- Have any questions?
- contact@ymonitor.org
Ogun tracker: Tracking the five Abandoned Mega Flyovers in Ogun
by Usman Alabi
It was not a pleasant experience tracking these five mega projects. We were not prepared for the consequence of embarking on such a task. Perhaps our definition of abandoned projects does not include what we were about to see.
From Sango Ota in Ogun state, we took a bus going to Ijoko Ogba Iyo to track a project we were told had been abandoned since 2014, eventually we ended up tracking a network of five projects in five different localities, each of these projects is capable of improving the economy of the locality it was situated, all these projects are the same, all were supposed to take two years to complete, and our findings revealed that they were started simultaneously at the same time.
These five mega flyovers are in Ijoko Ogba Iyo, Agbado, Odo Lambe, Akute and Alagbole, all in Ogun State. They are projects embarked upon by the Ogun state government, and were strategically located in these five communities to ease traffic from Lagos to metropolitan Ogun.
We were welcomed by a sea of red dry dust on our way to the first of the flyovers at Ijoko Ogba Iyo; the road leading to that area is unfinished, and abandoned. Residents and commuters living in the area said the road had been abandoned for more than two years. According to one of the residents, Blessing who once reside with her parents in the area: “The road has been abandoned for long, it is always very dusty during dry season and it is an eyesore during raining season, I don’t like coming here in the raining season because of the bad state of the road”.
The unfinished dusty Ijoko road connects the flyover bridge. The long flyover bridge is the only one out of all the other five that is at the advance stage of construction and nearing completion, but before us yesterday, it stood dead and impossible, like a project with no headway, of course that is exactly what it is, it has become abandoned, and according to commuters, it has been so for more than a year. Traders within the communities claimed that the project was started by the governor in his first tenure or term in office, and ever since he won election for second term in office, the project has not seen any improvement. People are prohibited from using the bridge in its present state, as what look like a security post could be seen on the flyover. It was in the process of tracking the first project and interviewing commuters that one of them told us that there are still five of such project in other communities within the state.
We then moved from Ijoko to Agbado where we have exactly the same structure though not in the advance stage that the first was, the giant concrete pillars have been erected and the shape of the flyover has been formed. But work has also stopped in that location. We discovered that the road leading from the first flyover also connects to the second one. It joins the other three, but the road is uncompleted and abandoned, completely in a state of disrepair. Below is the Agbado flyover:
Odo Lambe was our next point, the same structure also completely abandoned, One of our team members who was in that area sometimes ago claimed he saw the project three years ago when he paid his friend a visit three years back. The state of the Lambe road where the project is located indicates that the community is in dare need of that project, it is their major connection to the outside world, and it would in no time open them to various economic opportunities. But the flyover below would continue to remain in its present state until the government take action.
The fourth flyover at Akute still has a project signpost, which reads that the project would take 24 months, yet 24 months after, it is nothing but a sordid reality.
The last of the flyovers is located at Alagbole. Car tires could be seen parked at the front part of this particular flyover because of previous motor accidents, the road to the uncompleted flyover is sloppy and dangerous especially at Night, the Alagbole flyover is gradually turning into refuse dump site.
We spoke to the people in these communities, and most of them were no more enthusiastic about talking about these projects, because they have been doing so before now, yet the government had done nothing.
These projects are mega projects that would better the lives of the people resident in those communities. The state government owe the people an explanation on why the projects were abandoned.
16 Comments
Thanks YNaija for the coverage of the abandoned roads and flyovers in Ogun state. It is pathetic to know that the government of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun that was proudly returned into power by the people can turn its back on the same people.
It was to my utmost dismay to discover that this government is construction a ten lane road from Sagamu to link the Lagos Ibadan expressway whereas the roads that impact the lives of the citizenry are begging for attention.
The government will argue that the ten lane road is private sector driven but we all know it is there is counterpart funding provided by the state.
It is so unfair that this government can let the people down this way and not even engage on it. Mere update to let the people know what is going on will give some relief. Even if the feedback is that the construction can not continue!
Unfortunately, some insincere people give awards of “best governor and all” to this governor! god help our land.
Is there a way of pushing this your report to the television? Let’s see if they will react at that point.
Thanks YNaija for the coverage of the abandoned roads and flyovers in Ogun state. It is pathetic to know that the government of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun that was proudly returned into power by the people can turn its back on the same people.
It was to my utmost dismay to discover that this government is constructing a ten lane road from Sagamu to link the Lagos Ibadan expressway; whereas the roads that impact the lives of the citizenry are begging for attention.
The government will argue that the ten lane road is private sector driven but we all know there is counterpart funding provided by the state.
It is so unfair that this government can let the people down this way and not even engage on it. Mere update to let the people know what is going on will give some relief. Even if the feedback is that the construction can not continue!
Unfortunately, some insincere people give awards of “best governor and all” to this governor! God help our land.
Is there a way of pushing this your report to the television? Let’s see if they will react at that point.
I got fed up with the local cinemas here in Ottawa because of the presumption that if they turn up the volume on commercials ever higher more people will purchase the product. Would you buy from a salesman who shouts in your ear? Having to sit through a commercial is bad enohiu.Hagry
disse:é claro que os pais dos noivos devem participar do casamento, a presença dos pais é muito importante. Mas será que eu e meu noivo devemos fazer convites para os nossos pais?
These projects where started as a means to secure reelection by The reigning part/leader.. It is better to not start a project rather than abandoning it. I stay in ijoko and i must say the environment has become unbearable since they abandoned the project.. Raining season is supposed to bring relief to people but instead it brings worries to people of this area.. I once saw an elderly woman fall because the road was slippery and i could not help but blame the government of the state. Like you have said, these projects would have been a major boost to these societies, i wonder how short sited our government can be at time..
Good point. I hadn’t thought about it quite that way.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you penning this article and the rest of the website
is also really good.
Spot on with this write-up, I actually think this web site needs a great deal more
attention. I’ll probably be returning to read more, thanks for the information!
Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles?
I mean, what you say is valuable and all. However think of if you added some great pictures or videos to give your posts more,
“pop”! Your content is excellent but with images
and video clips, this website could undeniably be one
of the most beneficial in its field. Awesome blog!
It is perfect time to make a few plans for the
longer term and it is time to be happy. I have read
this publish and if I may just I want to suggest you few fascinating things or tips.
Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to read more things about it!
It’s actually a great and helpful piece of info. I am
satisfied that you just shared this helpful info with us.
Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
I am genuinely grateful to the owner of this web site who has shared this enormous post at at this place.
Hello to every one, the contents existing at this web site are
actually amazing for people knowledge, well, keep up the nice
work fellows.
Hello, just wanted to say, I enjoyed this post. It was practical.
Keep on posting!
Whats up are using WordPress for your site platform?
I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own.
Do you need any coding knowledge to make your own blog?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement
account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from
you! By the way, how can we communicate?