Kobojunkie:

Well, up to this point, the excuse with Lagos has been that "It is Federal Road", and somehow a crime for States to step in when the FG Fails . . . at least according to the Nairaland Lagos hounds .

Akanbi_edu:

If indeed Amosun manages to do this, it will be great.

I hope the mainstreamers will not start their mischief. because they can actually stop work on those roads if they want. The one in Sango has a big signboard that says "work will soon commence on this road" signed by FG and Bi-courtney may go to court to stop any work on the Ibadan-Lagos because it has been conceded to them.

Kobojunkie:

Well, up to this point, the excuse with Lagos has been that "It is Federal Road", and somehow a crime for States to step in when the FG Fails . . . at least according to the Nairaland Lagos hounds .

Desola:

Applaudable move!
Let's hope that Lagos would pick up the tab for the remaining leg. It would be a brilliant ACN fusion.
Fingers and toes crossed.

koruji:

Still, I hope you guys realize that what the Ogun state government has repaired is merely 500 meters (0.5km). The road is about 120 km. So, while anything helps this is far from what is needed. Bi-Courtney needs to either do its job or give up the contract so it can be awarded to a company that will perform.

hercules07:

Eko Ile tell them o, the FG takes over 50% of the allocations and yet is not living up to its responsibilities.

hercules07:

Eko Ile tell them o, the FG takes over 50% of the allocations and yet is not living up to its responsibilities.

Eko Ile:

This is very misguided and disheartening.

These bad roads remains the sole responsibility of the federal government to fix, not the states, but if any state have extra funds to spend on other people's responsibilities, that's their problem. Many of these states don't even have money to fix their own roads.

The people of the region also have elected federal reps, senators and ministers in Abuja whose job it is to fight and get federal attention in regards to federal projects in their respective regions. I don't even see these folks pressuring the feds for anything.  

What is going on here is very shameful and counterproductive, the whole system is upside down. These state are basically doing other people's jobs with funds that really should be funding state projects like water, roads, clinics and other critical needs.

Desola:

. . .but for how long must we fold our arms and hope that the FG takes up on its responsibilities? How many lives must we lose and how many investments must we allow to pass us by because the mumu in Aso Rock is too busy punishing the rascals?

I have said it before that Ogun has a lot to gain from doing the best it can to attract investors into it's land as Lagos can't seem to cope with the demand any longer. It would be beneficial for the South west region in the long run.

Yes, there are those who have been appointed to fight our corners at the FG level but in all honesty, how many have done what we appointed them to do? Yes, we will demand good governance and accountability but whilst doing that, let's also hit the ground working.

My only worry is that this is just one of Amosun's ill thought out plans or actions because not long ago he was whining about debt and inability to pay teachers' fees so I ask: where is the money going to come from?

Bad roads, constant flooding worry 26 Ogun communities

Listing the problems currently suffered by the people living in the communities, the group said, “Our communities are plagued by bad roads, which make movement within the communities a tedious business, and severe flooding during the rainy season.

“We lack potable water, a good drainage system, regular power supply and there is absence of urban renewal and slum upgrading in these areas.

“We have suffered untold hardship in the past eight years because of official neglect.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201104081472489
“As a result, we have decided to make a common presentation of the suffering of the people living in these border towns of Ogun State.

Ijoko residents want Amosun to fix bad road


Some of the residents told CityFile in Ota, that they experience untold hardship on the roads whenever there was heavy downpour in the area. Adebayo Olarenwaju, a civil servant, said that a journey between Sango and Ijoko that used to be 10 minutes now takes as much as three hours whenever it rained.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/city-file/city-file/24713-ijoko-residents-want-amosun-to-fix-bad-road

Eko Ile:


The fact is, the people of Ogun state are dying and suffering inside their own state because of the same bad roads and terrible infrastructure just as described in the article below.

Desola:

Understandable.

However, the government isn't fiscally able to respond to these needs without funds so why not pave the way for investment to come in and the funds generated from such would provide the means to tackle these problems?

Ogun's priority now is to generate income and one of those, I believe, is to make good its major roads to Lagos to attract investments into its territory.

The state has also launched remedial work on another failed federal road within its territory, the Lagos-Abeokuta road.

