Residents of Gowon Estate, a Federal Housing Estate in Egbeda, Ipaja area of Lagos State, have commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for embarking on road reconstruction in the estate.
The residents, who spoke on Tuesday in Lagos, commended the governor for the reconstruction of the estate’s major access road.
Work on the 41 Road had started by the contractor laying the interlocking blocks on the road sides, having completed the drains and road median.
A 65-year-old ex-staff of the Nigerian Airways, Mr Emmanuel Obulu, described the construction work “as good, perfect and going on well’’.
“We want to thank the Lagos State Government for this very good work. It is about the first time the government will be coming to our aid since the return of democracy in 1999.
“We are very grateful to Ambode. We have been voting since 1999 but no one seemed to remember this estate in the state after being abandoned by the Federal Government,’’ Obulu told NAN.
He urged the state government to extend the construction work to 411 road, which he described as the worst road in the estate.
Pastor Charity Nna said, “I believe God is happy with Ambode with this work he embarked upon. The Lord will give him more wisdom and strength.’’
Nna, however, urged the contractor to speed up the work on a lane before moving to the other because of the condition of the road and challenges residents faced whenever it rained.
Another resident and a business man, Mr Henry Gabriel, said, “We are excited about this construction after long years of neglect’’.
Gabriel said that the work was moving on well but it should be completed fast.
“We know it is not easy but the faster the better. Construction does not go well in this weather but whenever it rains, it is a trouble for us,’’ he added.
A Naval officer in the estate, Mr Isaac Idoga, said that the roads had been bad for a very long time and had affected the residents of the estate a great deal.
“Actually, it is a good development. They say, it is a government of change and we have seen the change.
“The roads have been bad for a long time but the government decided to give it a face lift. We are thankful,’’ Idoga said.
Mr Sunday Usoro, a retired staff of the United Bank of Africa (UBA), who also resides in the estate, said, “At the completion of this project, it will be so beautiful. Though it has been delayed, we want a speed’’.
Usoro, however, urged the contractor to either erect a fence in the road median or turn it into a garden to prevent illegal trading or activities capable of creating nuisance on the median after completion.
Another resident and also a businessman , Mr Jude Ohaeria, expressed satisfaction with the work and the pace.
He urged the contractor to also work on the link road to Egbeda/ Idimu road.
Meanwhile, Mr Nathaniel Okoro, the former Chairman, Gowon Estate North Community Development Association (CDA), described the project as “a good thing’’.
“I commend the state government for remembering us and we hope that it will be the beginning of good things to come. The job can be faster, however.
“We have submitted to the government a list of more than 11 roads within Gowon Estate. What the government is doing is half of only one of the roads.
“The 411 road is the worst road in the estate, the only thing to rate 41 road being constructed is because it is used by everybody, while 411 is for residents.
“If 411 is not done, I am not sure people living there, even though grateful that 41 road is done, will be impressed.
“So 411 road is still there as well as 34 Road, 4th Ave., 6th Ave, 31 Road, 1st Ave are still there. These roads have been bad over the years. We can only hope that the government by next year will do another road,’’ Okoro told NAN.
The community leader said that the contractor should have used whatever was scrapped from the road being constructed to fill 411 Road that would soon become impassable.
The Site Engineer, Wetland Construction Nigeria Ltd., handling the project, Mr Abiodun Salami, said that the road would be delivered by the month end as scheduled.
Salami said that the clearing of sewage took a substantial time being fully blocked, adding that work had started fully to meet the deadline of end of July.
