Lagos lawmaker begins road repair 28 years after neglect

Residents of Araromi in the Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State may soon breathe a sigh of relief as a House of Representatives member, Babajimi Benson, has initiated the rehabilitation of their community road.

A PUNCH Metro correspondent who visited the community during the rehabilitation commencement ceremony on Thursday learnt that the Araromi-Adamo road had been neglected by successive governments since 1996.

Benson, representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency under the ruling All Progressives Congress, is expected to complete the 1.3-kilometre road project within three months.

The serving federal lawmaker, represented by Muyideen Sanwo-Ola, Executive Assistant on Parks to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged the community to allow the contractors to complete the projects within the scheduled time frame.
“I urge you to support this project, which will be completed within three months. Let’s remind our youths not to engage in any activity that may hinder the contractors from finishing the work,” the lawmaker pleaded.

Some residents who spoke with our correspondent expressed joy and appreciation to the representative for intervening to ease the daily struggles community members face while using the road.

A resident, Ademoriti Maruf, said, “This road has been a major challenge for us. I grew up in this area, and since 1996, after the then military administrator of Lagos State, Buba Marwa, inaugurated it, the Araromi-Adamo Road has been abandoned.
“We have been pleading with the political class to come to our aid but received no response until Jimi Benson decided to help us. We thank God that after 28 years, the rehabilitation is finally starting today.

“We thank our Member of the House of Representatives for bringing this rehabilitation project to our community. This is the first benefit we’ve received from the political class since 1999.”

The chief of Olufuja-Mojoda Araromi, Qazeem Oyeniran, praised Benson and expressed confidence that the project’s completion would mark a new beginning for the residents.

“The community has gone through a lot. We have suffered, especially during the rainy period. One hour after any downpour, people will be stuck in their houses.

“Floods will enter people’s houses, destroy property, and collapse apartments. There were times when floodwaters nearly carried people away. A lot of residents would stand alert if it’s raining at night,” Oyeniran stated.

Also speaking, the Baale of Upenyanwa, Chief Nurudeen Shiriki, said, “We are truly excited about this rehabilitation. Once completed, it will bring much-needed relief to the community, which becomes nearly impassable even after a small rain.

“At times, due to the rain, residents are hesitant to return home, with some even abandoning their vehicles. They might not come back for weeks simply because of the poor condition of our community road.”