Shortly after a visit by the governor, Ibikunle Amosun to Sango-Ota, where he trekked several kilometres while inspecting the poor road network in the area, minor repairs were effected on the failed portions of the road, specifically at Joju, Garage, Dalemo and Toll Gate.

dplordx:


Eko Ile, I want to disagree with your point of view here: given the anti-masses view of the FG, and its gross insensitivity to the suffering of the populace, I think any good governor would rather fix any crucial road that affects the lives of thousands of its residence. I dont think BRF negligence of some federal roads cuts given how much he has poured on useless and white-elephant projects such as the LFTZ. Amosu's approach is highly commendable and we hope BRF takes cue from a real selfless leader like this.

Desola:

Understandable.

However, the government isn't fiscally able to respond to these needs without funds so why not pave the way for investment to come in and the funds generated from such would provide the means to tackle these problems?

Ogun's priority now is to generate income and one of those, I believe, is to make good its major roads to Lagos to attract investments into its territory.

Gbawe:

@Eko Ile.

I get your point but the last section of the article makes it clear that Amosun is repairing important federal roads within Ogun State as well. In the end , with a wickedly indolent and corrupt FG, self help will be the way forward. If we all think about it, Amosun's action demonstrates , lucidly and consistently, the reason we all voted to reject the PDP. We are following a regional plan. Did a certain Minister back then (now Petroleum Minister today) not weep about the State of a very important Federal road in 2007?  We are now in 2011 with no major change after her Crocodile tears !!!

Bi-Courtney , if memory serves me correctly, gained the contract for the Lagos-Ibadan expressway 4 years ago !! What have they done to date? Sadly, federal roads are the most important. If SW Governors do not proactively begin to repair these roads , even if only to shame the FG into action, then we are doomed because of the strategic importance of road transport in a nation with poor overall transport infrastructure . don't forget that this is no different to how some Nigerians , because of an irresponsible FG, are forced to be their own Governors and President i.e they must buy their own generators, sink their own borehole, pay for their own security, build their roads et al.

Eko Ile:


Trust me, I truly understand your point. Ogun state's action sounds well meaning, I just think they have better and pressing matters to spend their money on and not on other people's responsibilities.

May be a good Idea if Lagos and Oyo are willing and ready to fix their portions.

Let's just pretend both states did

Are they going to be reimburse the states? I don't think so.

And what happens to Bi Courtney and the money they collected to fix the roads?

Are they going to return the money back to the federal government? I don't think so?

We are talking about roads that other states and other businesses far beyond Lagos, Ogun and Oyo are putting pressure on everyday. Who is going to be responsible for fixing the same roads after fixing it? The same irresponsible federal government?


If they really care, there are other areas of regional cooperation. What about using the same funds to build their own interstate road or highway and rail system and be directly responsible for fixing and maintaining them?


This is nothing but a serious waste of needed funds, your people are crying on your side, but you are on the other side wasting money on a useless federal road that's going to wrecked and neglected months from now via the heavy traffic including oversize vehicles like trailers and oil tankers to and from every corner of the country including the millions of Adeboye's church folks pressuring the road every week

Ileke-IdI:

Fayemi, dont disappoint me when Dec comes oh! Waiting for our own roads. I'm one of your loyal believers. ehn ehn

Kobojunkie:

When december comes, no be express roads you go travel from Lagos to Ekiti?? Better ask your Governor to look into fixing some of the major joins so you can ride more comfortably this time around.

I remember when travel from Lagos to Kwara was about an 8 hour journey on the expressroads, and it used to be a smooth ride even in those 'turo-turo' buses. These days, I would not dare do that to myself and the State Governors need to step up as the bad situation of the roads also robs the states of billions in investment dollars.

Ileke-IdI:

I'm not expecting express road. That's too far fetched for such a small period. I'm expecting him to enforce  the ultimatum he gave to the road construction workers a few months ago. By december, the road contract that was on ground should be met, the roads should atleast be done by then. 3 years road construction, c'mon!

It's not even about creating roads anymore. It's about the methods and resourses being used. We dont want roads that would start making their own pot of stew in  3 years time.

Kobojunkie:

Small Period? From now till december na small period to repair even 10 miles of critical express roads 

Kobojunkie:

Anyways sha, no be everyone of our governors understand the problems and solutions available. So, sure, if he can meet the December deadline with the roads, that will be good too.