Access 57: Lagosians lament bad roads,insecurity, others

IN Lagos State, Access 57 stands for the 20 local
governments and 37 Local Council Development
Areas with the sole purpose of bringing
government closer to the people.
All things being equal, citizens are to enjoy
portable water supply, quality education, good
roads with drainage, adequate health care and
security of lives and property as the case may be.
By so doing, the primary focus should be geared
towards developmental purposes at the grassroots.
Unfortunately, investigations show that majority of
them have failed to fulfil their reason for existence
as they are found wanting in almost all the areas.
In nearly all the councils, Vanguard can say that
adequate security is missing as citizens no longer
sleep with their two eyes closed; portable water,
good roads with drainage are also rare.
In view of this, citizens were asked to assess the
impact of the state government's Access 57 on the
quality of life. They also bared their minds on the
performances of their Council Chairmen so far.
Lagos Island, for example, is wearing a new look
and being upgraded everyday in terms of
infrastructure. Also places like Apapa, Lekki, Eti-
Osa, Ojo, Yaba, Surulere and Coker/Aguda have
displayed a bit of decency with a clean
environment.
Partial closure
The drainage was okay with motorable roads, also,
vehicular movement was in order but for gridlock
which may have been occasioned by the partial
closure of the Third Mainland Bridge.
Many residents poured accolades on their chairmen
but complained about lack of portable water to take
care of their domestic needs.
Unlike the councils earlier mentioned which could
boast of some level of development, the reverse is
the case at Ejigbo, Oshodi/ Isolo, Alimosho, Ikorodu,
Igbogbo/Bayeku, Ojokoro, Ifako/Ijaye, Ikotun,
Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ajeromi, Agbado/Okeodo, Kosofe,
Egbe/Idimu, Mushin, Ipaja/Ayobo and Agbonyin/
Ketu to mention just a few where residents lament
lack of good governance.
Dotting these areas were deplorable roads as well
as lack of security for lives and property.
Investigations also revealed that the public taps in
these areas are not in good condition while
students still seat under trees and make shifts to
receive lectures in some public schools especially
at Community Junior and Secondary Schools,
Bayeku.
Many access roads have been taken over by flood,
potholes and craters especially at Aboru, Isheri/
Oshun, Idimu, Meiran, Alapere, Owode/Elede, ogijo,
Casso, Kolinton, Ejigbo, Isolo, Itokin, Imota, Iyana
Ipaja, Igbo/Elerin,Egbe, Idimu, Iju/Ishaga and
Ijegun among others.
Residents of Ikorodu and its environ said cultism is
now the order of the day as many primary and
secondary school students have taken to cultism.
At Alapere, a car owner, Mr. Ibrahim Alawode
whose car broken down because of the poor road
said he could not go home for fear of vandalism,
''around 2am, some area boys came with diggers to
destroy the road in order to cause gridlock at day
time to boost their patronage when there is
gridlock.'' he said.
As at the time of filling this report, most of the 57
Local Council bosses could not be reached through
their official numbers as their phones were either
switched off and some did not respond to their calls
around 10am.
However, Hon Mursiq Durosinmi of Ojo simply said,
''Seeing is believing, I believe our works will speak
for us,'' while Hon Adegbenga Basanya of Igbogbo/
Bayeku was said to be at a meeting when he was
called.