By Bilesanmi Abayomi
Residents of Eruwen Community in Ikorodu Area of Lagos have raised concerns over the poor drainage construction by the contractor handling the 3.6 km road construction in the area. The project, which was facilitated by Hon. Babajimi Benson, the Lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos, was flagged off in October 2022, but residents have complained about the poor quality of work since the construction began.
According to the residents, the contractor used steel reinforcing bars or fencer wire and poor concrete mix to construct the drainage system, which appeared whitish after curing the concrete within a few days. The recent rainfall has further worsened the situation, as part of the drainage system started breaking and collapsing due to heavy rainwater passing through it.
Residents, landlords, motorists, and road users have commended the Lawmaker for facilitating the long-abandoned road construction but have urged him to ensure the continuous execution and implementation of the project meets the required standard. They also called on Governor Babajide Sanwoolu and Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area to ensure quality road construction is delivered.
Mrs. Adejoke A. M, who compared the self-help gutters constructed by the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, said that they were more solid than the ones constructed by the contractor. She expressed concern over the use of tiny iron instead of thick iron rods in the construction of the drainage system, which she claimed was the reason for the system’s collapse.
Other residents also shared similar experiences and said that quality drainage construction and channelization were essential due to the high vehicular movement in the community. They appealed to the relevant authorities to ensure that the project meets the required standard.
The residents have called on the contractor to take swift action and ensure that the project is completed to a high standard.
This publication is the height of irresponsible journalism at play. A bogus allegation was made to your reporter and he did not deemed it right to do the needful/follow due process to ascertain the veracity of such spurious claims.
Erunwen is a very large community with over seventeen (17) Community Development Associations (CDAs) and seven (7) indigenous families with a lot of members. The combination of these groups forms the Joint Erunwen Community Development Forum which oversees and manages the cooperative affairs of the communities under my leadership, by God’s grace.
The on-going construction of Erunwen road which is graciously facilitated by the indefatigable and compassionate Hon. Babajimi Benson is being done to very high standard for the type of road it is, with a very surprising speed, as the construction has only gone on for a little over three (3) weeks with the trapezoidal drains done so far in excess of 1,500 meters and; which is a record in itself. Not forgetting that two (2nos) cross culverts were also constructed, still within the 3-weeks time frame. Actually, our people have never had it so good.
Although, no gains without pains. The last three downpours wreaked some damages to the drains that were the last to be constructed just a day or two before the rain which definitely has not cured (dried) completely, which of course is, is expected. Besides, the work is still on- going and the builders can never deliver a bad or shoddilly completed road work to Hon. Babajimi Benson who is widely reputed to never compromise standards ever. So, why the furore when the construction is not over?
We, as the body responsible for coordinating and managing the affairs of the entire community hereby unequivocally reject the assertion that the on-going work is substandard and worse than the self-efforts palliative we did on the entire length of the road in year 2020 which I championed. We only then excavated both sides, graded and compacted the entire length of the road which the residents were instructed to set blocks in the excavation and was already failing till Hon. Babajimi Benson intervened.
Erunwen people really are grateful for the job and commend the engineers and workers alike and stand solidly with them and our Honourable against this terribly concocted lies which came from faceless people who crave very cheap publicity for selfish and sinister gains that only they understand.
We await a rebuttal or refutal publication with the true position as have been made by ourselves above in the spirit of fairness and good conscience. We are equally available to challenge the claimants if they can be available and expect you to be fair enough to sample our own side’s accounts.
Thank you.
Olowoshoke Olaniyi Maxwell
08037232976
As the Chinese would say, a picture is equal to 1000 words. No amount of rebuttal would refute a verifiable fact. Provided that place is Eruwen Rd, the works there are shoddily carried out. Let me give my account: A link bridge btw Olosugbo & Idera areas of Agbede that was recently constructed the is gradually washing away. The job there was badly done. Anyone could go there for independent verification. To make worse of the situation, the bridge would be tolled.
From: IdrisThe property man
Community must reject shoddy jobs from the construction firm, they should call the attention of the supervisory MDA..( omo’ba Awofeso Rasheed)