTV road; Moshood Abiola Polytechnic–Onikolobo–Ibara roundabout-Sapon–Ake Junction road; Ibara roundabout –Ita Eko–Sokori–Amukankan road; Ibara Post office–Quarry road–Sokori Junction; Iberekodo–Mokola–Ake–Okejigbo– Ijaye-Junction; Arinlese Street, Iporo Ake Junction–Adatan roundabout and Ago Ika–Ajitadun–Mokola–Saje– Adatan-Asero–Camp junction Road, all situated within Ogun Central. In Ogun East Senatorial districts, the roads listed for intervention include Ikangba – Obalende–Lagos Garage–Oke Owa–Ilese–Imushin–Ijebu Ife– Itele– Sagamu/Benin Expressway Junction; Obalende–Abeokuta Road–Arigbabu Roundabout –Araromi Street–Bonojo Roundabout –Osinubi Street –Saka Ashiru Roundabout -Epe Garage Junction; Obalende–Alapo Street/ Olisa Street–Saka Ashiru Roundabout –Epe Garage Junction; Ewusi Street–Akarigbo Road Junction; and Sagamu/Benin Expressway Junction–Remo Sec. School Roundabout–Isale Oko–Akarigbo Street–Sabo–Oba Erinwole Junction Hospital Road– Akarigbo Street Junction; Mellor Road–Surulere–Ewusi Street Junction. From Ogun West senatorial district, the commissioner announced that the Sango–Ijoko– Agbado–Oke Aro–Akute-Ojodu Abiodun road, the Old Toll-gate –Ilo/Awela–Local Government Secretariat– Iganmode roundabout, Oju Ore roundabout – Okede–Local Government Secretariat Junction Road; Ijako –Ipamesan Road; Townhall –Chicken Joe – Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway Junction Road. The State Government has since awarded the contract for the construction of Ibara Roundabout-Ita Eko-Totoro Road in Abeokuta to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). The six-lane road, which is expected to be delivered within eight months, will cost N1.3 billion, when completed will have a median with street lights, drainage systems, sidewalk and green belt on either sides. Interestingly, Governor Amosun didn’t stop at state roads. He extended his effort to federal roads that are giving his people heartache. The governor once ordered that the failed portion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway opposite Redeem Christian Church of God which was causing traffic gridlock should be fixed by the state Ministry of Works. The 500 meter-long portion had since been fully repaired and the drainage on both sides of that area was cleared for easy passage of water. It was the same style he deployed to ease traffic congestion along the Lagos-Abeokuta Express road where he ordered bulldozers to fix a section of the road before the Sango-Ota overhead bridge. Another federal road, Owode-Ilaro road is presently being worked on by the Ogun Sate government. The efforts didn’t fail to attract the attention of federal authorities. Visiting members of the Presidential Audit Team, led by the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Engr. Ejike Egbemena, hailed the governor for his efforts in alleviating the suffering of federal road users in the state. The team lauded the governor for the palliative works at Sango-Ota and at Mowe. Though Governor Amosun may have to battle against financial odds to unveil his road revolution plans, he is resolutely determined to ensure that road users within Ogun territory are spared the nightmare that potholes pose. Surely, Senator Amosun has started working in Ogun state.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 14:35:46 +0000
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