₦airaland Forum

Dapo Abiodun and burden of inherited infrastructural deficit in Ogun

By Seye Abodunrin

One of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria since independence is shortage of infrastructural development, especially the issue of deplorable road network. Many of those roads and bridges that were built by the colonial administration and military regime are still in use in some communities around Nigeria.

Expectedly, those roads had seriously deteriorated and became death traps around the country even with several palliatives carried out on them by successive civilian administrations; they remain impassable and terrible, making road users to go through hell on daily basis.

Unfortunately, the military junta did not do much to develop road infrastructure in Nigeria, mostly in the subnationals, where military administrators ruled with utmost impunity and enmeshed in large scale corruption and maladministration.

Ogun State is one of those States that have suffered such infrastructural menace since its creation in 1976, as successive military administration's in the State were very indifferent to road construction and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, considering the proximity of the State to Lagos State, the commercial capital of Nigeria, Ogun became the safe heaven for millions of people who work in Lagos; as majority of them could not afford the outrageous rent in Lagos.

As a result of this, there was influx of hitherto Lagos residents into Ogun, as they settled at the border areas without government's approval and against extant buidling regulation and laws, thereby overstretching available infrastructural facilities in those areas.

Regrettably, successive administrations in the State for almost two decades, between 1999 and 2019 did not pay any tangible attention to road construction and rehabilitation in any part of the State, not to talk of border communities.The outright neglet of these areas for good 20 years worsened the conditions of the areas beyond imagination

While Aremo Olusegun Osoba's administration that lasted for just a term of four years could put up an alibi of insuffient time to make provision for those areas in its infrastructural development plan, Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun completely negleted those areas with high level of insensitivity for 16 years altogether.

In the case of Daniel, the act of deception that characterised his administration did not create room for any consideration for the border communities, he was notorious of empty promises without action.

Amosun on his part held the State at its jugular and remained strictly sectional and lopsided in his development plan. He concentrated majority of his projects in his senatorial district of Ogun Central, coupled with many unnecessary construction he embarkedupon, like those bridges he constructed with billions of naira without necessity.

At the inception of Dapo Abiodun-led administration in 2019, one of those areas he identified as top priority is road infrastructure as he embarked on massive road construction and rehabilitation across the State, unlike his predecessors. Amidst limited resources, Abiodun rationalised the available resources to solve the enormous road infrastructural deficit confronting the State and consistently moved to address it holistically.

To the chagrin of many, Governor Dapo Abiodun has built over 600km of roads across the three senatorial districts, making it far beyond all what his predecessors had built altogether, including many around the corridor of the border communities.

However, because the inherited deficit is much, which according to stakeholders in the Built Sector would gulp up hundres of billions of naira to get it fixed completely, the only option left is to be patient.

Also, of particular interest is the frantic efforts made by the Governor to take over some Federal roads of profound necessity and urgency and the level of disappointment he had suffered in the course of soliciting for Federal Government's nod.

Obviously, Governor Dapo Abiodun has really tried to improve road infrastructure in the Gateway State even in the face of multifaceted constraints; he needs to be appreciated and supported.

That is why I was so sad when I first read the trending story on X and the resultant negative comments it gathered. While there is nothing wrong in demanding for good governance, however, the popular dictum says:" whoever wants equity must come with clean hand".

It is incontrovertible correct to say that many of those criticising the Governor neither live in the State nor working there. As a matter of fact, majority of them don't even have any knowledge about the history of the State but because they have access to data, they became emergency activists.

I don't envy Governor Dapo Abiodun at all, because, despite his impressive and massive investments in road construction, our people, especially the youths looked the other way without recourse to conscience.

Lastly, I want to say categorically clear that Governor Dapo Abiodun is now taking bullets for the insensitivity and ineptitude of his predecessors, but because the Governor is a perfect gentle man with necessasy political maturity and tolerance, he has come out to promise residents of the State more construction and rehabilitation across the State.

Kudos Your Excellency for this exemplary trait of stewardship and humility, despite carrying the burden of inherited infrastructural deficit.

Seye Abodunrin writes from Ijoko.

Another pen for hire.

Dapo should honorably resign!

His incompetence stinks!

Dapo makes Obaseki look like genius.

We are aware but the time time of excuse is over.

At least you generated reasonable IGR in your first tenure, monthly Oyel money have increased for almost a year now, there should be money to execute the abandoned projects and even do new ones.

Are you no longer a billionaire, contact your friends to come and invest in Ogun state.

helinues:
We are aware but the time time of excuse is over.

At least your regime generated reasonable IGR in your first tenure, monthly Oyel money have increased for almost a year now, there should be money to execute the abandoned projects and even do new ones.

Are you no longer a billionaire, contact your friends to come and invest in Ogun state.

What do you do for a living?

All these are just excuses from paid agents of the government.

Oyo state that is bigger than Ogun. Bigger than all the 5 states in the SE. Oyo has 5 Zones or regions.
Ibadan
Oke Ogun
Oyo
Ogbomosho
Ibarapba

Makes lesser IGR than Ogun had a huge infrastructural deficit than Ogun when the present government came in but we are in a better place than we were 5years ago. There is no local government that doesn't have infrastructure project ongoing. No local government. Together with human capital development.

Currently an on going employment recruitment is on going.

10,000 teachers for secondary school and another 7000 for primary schools. A whopping 17,000 at a go. Together with a huge investment in security, agriculture, etc

Are we yet where we should be? Capital NO. But we are better than we were 5 years ago. Far better with still so much more to be done

So why should Ogun that makes so much than Oyo be known basically for too much of Bad roads.

