(PHOTOS) BAD ROADS: GOV ABIODUN, PLEASE, HEEEEELP!

 (PHOTOS) BAD ROADS: GOV ABIODUN, PLEASE, HEEEEELP! 
Simawa-Likosi communities send special appeal to Ogun governor, as residents agonise over worsening condition of dilapidated roads.

By Our Correspondent 

The daily traumatic experience  which residents of Simawa and Likosi communities in Wards 13 and 10 of the Sagamu Local Government area of Ogun State, are subjected to by the worsening condition of dilapidated roads there, have forced them to send special appeals to the State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, demanding urgent intervention.

The Chairman of Simawa Development Association, Akile Adetola Emmanuel-King, the Vice Chairman, Evangelist Kolade Segun-Okeowo and the Secretary, Elder Aliu Soyebo, on behalf of  other residents and notable people in the area, are begging the governor to quickly come to their rescue, by reconstructing the roads now, without any delay.

THE AGONIES Of THE PEOPLE 

Everyday, residents, motorists and other road users suffer a lot, through ugly experiences like getting vehicles breakdown, having vehicular collisions while avoiding potholes; which consequently cause damages to their vehicles, leading to traffic logjams and the attending effects, people being stranded for lack of transporters to convey them and their goods to their next destination; even commercial farmers and their workers, having difficulties to have access to their farms and bringing farm products out for supply to the public.

All these daily trauma they experience  every morning, hinder people from getting to their various workplaces on time . Likewise, every evening, the dilapidated roads also make life more strenuous when people are returning home after hectic daily activities in Lagos, Ifo, Obafemi-Owode, Abeokuta, Ikorodu, Sagamu and the likes. 

THE GOOD NEWS: FAST GROWING POPULATION 

The various communities, which constitute these Wards 13 and 10 of the Sagamu Local Government area of Ogun State, have steadily grown from a rural agrarian settlement into a semi-urban and bustling towns with several commercial activities springing up in quick succession.

Simawa town has willy-nilly been gradually opened up to a barrage of developments necessitated by several factors like: her neighborhood with Africa's No.1 religion city, named The Redemption City of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, the opening of several housing estates and industrial establishments, thereby creating rooms for the influx of people from Lagos and other aforementioned places because of the population explosion in those places.

 Consequently, people from all walks of life, emigrate to Simawa and Likosi axis, for residential and business reasons.  

Moreover, the activities of the world largest Christian organisation, the RCCG, have brought a more positive dimension to the development experienced by the Simawa-Likosi axis. It’s new 3kmX3km auditorium is currently reckoned as the largest human construction in the entire world. 

These, without mincing words, have contributed immensely to the population explosion and complete metamorphosis of the villages surrounding the Redemption Camp into fast growing towns. 

Of course, this was what gave birth to series of housing estates and rapid establishment of many industries around that axis in the last 10years to 15years.

With the building of the many housing estates and other amenities like private schools, a micro-finance bank, and the commissioning of police station in Simawa recently, the community have succeeded in opening up the more, a vast sector of this hitherto rural areas to the neighbouring Lagos State.

These, consequently, led to the unprecedented large population and upsurge in economic growth. 

CHALLENGES OF DEFICIENCY OF GOOD ROADS NETWORK  

Suffice to emphasize that the major road starting from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at the Lotto axis in the Obafemi-Owode LGA, the single-handedly built by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, about ten years ago. But it has been badly damaged in the last few years.

The damage was due to overuse by ever increasing road traffick, lack of other good major roads, and the failure of government to repair the road in the last ten years.

It is this major road built by the RCCG which links the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from Lotto axis with Sagamu-Ikorodu Road at Likosi town junction, that motorists traveling from Obafemi-Owode/Abeokuta, Ifo, Yewa axis, Ibadan, e.t.c, often ply to Ikorodu and its environs, whenever there is traffic congestion at the expressway in around Prayer City area towards Berger/Long bridge axis. 

However, it is very sad that the huge and ever increasing population and businesses in Simawa-Likosi communities are neglected by government and not provided with good roads network to meet the demands.

SIMAWA's POLITICAL/ELECTORAL VALUES

It is essential we disclose that the populations of Simawa, Likosi, Ewu-Oloja and the surrounding communities have grown rapidly, occasioned by the movement of new landlords, intending landlords and tenants who have found genuine interests and greener pastures in the fast growing communities. 

Consequently these communities have developed huge political cum electoral values in view of its ever increasing large population, which government at this time, cannot afford to neglect. 

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC have attested to this massive growth and the electoral value of Simawa-Likosi axis by increasing the polling booths from the existing eight to sixteen.

SOCIAL/ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS 

However, the absence of good roads has caused major setback for adequate development of Simawa-Likosi axis and make life strenuous for the residents. 

Many commercial banks and other investors that could have come to boost economic activities there are reluctant because the communities do not have a single good road. 

Now, due to the perpetual frustrations, motorists have completely abandoned the Simawa road from the Likosi end, as vehicles break down there regularly. Only commercial motorcycle riders, commonly called Okada riders, manage to ply the road. 

Whenever it rains, the Simawa-Likosi road becomes completely inaccessible for motorists and a living hell even for Okada riders and pedestrians. 

From the Kanuyi-Igbepa road, the Simawa-Likosi axis is completely inaccessible as it has been cut away from her mother-city; Sagamu, because of deep gullies and heavy pot holes on the road. 

Residents of the Simawa-Likosi axis are now agonizing as they recount losses almost everyday occasioned by the bad roads surrounding the entire communities and the difficulties experienced in accessing the area. 

MR GOVERNOR, PLEASE TAKE ACTION!

In view of this helpless situation, the residents and all stakeholders are calling on the Government of Ogun State under the leadership of Prince Dapo Abiodun, to please come to the rescue of the Simawa-Likosi people and prevent the place from being cut off from the rest of Ogun State by the bad roads network. 

The Simawa Development Association, is particularly appealing to the Governor that Simawa residents are law abiding people and bona-fide citizens of Ogun State.

They are saying, "PLEASE COME TO OUR MACEDONIA, YOUR EXCELLENCY: MR. GOVERNOR, TAKE ACTION NOW ON OUR ROADS"