Road Project: Landlords Ask Governor To Halt Diversion Move
Concerned landlords in Ijegun, Ijedodo and Abule-Ado, in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to quickly halt alleged moves by some individuals in the area who are attempting to divert the proposed road project in the area.
Pastor Clement Nokwamchukwu and Mr. Aboderin Samson Olalekan, both the chairman and secretary of the concerned landlords respectively, said their appeal to Governor Sanwo-Olu became imperative, as the action being taken by the said individuals could be disastrous if manifested.
Both Pastor Clement and Mr. Aboderin said the initial place embarked for the road project was from Leye road in Ijegun to Abule-Ado but to their utmost surprise, the said individuals who are being backed by some officials of the Ministry of Works, who were also an indigenes of Ije-dodo, are making frantic efforts, to divert the land where the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines were installed.
The concerned residents stated that all efforts by them to educate the said individuals in the danger posed by building road on pipeline, did not succeed, as they have started demolishing structures alongside the pipeline with any approval or order from the state government to do so.
They also alleged that the contractor, whom the State Assembly have been told not to deviate from the original plan for the project and despite telling them that he is yet to be given approval for the road construction, has also commence work from Ije-dodo area of the community.
Consequently, the concerned residents are appealing to Governor Sanwo-Olu, to stop all moves by the said individuals, the contractor and the officials of the Ministry of Works, who are hellbent at diverting the road construction from the initial plans.
“In November, December 2019, the counsellor, elder omolabi akinlabi, showed them where the road was to be built, and told those that have their structures on the road to remove it and that there will be no compensation, as they knew that the built on the road.
“They didn’t talk about the pipeline, however, on August 27, 2020, we saw group of people with the Omo-Onile from Ije-dodo, stated making our house alongside the pipeline and we ran to the Oba of Ijegun, who convened a meeting and told us all that there is no road alongside the pipeline area.
“The Oba told them that they cannot demolish any structure alongside the pipeline since the area was not earmarked for road project. As, that was not enough, out lawyer wrote a letter to State Assembly, over the natter.
“We also invited the House members to our community, but when they came they only went to Ije-dodo and went back from there with a promise that they will get back to us but till now, we are yet to hear from them.
“Unknowingly, as saw the contractor working from Ije-dodo, and there is no signboard to show that the road project has been awarded, the contractor’s name, the road’s master plan.
“Sometimes last week, some individuals from Ije-dodo started clearing the pipeline side and started demolishing structures alongside the pipeline.
“Due to this, we called on the Governor to quickly intervene, because the actions taken by the individuals can result into another EndSARS protest in this community, which we didn’t pray for. Especially, if they succeeded constructing the road on the pipeline”.