The N60 billion Oke-Mosan-Kobape-Sagamu Interchange road construction being planned by Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State is a white elephant project and must be discontinued immediately, according to the New Independence Group (NIG).
The NIG, a socio-economic think tank, gave this advice in a statement on Friday in Lagos, signed by its Convener, Professor Akinyemi Onigbinde.
The group noted that the state currently has a long list of uncompleted road projects, initiated by Amosun.
With many abandoned road projects, commuting by residents in many parts of the state has been a nightmare, the group noted.
The roads begging for attention and which have continued to bring sorrows and tears to residents, but have been abandoned by the administration, include Sango- Sona/Owode-ijako axis, Agbara/Lusada- igbesa Atan Ota, Lafenwa-Raunda- Ayetoro, Oke-Ata to Rounda and Alagbole- Akute,Isashi – Yakoyo- Ojodu Abiodun roads in the state.
The list also includes Ilaro-Iwoye-Owode, Ijoko-Ota to Agbado crossing, and Oke Aro, Lusada/Ado-Odo Owode- Yewa,Ago-Oko/Adedotun Saje to Adatan, OGTV-Ajebo, Itele to Ayobo ipaja, Lafenwa- Itele Ota, Epe Garage-Oke Owa-Ilese-Ijebu-Imushin-Ijebu-Ife, Imowo Eleran road, Ijebu-Ode, Ikenne-Odogbolu-Ayepe,Ilishan-Ago-Iwoye, Isara-Ago-Iwoye, Ijebu-Igbo-Aparaki and Atan-Imope-Orita Idofe-Ijebu.
The list, according to the NIG, continues: Refugee Camp-Oru-Awa-Ilaporu-Ijebu, Station-Idode-Japara, Ijebu-Igbo, Atikori-Idi Scale-Odobotu-Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Secretariat-West-End-Beje High School, Oke-Agbo, Agunboye-Omu-Gbawojo-Imewuro, Senbora-Ibido-Oke-Aye-Idorunwo-Gbawojo-Egan and Idode-Imomo-Simadegun.
The inexhaustive list also includes Oke-Eki-Orunwa-Ijebu, Ibiade-Abigi township, Oni-Ilushin-Ijebu township, Ologbun-Iwopin township, Molipa-Okun-Owa, Ala-Omu-Ijebu, Magboro-Makogi (back of MFM)-Obafemi Owode and Sagamu-Ikorodu.
Rather than embark on a fresh capital-intensive road project with a view of increasing the lane profile on an axis that can hardly be considered busy, and which will most likely be abandoned given that his administration has just about two years left, Amosun should devote his energies towards completing the pot-holes and craters-filled roads which litter the heavily populated areas of the state, the NIG stated.
If the government is desirous of embarking on another major road project, its focus should be directed to the Asero-Obantoko axis of the state capital, Abeokuta, which is a gateway to Oyo State and is bound to further stimulate economic activities in the affected areas, the group added.
“Utilitarianism”, a focus on the greatest good for the greatest majority, demands that the government should seek to put an end to the harrowing experiences of commuters in the densely populated areas of the state. Seeking another humongous loan to construct a gigantic road in sparsely populated area of the state, while work in the densely populated communities is put on hold, is most ill-advised.
“And, in this instance, members of Ogun State parliament, as representatives of their respective constituencies, in whose behalf the loan for a needless project is being sought, must be seen to be standing with probity and efficient utilisation of whatever resources that are available to the state. Otherwise, not only Governor Ibikunle Amosun, but also individual members of the current legislative assembly, stand culpable in the further impoverishment of the state into which the loan being sought, with no discernible socio-economic benefits, will be thrown”.
