Igando Community Seeks Govt Presence

Residents of Pacific Estate 1 in Akesan area of Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development  Area, Lagos State, South West Nigeria, have appealed to the state government, the Ministry  of Rural Development and Infrastructure and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Plc, to  make their presence felt in their community.

They stated that all the projects executed in the area so far were through self-help efforts  as all appeals made to the state and local governments as well as the ministry failed.

Speaking with Lagos Bulletin, Mr. Olayinka Adebayo, Chairman, Community Development  Association (CDA) in the area, said that for more than 20 years of the community’s  existence, it has not enjoyed a single benefit from the state government and its agencies.

He presented copy of a letter written to the Ministry of Rural Development and  Infrastructure, requesting for provision of a 500KVA transformer, adding that when the  request was not granted, the community had to pool its resources together to buy the  transformer.

Adebayo also said that the community had also written several letters to the local  government on the need for construction of drainage channels along the main roads in the  community to save the residents from flood, but without any response also.

The contents of the last letter to the local government dated June 2010 read: “Appeal for  construction of drainage systems along the major roads in our community.

“We hereby draw your attention to the fact that we appreciate your development efforts in  the Local Council Development Area in spite of all challenges.

“But our community is yet to receive any assistance from past administrations and based on  this, we have the belief that appealing to you in this area would yield good result.”

According to Adebayo, “our CDA has been in existence for about 20 years  and we have been  facing development challenges such as electricity, roads and security and these had prompted  us to write series of letters to the Ministry of Rural Development and Infrastructure and  Ikotun-Igando LCDA, but up till now there has been no response.

“Electricity supply to the community was through self-help project. We contributed money to  get a 500KVA transformer to put an end to the perpetual darkness in the community.

“We also graded roads in the community as we had called on the local government, even before  the LCDA was created, but all to no avail.

“Despite the fact that it did not grant our request, the council’s revenue officials have  been coming to collect taxes and levies from us, while PSP collectors are not left behind in  that regard.

“I am appealing to the state government to come to our rescue and make us benefit from the  dividends democracy as well to being part of its mega city dream.”

Corroborating the CDA chairman’s statement, Mr. Oliver Obute, Secretary to the Electricity  Committee, stated that despite the fact that the project was solely executed by the  community, officials of PHCN have been coming around to harass them, giving them crazy bills  and anyone that refuses to pay has his or her light disconnected.

Oliver added that the other areas where the community needs government presence include,  public health centre, market and school, stating that their children and wards have to go to  Badore or Igando to go to school, lamenting that some of them have been maimed while trying  to cross the highway.

He called on state government officials to pay a visit to the community for an on-the-spot  assessment, while also decrying the attitude of the Ikotun-Igando LCDA officials over  incessant harassment and extortion, which they also want government to address.