Lagos Community of Pain: Residents, Orphanage cry out over bad roads

Lagos Community of Pain: Residents, Orphanage cry out over bad roads

by Lamidi Bamidele

Provision of infrastructural facilities, especially road construction, is one of the reasons why the Lagos State Government has been receiving accolades from many residents since Governor Babatunde Fashola came into office. Indeed, roads construction or rehabilitation has become a common feature in virtually all the nooks and crannies of the state.

But while many Lagosians are enjoying this dividend of democracy, the reverse is the case with some communities such as at Ira Nla, Saliu Obodo and Akilapa streets of oke-Ira nla areas in Ajah, Eti oa Local Government Area where residents endure a lot of pains to move round the town, no thanks to the bad road which has forced many of them, especially workers, to relocate to other parts of the city.

Deplorable roads of Ira nla  under Oke Ira in Eti-Osa Local Government of Lagos State. Residents calling for government attention. Photos by Lamidi Bamidele

For Arrows of God Orphanage Home, situated in Ira-Nla, it has been a bitter tale of woe on account of the bad road which has continued to undermine its existence and opportunities.

Narrating the ordeal of the orphanage in this regard, its Managing Director, Mr David Ogo said, 'I have more than a hundred students that I transport to various schools everyday and what we go through on this road is not a good story to tell. Most of the time our buses break down on the road and we have to beg for a ride from others so that the students don't get late to school'.

He further revealed how the poor condition of the road has scared away so many friends and donors to the orphanage. 'We appeal to the Lagos State Government to assist in rehabilitating the roads as this would enhance a better living standard for the residents' he said.

Many residents of Oke-Ira Nla are also appealling to the Lagos State government to save them from the rigours they are subjected to as a result of bad roads. According to them, the few people remaining in the community now pay through their noses to move around.

During a recent visit to the community by this reporter, it was discovered that the streets are in a very deplorable state. In fact, the Okada which conveyed me got stuck on one of the roads and this almost terminated the journey.

A commercial driver who simply gave his name as Adedeji recounted his plight, 'I have been living in this area for the past five and half years and this is what we have been going through every year. The bad roads have really impoverished us and we are sad about the situation.'

Asked what efforts the residents have made to bring their plight to the attention of the government, he replied, 'Some officials of the state government came here about two years and assured us that they will look into the matter, but nothing has been done till date.

Some commercial motorcyclists plying the road also recounted their ordeal. They pleaded with the Lagos State government to help rehabilitate the roads within the community. Ojo, one of the commercial motorcyclists thus sums it up, ' It is true that we charge exorbitantly, but we end up spending all the money in mechanics' workshops to repair our motorcycles'.