20th October, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state has promised to complete payment of compensations due to owners of properties whose houses gave way for the ongoing road constructions across the state before the completion of those roads.
The governor made the pledge while addressing people of Ayetoro in Yewa North local government area of the state during his on the spot assessment tour of the local government area last week. Amosun further explained that the least compensation paid was 50 per cent of the total amount.
The governor, who disclosed that many people have collected up to 90 per cent of the compensation, explained that every property owner will be paid before the completion of the roads across the state.
Except the Ibara/Totoro/Oke-Sokori road in Abeokuta, Amosun said what is administration has done is to make the road passable, adding that, the contractors will soon begin the final asphalt laying on other roads.
“I want to thank all our fathers and mothers whose houses were demolished during the road construction, it was because of development and I have been told some of us are yet to get our compensation, continue praying for us, we still have some people in Abeokuta, Ijebu and Sagamu who have not been fully paid, but we’ve paid up to 90 per cent and are not resting on our oars.
“All these roads you are looking at, as beautiful as they are, it is in layers and we are not going to do sub-standard work. As beautiful as these roads are, we still have the final layer called the nylon layer to be done on all the roads in Ogun state, except the Totoro road, we still have one layer left and that will be done soon, our
target is to build a road that will last for about 40 years.
“It is the nylon layer, wearing cost or protective layer that will prevent the road from damage and we will soon do that. On all roads, there is still one more layer to go and before we will do that, we will make sure everyone is paid,” Amosun assured.
The governor explained that his determination to put the roads in proper shape was borne out of the need to industrialise the state, adding that, no industry will want to invest without proper infrastructures in place.
“One thing is that our road network is not good and not until we do all these infrastructural uplift, no development will come to our area, I am happy with the level of the road in our area and I can assure you, we will do other things and with this, development will come.
“Ogun West is our agricultural belt and gradually we are going back to the basis and once we get to where we should be, everybody will have something doing. The era of youths unemployment will be over, when you
go round, you will see all these farm settlements, well thought out by our fore fathers, but somehow, we dropped the ball and that is why today you’ll see people going round without any work to do.
“Whenever the industrialists approach us, I want to assure you, your interests will be protected, we are Ogun state, procedures must be followed, laws must be adhere to and we will strive hard to get it right,” the governor assured.