BY IKENNA ASOMBA
After several campaigns by Vanguard
to draw the attention of the Lagos
State Government to the deplorable
state of the road which links the
popular ghetto community, Ajegunle
to the ever-busy Oshodi/Apapa
expressway, residents, Sunday,
heaved sigh of relief as construction
giant, Julius Berger, JB, Plc
commenced repairs on the road. The
road was abandoned for at least 14
years.
Vanguard gathered that the ongoing
palliative measures which
commenced Saturday, had forced
residents entering and leaving the
community through the Ottor-Wharf
Bus-stop, to trek long distances for
two days running.
Ajegunle link road (before repair)
Ajegunle link road (before repair)
Residents, who spoke to Vanguard,
described the road as horrible and
difficult to access during rainy
period, lamenting that it has been
neglected by successive
administrations in the state, even as
several appeals for major repairs
have fallen on deaf ears.
Vanguard had reported the horrible
state of the road to draw the state
government’s attention to the
sufferings of residents, who lamented
that the road was becoming a safe
haven for hoodlums, who have
hijacked the situation to dispossess
them of monies and other valuables,
especially early in the morning and
late evenings on May 20, 2013; May
6 and June 17, 2014.
Abdication of responsibilities
Commenting on the repair, the Vice
Chairman, National Union of Road
Transport Workers,NURTW, Oregie
unit, St. Matthew Daniels, who
berated the state and local
authorities for abdicating their
responsibility in fixing the road to
Julius Berger Plc said: “We thank
God for touching Julius Berger’s
heart to come to our aid, since the
local and the state governments
have failed to fix this road for over
14 years.
‘’Although, our union has been
doing its best providing palliatives
on the road which has gulped
millions of naira from levies paid by
drivers. So, for the construction firm
to bear the cost of fixing this road
today, is a shame on the tiers of
government.
“We are embarrassed because these
are the same people that will come
begging for our votes during
elections.
‘’Infact, the drivers plying this route
recently thought of barricading the
council secretariat to express their
dissatisfaction, but we pleaded with
them to calm down, that the union
shall provide palliatives as usual but
luckily, Julius Berger decided to do
the job and they have been on it in
the last two days.”
Tajudeen Tiamyu, a driver who
alleged that the state government
had been insensitive to their plight
for years said; “Over the years,
government has not lived up to its
responsibility to repair this road.
Drivers have really suffered plying it
as our buses always develop faults.
Infact, it was hell for us. But with
this repair, at least, the road will
last us for some period. However, I
hope that after the 2015 general
elections, another administration in
Lagos will do a major repair once
and for all.”
Ajegunle link road (After Repair)
Ajegunle link road (After Repair)
I am vindicated– LG boss
However, the Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local
Council Chairman, Kamal Bayewu,
who was on ground with some of the
council officials to admire the work
by the construction giant, described
the gesture as an act of the
company fulfilling their Corporate
Social Responsibilities, CSR, to the
community.
Elated Kamal who stated that the
development has vindicated him of
rumours that he demanded huge
sum of money from Julius Berger Plc
before the road could be fixed,
however thanked the company for
the kind gesture. He said: “With this
kind gesture, they are living out
their corporate social responsibility,
by giving back to the society. We
have been appealing to them to
come to our aid, because we know
they have the wherewithal to fix the
road. So, we thank God today, that
they have done the needful.”
Meanwhile, when contacted, Julius
Berger spokesperson, Mr. Clement
Iloba said: “Our company decided to
fix this road in fulfilment of our
Corporate Social Responsibility
wherever we operate.”
www.vanguardngr.com/2014/09/julius-berger-repairs-ajegunle-link-road-abandoned-14-yrs/

A very nice one from Julius Berger!

But OP, when next you report a news of this kind, pls kindly do well to support your story with pictoral evidendence. Kudos anyway!

Nigerians expect more of this from other firms (foreign & local) which have benefited immensely from our collective patronage.