Ota Bridge: Uncompleted project that shows shame
Following the great noise that accompanied the inauguration of the bridge, Oodua Trust visited the bridge last week to find out why the inauguration of the one-time abandoned bridge could suddenly become a bone of contention and investigations revealed that to have inaugurated this bridge in its present state is tantamount to commissioning an uncompleted […]
Following the great noise that accompanied the inauguration of the bridge, Oodua Trust visited the bridge last week to find out why the inauguration of the one-time abandoned bridge could suddenly become a bone of contention and investigations revealed that to have inaugurated this bridge in its present state is tantamount to commissioning an uncompleted project.
When our correspondent visited the bridge people around complained that the necessary last layer of asphalt was not put on the overhead-bridge, there is no security light to illuminate the ever busy junction on this highway and both ends of the bridge are an eyesore and a great disservice on the part of the Federal Ministry of Works to the nation.
Alhaji Raimi Ayinla, a resident of Ota, complained that the Ministry of Works ought to have ensured that all the bad spots that lead to the bridge have been taken care of before it was inaugurated. “We are not pleased with the rush to inaugurated the bridge. The Lagos motor park side, for instance, is an eyesore. The place is full of pot holes and the situation will rubbish the achievement of the federal government on the overhead bridge,” Alhaji Ayinla reacted.
Equally, chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Sango chapter, Mr. Musiliu Anibaba, whose members thronged the venue of the inauguration of the bridge, corroborated Ayinla’s view. Anibaba who spoke in Yoruba said, “We want a better job done on the bridge. We are not engineers but judging by the bridge that was commissioned recently in Lagos; we know this Ota bridge is not a standard job. It is not okay as it is presently,” he declared.
While arguing that having effective drainage system beside the bridge is essential to preventing flooding and damage to the road under the bridge, Mrs. Morenike Aina berated the contractor, Messrs Julius Berger Plc for putting the type of existing drainage beside the bridge.
She said, “We all know that Nigeria is a country where anything goes before commissioning of a project even if such deliberate action which some of us wrongly referred to as an oversight will affect a whole community. I don’t think the type of drainage beside this bridge is what befits its surrounding with the billions of naira the project has gulped.”
Mrs. Aina stressed that she would have loved to see that the entire project within the Ota junction of the expressway was completed before commissioning. She argued that Governor Gbenga Daniel and the Speaker. Dimeji Bankole, ought not fight over the bridge because the bridge and the road leading to it lacked all the necessary features required of a standard expressway.
On his part, Oba Moshood Osanyintola Oyede, the Olota of Ota, told this reporter that personally he is happy over the inauguration of the bridge at this time. He said residents of the industrial axis of Ogun State have waited so long for the government to complete and inaugurate the bridge for use by members of the public.
The traditional ruler explained that his major happiness over the bridge’s inauguration was that many big companies, which have relocated elsewhere when they could no longer cope with the incurring heavy loss due to the bad shape of the only access road to the ancient town, will begin to return to the area. “Their return will boost commercial activities in the community and the state at large,” the Oba explained.
He also pointed out the need by the contractor, to put finishing touches on the various bad portions on the highway, advocating unhindered vehicular movement at the inter-state road junction. Also, Baale (Community leader) of Sango, Chief Ebenezer Akilo, expressed happiness that at last, the bridge was opened for public use. He however complained that there is still much work to be done on the bridge and on different roads in the area. “The non-commissioning of the bridge in time had put pressure on all the roads that served as by-passes for motorists on the highway and today, none of these by-passes is motorable again. We’re appealing to Ogun State government to come and put these roads in order,” the Baale pleaded.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Works, Senator Sanusi Daggash, in his speech during the inauguration ceremony of the bridge, said the third phase of the project would commence in the next two months, to pave way for the completion of the road project. “In the next two months, the third phase of the project will start. It will not be delayed like the second phase. This is important for the benefits of all Nigerians passing through this road,” the Minister assured.
Oodua Trust recalls that on the day of the bridge’s inauguration, the day’s programme had kicked off before the arrival of the Speaker. But Governor Gbenga Daniel had been around on time in company of a large entourage from the state capital, Abeokuta, the host state of the Speaker.
The Minister of Works, Sanusi Daggash and his Minster of State in the Ministry, Osa Ogiemwonyi, the governor, invited traditional rulers, community and political leaders from across the state including thousands of residents of Sango/Ota and the neighbouring communities, were around to witness the historic commissioning of the one-time abandoned bridge.
People started sensing that the ceremony would not end well as Governor Daniel spent some time delivering speech which did not seem to favour of the Speaker before his arrival. Although the governor’s speech was received with mixed reactions by the people around as he alleged that the Speaker’s involvement in the commissioning of the bridge was not necessary.