Demolition of houses, shops for road expansion begins in Ogun

http://www.gatewaymail.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Road-1.jpg

 

By Olusola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)

NIGERIA: OGUN State Government has commenced the demolition of no fewer than 5,000 houses and shops in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital to pave way for the expansion of roads within the metropolis.

The demolition exercise which began on Sunday caught many of the residents unaware as they hurriedly packed their belongings and valuable properties as the caterpillars pull down the buildings.

The areas to pave way for the road expansion include Enugada/Ago‎-Oka, Mokola, Ilugun, Itoko, Elega, Saje and Adatan junction, just as many residents who buried their late parents and family members in their compounds rushed to exhume the corpses for re-burial.

However, investigation by GatewayMail revealed that many of the affected residential buildings are as old as 50 years and above.

The affected structures had been marked for demolition over eight months ago, but the government could not commence the demolition due to lack of funds.

The exercise, however, commenced after the Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, got the state share of Paris Club fund from the Federal Government.

Amosun personally supervised some of the demolitions and in the process took time to explain to the affected people that the expansion was to their benefits and the development of the town.

Meanwhile, ‎members of the Ogun State House of Assembly have commended the government for taking steps to complete all on-going road projects across the state.

The lawmakers, however, appealed to residents to remain calm, maintain decorum and avoid being close to the on-going demolition spots.

The legislators urged the government to ensure immediate payment of compensation to owners of buildings affected, while they pleaded with Amosun to also extend the same gesture to other constituencies in the state, especially the rural and semi-urban communities.

The assembly’s Speaker, Suraju Adekunbi, praised the citizens and residents for their tolerance, perseverance and understanding.

Adekunbi charged the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to prevail on all contractors handling the road projects to speed up works before the rainy season.

• For any reaction or to contact GatewayMail newspaper, Toronto, Canada email us at: info@gatewaymail.org, whatsapp or text message: +2348033186252 (no calls).