The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in Ogun State and some residents of the Sango-Ota area of the state, under the aegis of Ota Progressive Youth Initiative, protested on Wednesday, on the deplorable state of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta highway.
It will be recalled that the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, had promised that reconstruction work on the highway would cost the federal government a sum of N56billion.
The Minister hinted that work would commence on the very bad portion of the road early this month, with an assurance that the road would be completed by December.
The protesters vowed to shut down the state if the federal and state governments failed to work earnestly on the road within the next 21 days.
“Fix our roads, No good roads, No payment of tax,” “Repair our road with immediate effect or face the wrath of the masses,” “400 per cent hike in transport fare due to bad road,” “Our roads are death traps,” “Our taxes are meant for fixing the road, so what happens,” “Industries in Ota are relocating and closing down due to bad roads,” was in the placards carried by the protesters.
The protest left many motorists stranded.
The State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Bankole Emmanuel, wondered why nothing had been done on the road, despite the promise by Fashola.
“A few weeks back, the governor and minister were here, telling us that they will commence the reconstruction of the road.
“We are surprised that since when they came, not even a single tipper of gravel has been put on the road.
“This implies that they can’t do anything, they are just fooling us, they don’t have any plan for us.
“At this juncture, we need to need to withdraw our destiny from them.
“All these politicians don’t have any good plan for us, during the election, we voted for APC (All Progressives Congress) both at national and state levels so that they can bring peace into the country. But unfortunately, it continues getting worst day by day.
“If they want to defend themselves, they will start saying one is FG road, the other is State road, Did they tell us these before the election?
“Hence, we will give them 21 days ultimatum to start working on it or else, we will shut down the whole of Ogun State while everyone sit at home since they are not ready for us.
“Enough of this system of fooling, they know how to go to nooks and crannies during the campaign but, when roads are bad, they wouldn’t go there.
“Last time, they were saying they are not aware that the roads are bad as these, Since when they are aware, what have they done positively?
“We need them to know our minds. If we keep quiet, they wouldn’t do anything and that is why I’m calling on all citizens to let’s arise and face this struggle,” he said.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
NLC, residents protest deplorable state of Lagos
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state… NLC, residents protest deplorable state of Lagos
and then