Adiyan-Orudu residents cry out over bad roads, seek approval to construct flood drainage
The residents of Adiyan-Orudu Gasline community in Ifo Local Government area of Ogun State have called on the Nigerian Gas Company to come to their aid in tackling the menace of flood and lack of drainage system that is ravaging the community.
In a letter dated 25 January, 2022 addressed to the Managing Director, Nigerian Gas Company, Warri, Delta State, leaders of the community highlighted the hardships they’re facing as a result of the bad roads in Adiyan-Orudu, Gasline bus stop, which has become a death trap for motorists and residents.
The letter was written on the letterhead of the Temidire Olomowewe Gasline Area Community Development Committee (TOGAS) and co-signed by the General Secretary, Elder Kolawole Akinbodun, Chief Peter Akanji -Chairman and Elder R.O. Awe, the Ifo Zonal Vice Chairman.
Part of the letter reads: “We write to request for your approval, support and supervision of water drainage channelization along Adiyan-Orudu road, Gasline bus stop to alleviate the suffering of our community members during rainy seasons. It is always difficult to have through passage of the road during rainy periods as the area is always flooded with water and muddy sands, which always create impediments to smooth movement and business transactions along the axis.
“It is our belief that if the channelization of the water drainage is being thoroughly carried out under your keen supervision, easy passage and transaction will be better in the area.”
But two years later, the community is yet to get any response from the Nigerian Gas Company, even as the road continues to deteriorate despite communal efforts by some concerned residents to continually fill the roads with broken blocks, granites and sand.
Commercial and vehicular activities have paralyzed on the road, particularly during rainy seasons, as many business owners have relocated, while vehicle owners seek alternative routes and groan on the negative impacts of the roads on their vehicles, and the high cost of maintenance.
Some of the residents who spoke with our Reporter said there have been many casualties on the road during rainy periods. They noted that most of the victims are children going or returning from school.
Mr Jamiu Jooda a.k.a Ijaya, a 51 year-old indigene of Adiyan-Orudu Gasline said all vehicular movements are always on halt during rainy periods, as residents usually trek from the area to Agbado, a distance that is quite far.
“In fact, some people will not be able to come back, while others get back home as late as 1am. 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 Nigerian Gas Company. A lot of 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 requires two drainages; one at the Gasline junction leading to Matogun road, and the second one on the other side leading to Olaogun. Both drainages, according to on-the-spot assessment, won’t be more than five meters in length, but will ameliorate the crisis by redirecting the flood ravaging the roads to the appropriate channels.
The community leaders noted that they’re seeking the consent of the Nigerian Gas Company to supervise the project because it is their technicians who can properly guide them on how to dig the drainage, in order not to cause any damage to the gas pipes under the ground.
“They’re the ones who know the positioning of their gas pipes, and we are mindful of that. That is why we are pleading with them to honour our request for this problem to be solved once and for all,” Jooda added.
According to Mr Bamiji Oludimu, an Electrical Engineer residing in the area, “we have been battling with this flood crisis since 27 years that I moved to this community. A few individuals have spent millions of naira from their hard earned money to fill the roads with sands, 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. In fact, 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 really frustrating.”
In his own submission, Mr Segun Olanrewaju said business activities in the area have continued to nosedive, no thanks to the flood issue. He added that “Taking a commercial bus from Agbado to this place now costs N1,000. 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 really suffering here.”