Ogun community seeks construction of damaged drainage

The residents of the Adiyan-Orudu Gasline community in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State have called on the Nigerian Gas Company to help them tackle the menace of floods and the lack of drainage system that is ravaging the community.

The residents who expressed readiness to fix the road by themselves specifically sought the consent of the company to supervise the project, noting that their technicians were the ones who could properly guide them on how to dig the drainage, in order not to cause any damage to the gas pipes under the ground.

The community leaders, in a letter dated January 25, 2022, and addressed to the Managing Director, Nigerian Gas Company, Warri, Delta State, highlighted the hardships they were facing due to the bad roads in Adiyan-Orudu, Gasline Bus Stop.

They also stated that the road had become a death trap for motorists and residents.
The letter was written by the Temidire Olomowewe Gasline Area Community Development Committee and co-signed by the General Secretary, Elder Kolawole Akinbodun, Chief Peter Akanji, Chairman and Elder R.O. Awe, the Ifo Zonal Vice Chairman.

It partly read, “We write to request your approval, support and supervision of water drainage channelisation along Adiyan-Orudu road, Gasline Bus Stop to alleviate the suffering of our community members during rainy seasons. It is always difficult to have a thorough passage of the road during rainy periods as the area is always flooded with water and muddy sands, creating impediments to smooth movement and business transactions along the axis.

“We believe that if the channelisation of the water drainage is being thoroughly carried out under your keen supervision, easy passage and transaction will be better in the area.”
The committee however lamented that it had yet to get any response from the Nigerian Gas Company, even as the road continued to deteriorate despite communal efforts by some concerned residents to continually fill it with broken blocks, granites and sand.

They claimed that commercial and vehicular activities had been paralysed on the road, particularly during rainy seasons, adding that many business owners had relocated.

They added that vehicle owners now sought alternative routes while groaning on the negative impacts of the roads on their vehicles, and the high maintenance cost.

Some residents who spoke to PUNCH Metro on Thursday said there had been many casualties on the road during rainy periods, noting that most of the victims were schoolchildren.
A 51-year-old indigene of Adiyan-Orudu Gasline, Jamiu Jooda, said vehicular movements were always on a halt during rainy periods, as residents resorted to trekking.

“Some people will not be able to return, while others get home as late as 1 am. The flooding problem is very terrible, and as a community, we have been doing our best, but we seriously need help to find a lasting solution to the issue. We have written several letters, but no response. We are even ready to sponsor the construction of the drainage, but we need approval from the appropriate quarters. A lot of the people have lost their cars to the flood here, while others have been selling their houses to relocate,” Jooda said.

He further noted that the community required two drainage channels; one at the Gasline junction leading to Matogun Road, and the second one on the other side leading to Olaogun, adding that both drainage won’t be more than five metres in length, but would ameliorate the crisis by redirecting the flood ravaging the roads to the appropriate channels.
An electrical engineer in the area, Bamiji Oludimu, said the flood crisis had spanned 27 years since he moved into the community.

“A few individuals have spent millions of naira from their hard-earned money to fill the roads with sand, at least to make it a bit passable, but until we have those drainages at the Adiyan junction, all the efforts will continue to end in futility. The situation became worse this year, and that is why we are calling on the Nigerian Gas Company to please show mercy on us because it’s frustrating,” he said.

Another resident, Segun Olanrewaju, said the flood issue had crippled business activities in the area.

According to him, boarding a commercial bus from Agbado to the area now costs N1,000.

He said, “Ordinarily, the fare is not supposed to be more than N300, but the bus operators said they have no choice, considering the damages the roads usually cause to their vehicles. People are suffering here.”

When contacted, the company’s liaison officer identified simply as Elder S.Tejuosho said the company disapproved of the request of the community.

He said, “I told the Nigerian Gas Company and they did not permit them. There is nothing the community can do about it. I have told the community leaders. There is no way about it.”