By Job Osazuwa
If you want to see squalor and suffering, go to Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb. Residents of Ejigbo are miserable because the roads there are wretched and forsaken.
In fact, going to some places in Ejigbo is like a journey through the valley of the shadow of death. The general environment is horrible, as overflowing gutters and garbage heaps define the area. Indeed, Ejigbo stinks, and no one seems to care.
Take this from a resident, Comrade Cyril Okemuo: “Since the return to democracy in 1999, roads in Ejigbo have remained decrepit with no help in sight. In fact, the neglect is legendary and, to rub it in, Ejigbo LCDA produces the ‘best local government chairmen’ and we ask what the criteria for such recognitions are.
“The flooding at Iyana Ejigbo is well known to all commuters along that route leading to Egbe, Ikotun and environs. A fact-check on the roads in Ejigbo would reveal that the following roads have even changed for the worse, Fadu/Ifosho Road connecting Idimu Road from Iyana Ejigbo, Falana/Omiyale, Adegoroye/Double Power Line and Ailegun Road. Indeed, the list is endless. It difficult to see a motorable street in Ejigbo. Compared to Agodo-Egbe, Ejigbo is a non-starter.
“Even with the Federal Government-owned NNPC depot located within the council area, which should necessitate good road connections for the evacuation of petroleum products from the facility, the residents live in agony of navigating their way out of Ejigbo to their respective workplaces and elsewhere.
“The Iyana Ejigbo flooding is perennial. The junkyard called Oba Moroof International Market is blocking the free flow of rainwater into drainage canal behind the market.
“The last time there was government presence in this area was during the military era with Brigadier Buba Marwa (retd) as the military administrator of the state. It was Marwa’s government that dualized the Ejigbo-Egbe road from a single lane, beginning from Kpako Bridge, Oke-Afa to Ikotun.
“Since 1999, the same political party has been running the affairs of the state and council yet things are getting worse. Ejigbo is horrible, to say the least.”
Another resident of Ejigbo, Chief Fidelis Okpoko, is also adorning the garment of lamentations. According to him, living in Ejigbo is a bad omen.
He said: “I have been living in Ejigbo for some years. The entrance route to Ejigbo is a pitiful sight to behold. The inhabitants of this area are crying daily due to the poor nature of the road. Car owners are at the mercy of auto mechanics. Trekking on the road isn’t easy as well due to stones measuring about eight inches used to fill gullies created by erosion and heavy duty vehicles. The road has been neglected for too long. The end of road leading to inner Ejigbo was rehabilitated by the current LCDA chairman with street lights. We were told that the messiah had come, but the rehabilitation work terminated before the Oba Ejigbo’s residence along Fadu Avenue. This effort was not good enough to ameriolate the suffering of the road users.
“Whenever there is a downpour, the entrance to Iyana Ejigbo becomes a mini lake, resulting in heavy traffic extending up to Isolo and Ikotun axis. Business activities are also grounded as a result of this and some road users end up being robbed. We are begging the authorities to come to our aid by rehabilitating Ejigbo roads.”
For Sebastine Maxwell, “the roads in Ejigbo are the worst in Lagos State. In fact, Ejigbo, which is among the old suburbs in the state, is in a pathetic state. Some new towns in Lagos have better roads. Perhaps the most shameful of the roads is Ifoshi Road, which is a gateway to Ejigbo and it is hosting many business premises, the palace and residence of the Oba of Ejigbo. Indeed, Ifoshi Road is the clear winner of the unenviable award of the worst road in Isolo LGA.”
Mr. Yinka Bhadmus, another resident of Ejigbo, was almost in tears when he lamented the state of roads in his neighbourhood.
Bhadmus said: “One can say that good roads are forbidden in Ejigbo. In Ejigbo, you see car owners trekking because the roads are too bad, especially during the rainy season. Also, trekking is another torture because of the heavy stones in some places. I know someone who broke his ankle on Ifoshi Road.
“Although virtually all roads in Ejigbo are in a deplorable state, but Ailegun Road is the worst. In fact, if you go to Ailegun Road, you will see man’s inhumanity to man. The long stretch is doted with craters. To make matters worse, they poured heavy stones in some portions of the road.
“I heard someone making a pathetic defence that Ailegun is a state road. It is difficult to understand such nonsense. Every day, road users heap curses on those whose responsibility it is to fix that road. Ejigbo residents are really suffering and smiling.
“The roads are also littered with garbage. Among the bad roads are Salami, Folorunso Street, Engr. Sola Street and Dom Ezekwobi Street, among many others.
However, a council official, who pleaded anonymity, said that road rehabilitation in the area is being hampered by heavy rains. According to him, “Ejigbo will receive a facelift soon.”