Infrastructure Decay: Riverview Estate Residents Appeal To Amosun

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun

In the face of decaying infrastructure and incessant battle with flooding, the residents of Riverview Estate, Isheri, Ogun State, have appealed to the state government to come to their aid.

In a letter dated January 10, 2014, and signed by Mr. Abayomi Akinde and Mr. Andrew Igocheson, the chairman and assistant secretary respectively, the residents said they found it necessary to call the attention of the governor to their situation.

“Since we began living in the estate five years ago, it has been a harrowing experience for both the residents and workers in companies located within the estate,” they said.

According to the residents, the most challenging problem they are facing is the deplorable condition of the roads and drainages.

They said the governor’s attention had earlier been drawn to the situation through letters, while representations to key officials of the state government had yielded no results.

“The only passable earth road in Area 1, which connects other parts of the estate, is maintained annually at huge cost to the residents in order to have access to our houses. Even officials of the Bureau for Lands and Survey, who visit the estate for survey work, are only able to do so using the road constructed by us,” the residents stated.

Among other things, they appealed to the government to provide drainages and roads, pipe borne water, second access road and a police station for the estate.

According to the residents, huge revenues are being generated by the government from approvals and sundry levies from the state, hence the need to put some amenities in place.

“The potential of this estate is enormous in generating revenue to the government; a number of companies are lining up to take advantage of its proximity to Lagos,” the letter read in part.

The association has also suggested to the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) strategies that can help control flooding in the estate and its environs as a result of the unpredictable flow of the Oyan and Ogun rivers.

In a letter to OORBDA, the association said, “We will like to suggest that particular attention be paid to the Ikere Gorge Dam due to its massive nature and the fact that it remains un-gated. Measures should be put in place to ensure that irrespective of who is at the helm, the present arrangement of early and pre-emptive release of water is sustained.”

Source PUNCH.