And the excuse that some roads are federal roads is why it isn't done is all ruse. They don't have the goodwill to push it to be done

Oyo state did the 42KM Oyo to Iseyin road. A federal road that has been abandoned for over 40 years. Seyi Makinde went to the Federal government under Buhari,asked for permission even when some senators because of political expediency didn't want the FG to give the go ahead. But he put pressure on the FG and Fashola gave the Go-ahead.

This was a PDP versus an APC Federal government. So what is now stopping over 12 years of the APC at the federal and at the state for it not to have been done..

It shows those people at the state are not serious with Govornace except to be coming up with excuses

This man tops the list of the most useless and nonchalant governors in Nigeria. Apparently, the residents of the state are used to suffering and smiling.

Mindlog:
Another pen for hire.

The location of the writer shows how damaged Nigerians are psychologically. The whole Ogun West is an eyesore and he resides there but still praising the "pretty boy" governor. Pathetic!

MufasaLion:
The location of the writer shows how damaged Nigerians are psychologically. The whole Ogun West is an eyesore and he resides there but still praising the "pretty boy" governor. Pathetic!

Even though the governor has his own blame but are the Ogun West people no get senators, HOR and state assembly members to be making some demands from both state and federal.

The Sango Ota road have been awarded severally for decades yet the road is still in dilapidated state, where are their past and present senators?

That axis is generating reasonable tax for the state yet not much have been done in the area for decades

helinues:
Even though the governor has his own blame but are the Ogun West people no get senators, HOR and state assembly members to be making some demands from both state and federal.

The Sango Ota road have been awarded severally for decades yet the road is still in dilapidated state, where are their past and present senators?

That axis is generating reasonable tax for the state yet not much have been done in the area for decades

Do you want to work and earn a living?

helinues:
Even though the governor has his own blame but are the Ogun West people no get senators, HOR and state assembly members to be making some demands from both state and federal.

The Sango Ota road have been awarded severally for decades yet the road is still in dilapidated state, where are their past and present senators?

Surely, they do, but however, an average Nigerian don't even know his/her right. Most don't even know the duties of their legislators, hence the reason everyone focus on the governor or president. Moreover, we can neglect the power and influence that the former and latter wields.

Ogum State has fallen into the hands of leaders with no vision and the residents are extremely laid back now unlike many years ago. Poverty and lack of enlightenment is a major factor too.

Justiceganduje:
What do you do for a living?

Factory job or marketing?

So sad that Ogun State with high IGR and potential for more has been so badly run over the years. Ifo and Sango Ota LGs can generate so much more for the state but there seems to be no concerted effort towards physical planning, provision of adequate infrastructure and services in those areas. Ifo extends to parts of Isheri/Ojodu/Berger areas of Lagos just as Agbara is a border town. Akute is another area that has been grossly neglected to the detriment of the state. The roads are terrible with lack of proper drainage in some areas...the CDAs need to wake up too.

It's disgraceful that there are still many villages with no access to potable water, decent schools and functional health centres as seen in a report by a newspaper. Those are basics expected to be seen in a progressive state, moreso, Pa Awolowos place. A man whose focus was the uplifting of the poor unlike today's pretenders.

Anyway, Gov. Abiodun should at least ensure that the Lagos -Papalanto - Abeokuta road is completed before his tenure ends. He should apply the same energy and focus given to the cargo airport.

delpee:
So sad that Ogun State with high IGR and potential for more has been so badly run over the years. Ifo and Sango Ota LGs can generate so much more for the state but there seems to be no concerted effort towards physical planning, provision of adequate infrastructure and services in those areas.

They need to speak out and vote the right people.

I can't read. Are you defending him? If you are........

MufasaLion:
They need to speak out and vote the right people.

Hmmm! A lot happens that is difficult to understand.

delpee:
Hmmm! A lot happens that is difficult to understand.

It's not difficult to understand. Poverty has been weaponized and also, they are always left with unfit candidates to choose from.

MufasaLion:
It's not difficult to understand. Poverty has been weaponized and also, they are always left with unfit candidates to choose from.

If I bring the question of where Yayi has been for decades in all this, some people go think say na out of hatred question.

All those FG projects approved for Ogun West, what role exactly have Yayi played in making sure those projects are executed? Perhaps, his caring for the zone started from last year election

helinues:
If I bring the question of where Yayi has been for decades in all this, some people go think say na out of hatred question.

All those FG projects approved for West, what role exactly have Yayi played in making sure those projects are executed? Perhaps, his caring for the zone started from last year election

Even in Lagos West the he was representing before, he was not functional.

Na Ogun go kee the writer of this nonsense

MufasaLion:
Even in Lagos West the he was representing before, he was not functional.

Yayi, three times Senator. Former Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation and Public Accounts. A FELLOW of the Charterd Institute of Accountants of Nigeria.

Now tell us about your own biological father, list his life achievements here

MufasaLion:
Even in Lagos West the he was representing before, he was not functional.

Bro now see oo, the current senatorial district he is representing, he had no clear touches or impact which is where he now remember he is from, definitely not even a presence in other zones from Ogun state .

Why should Ogun state people elect such person as their next governor. Why the sudden started caring after abandonment for decades?

helinues:
Bro now see oo, the current senatorial district he is representing, he had no clear touches or impact which is where he now remember he is from, definitely not even a presence in other zones from Ogun state .

Why should Ogun state people elect such person as their next governor. Why the sudden started caring after abandonment for decades?

Well, I heard he's been facilitating some road constructions in some areas in Ilaro and few other places. I don't know if it's true or not.

Ogun politics fell off really bad.

Another pen for hire.

5 years in the saddle, still excuses upon excuses.

You guys should at least tell the governor some home truth.

He's even 'invisible' to the people he governs.