However, the governor, just like he did in other suburbs, beamed his searchlight on Epe, the community that had suffered neglect from successive administrations before him.
In any case, the transformation agenda in Epe and its environs took higher leaps, as a result of the expansion of Epe-Mojoda-Ijebu-Ode road, in addition to the proposed dualisation of Ikorodu-Epe Road, through Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the 49-year-old road was made known by Governor Ambode during the inauguration of the newly-constructed Epe Township Road, before the new twist in the Lagos polity.
What makes Epe unique is with its location. For example, it’s no longer necessary for those living in Ikoyi, Victoria Island or Lagos Island, who may want to go to Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode, Benin or Ore, even, other eastern states to go through Ojota or Lagos-Ibadan Highway. Rather, Epe provides a shorter alternative, not only in terms of time spent, but also the smoothness the route provides. All these are courtesy of Ambode’s transformation programmes in Epe and its environs.
The Epe-Mojoda-Ijebu Ode road dualisation, according to a senior official in the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, is a three-phased project, with the first phase starting from Oke-Osho-Temu-Odomola already completed.
Similarly, the second phase, Odomola-Mojoda axis is also completed.
“To complement the Epe township road, another road project, the Oke-Osho-Araga-Poka, that linked Ijebu Ode road, is a shortcut for those coming from Ajah and Ikorodu axis. It provides alternative to those who may not have anything to do in Epe by connecting Ijebu-Ode at Poka.
“The third phase that links Epe with Ijebu-Ode-Shagamu highway is expected to commence any moment from now, barring any untoward development,” said the ministry official who does not want his name in print.
What could have hastened the completion of Mojoda-Ijebu-Ode axis is the proposed collaboration between the Ogun State government and its Lagos State counterpart.
“Unfortunately, response from the Ogun State government, on whose boundary the uncompleted portion falls, has not been forthcoming in terms of commitment,” the senior ministry official in Lagos confided in the Nigerian Tribune.
However, the recent development in the polity, whereby the incumbent governor could not get the ticket of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), for the second term in office has been a source of apprehension among residents, commuters and other relevant stakeholders in Epe and the adjoining communities.
One of the leaders who touched on the issue of the ongoing development in the area, Senator Anthony Adefuye, while urging the APC candidate not to abandon the ongoing projects, especially in Epe, stated that it’s natural to support Ambode, “because he’s our son.”
“The incoming governor, by the grace of God, we plead with you to ensure continuity. Just as we supported Ambode, we would have supported you if you were from the same community. But now that God has changed the equation, count on us from the zone that you will get our full support. The ongoing transformation programmes, particularly road projects, should not be abandoned,” Senator Adefuye pleaded.
Sanwo-Olu, at the event, gave his commitment that if voted into office, his administration would not brook project abandonment.
“The past has gone. We are all moving forward. It is my intention to serve every community, every Lagosian as much as possible. No vengeance; no bad blood,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
Speaking in the same vein, another resident who lives in Mojoda, Chief Kanmi Ishola, also expressed fear over the Epe-Ijebu-Ode Road for facing the possibility of partial abandonment, if not total, except something extraordinary happens.
“This project is part of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s contribution to scale-up the socioeconomic integration of the South-West region on one hand and to open Epe township and its environs to local and international investors, who would be keen to take advantage of the ongoing transformation of Ibeju-Lekki axis, which is currently being turned into an industrial hub,” he said, urging the completion of the project as scheduled.
To Mr Lekan Durojaiye, another resident of Poka, the road project is the best thing that had happened to Epe in recent years.
“Though, gradually, and consistently, Epe township and its environ can no longer be described as purely rural settlement due to the transformation we are witnessing today.”
This axis now has a huge prospect of becoming a ‘metropolis of a sort’, in view of what urban and regional experts attribute to the “unprecedented infrastructural transformation embarked upon by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode,” he said.
This fear of non-continuation of the project was escalated over the last one month, as indigenous residents have been bemoaning the fate that may befall some of the ongoing projects.
The stretch of road from Odogbawojo, Odolewu, Iloti up to Imobi is in a terrible condition. When Nigerian Tribune visited the route, it was a nightmare to navigate through on many occasions. Incoming vehicles have to park away from main road to allow those from the opposite direction to pass.
Dotting the stretch of the road are bad spots developed from just potholes to gully, craters and all sorts. The situation was made worse as a result of concentration of articulated vehicles along the route. Just like ItoIkin-Epe route, the menace of tankers, trailers, trucks and other related high capacity vehicles has turned these once good roads into death traps.
Mostly affected are the cars whose exhaust pipes are prone to perforation, or sometime get dismantled as a result of bad portions.
“Trailers and other articulated vehicles are making things difficult for us, especially, in the night. The drivers of these vehicles have the tendency of making things difficult, as they occupy the fairly smooth portion of the road, leaving us at their mercy,” lamented Mr Debayo Hakeem, a teacher at the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCOPED), Noforija.
Pastor Akinrinsola, who said he had spent over 46 years in Epe expressed reservation over the possibility of continuity of the project, saying project continuity is allien to the Nigerian political office holders.
“How I wish the incoming administration would continue where Ambode’s administration will stop. We would be glad if these road projects and other similar development programmes are completed,” pleaded the cleric.
From transport operators, completion of Mojoda-Ijebu-Ode Road will be a great blessing for their business.
Comrade Jimoh Alagbala, who is member of the Nigerian Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, said commuting from Epe to Mojoda is much pleasurable. “ But from Mojoda to Ijebu-Ode is much of a contrast.
“Ordinarily, Epe to Ijebu-Ode shouldnt take more than between 30-40 minutes, but now takes an average of between one and half to two hours”.
Another driver, Mr. Keinde Ajayi, attributed the hike in transport fare to two factors, namely the time spent per trip and the rate at which vehicles are depreciating.
“ We saw the construction of this road as a milestone project. Not only we transporters, but private vehicle owners. But our fear arose from the wide spread rumours that Ambode had terminated the contract at Mojoda, as a result of lack of cooperation between Lagos and Ogun States”, said Ajayi, urging the incoming administration, be it the APC, or PDP, or any other political party to ensure the completion of the road project.
Although, enquiry from the Contractor handling the project, Messrs Craneburg Nigerian Limited, yielded little result, as the official with the company refused to speak on whether the project is ongoing or stopped at Mojoda or not.
“Its only the Lagos state government that can speak in the issue you raised. Our is to work when contract is awarded”, responded the official who directed Nigerian Tribune to the Works Ministry for clarification.
Today, someone who may have left Epe for some years will be amazed with the development that has taking place.
Reconstruction of Epe Township roads is already attracting new businesses, especially, financial institutions that include five major banks.
Apart from banks, observers believed that other investments are in the pipeline, with investors seeking space within the town.
The complimentary project was the Ikorodu-ItoIkin-Epe road, which the current administration is planing to make it a six-lane expressway. The project in question, is the second phase of urban renewal programmes designed for the Epe axis.
“It signal efforts aiming at further open up the area, whereby the 6-lane express road will provide viable alternative routes to Lekki-Eti-Osa-Epe expressway which will witness increased vehicular movements resulting from industrial activities at the Lekki Free Trade Zone”, said Ambode, during one of his promises while commissioning the newly reconstructed Epe Chalets.
and then