Residents of Unity Estate, Egbedore Local Government of Osun State, on Monday staged a peaceful protested over alleged abandonment of their road by the contractor awarded the project.
The over 2-kilometer road, which spans from Halleluyah Estate to the community, was awarded during the administration of former governor Gboyega Oyetola.
According to a signpost at the entrance of Halleluya Estate where the road started, the contract was awarded to Moshula Nigeria Limited.
Although the contractor has done part of the road, however, the road at Unity Estate has not been touched with only the drainage constructed.
However, some of the drainage done at Unity Estate has already been damaged, with residents attributing it to the poor quality of materials used.
The residents who carried placards with inscriptions such as: ‘Government come to our aid’, ‘The contractor ‘Moshula has failed us’, ‘Moshula fix our road you’re paid’, ‘Abandoned road, forgotten people’, accused the contractor employed by the state government of abandoning the project.
The chairman of the Community’s Development Association, Mr Taofeek Shehu, while addressing journalists, said apart from abandoning the project, the drainage done by the contractor was of low quality with some parts also damaged.
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Shehu said the poor condition of the road is affecting businesses in the environment, adding that residents of the area could no longer use their vehicles.
He said, “The road project was awarded by former governor Gboyega Oyetola in 2022. When the present administration came on board, Governor Ademola Adeleke asked the contractor to continue work on the road.
“However, since the present administration came in, the contractor has not been forthcoming. He has abandoned the work and the little one he did is substandard. The drainage has been washed away. The road is an eyesore now.
“The road has caused a lot of damage to our vehicles, and it’s really affecting our businesses as motorcyclists no longer ply our area. This is why we are out today to beg the state government to pity us and tell the contractor to come back to the site.”
Shehu, while appealing to Governor Adeleke to come to their aid and order the contractor back to the site, said, “This road connects a lot of areas, and we are appealing to the state government to come to our aid. We heard that the contractor is boasting that he won’t come back to site because he is the governor’s inlaw.
“The contractor should come back and finish the job. He should also come and rectify the shoddy job he did before. We are law-abiding citizens in the community, and we hope to enjoy the dividend of democracy. The government should come to our aid.”
When contacted, the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, said the government is aware of the situation.
He said, “We are aware of it and we have invited the Contractor for a meeting.”
