Palpable tension is currently brewing over the reconstruction of Oju-ore -Atan expressway as residents accused the contractors of allegedly deviating from the original plan approved by the federal government.
The residents who expressed dismay, during a community radio programme, Awori Kitigbe, on Wednesday, voiced their concerns and frustrations over the contractors’ actions.
They alleged that the contractors had ignored buildings marked for demolition before the project’s commencement and had instead begun digging a substandard and narrow drainage close to the main road.
This diversion from the original plan has left many property owners who had already demolished their marked properties feeling frustrated and misled. The residents claimed that the contractors’ new plan has caused unnecessary destruction and waste, and they demanded that the project be returned to its original scope and specifications.
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Furthermore, the residents expressed concerns over the quality of work being done by the contractors, stating that the drainage being constructed is not only substandard but also too narrow to serve its purpose. They feared that this could lead to future problems, such as flooding and erosion, which could negatively impact the community.
In light of this, the residents are calling on Honourable Tunji Akinosi, member of the House of Representatives representing Ado-Odo/Ota Federal Constituency, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan Yayi, Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, and His Royal Majesty, Oba (Professor) Abdulkabir Obalanlege, the Olota of Ota, to intervene and call the contractors to order.
The residents are urging these leaders to ensure that the contractors revert to the original plan and specifications, failure which they are ready to stage a protest to express their displeasure. They emphasized that they will not fold their arms and watch the contractors destroy their community with substandard work.
The reconstruction of the Ota-Idiroko road is a critical infrastructure project aimed at improving transportation and economic development in the region. However, the alleged deviation from the original plan and substandard work by the contractors have raised concerns over the project’s potential impact and benefits to the community.
