Residents of Akeem Oke Street, Igando, in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, have lamented the poor condition of the community road.The residents, who spoke to our correspondent, said efforts to rehabilitate the road through communal effort for years had yielded little result, adding that the road always deteriorated whenever it rained.

A resident, Emmanuel Olawale, appealed to the government to reconstruct the road.

He said, “Akeem Oke Street is not tarred because both local and state governments consider it a local road. When rain falls, just come and see what we face because the road will be impassable and we say we have a councillor and a local government chairman.

“Akeem Oke Road is a major point through which residents of this community enter into their streets. It links Oyo Alaafin, Bamidele, Alhaji Lasisi and even ThankGod Close.

“The government only remembers this area whenever it’s election time and it is not fair. I don’t even know who the local government chairman is, not to talk of the councillor of this area, yet they exist. They have abandoned us to our fate. Alimosho local government and the Lagos State Government should please help us.”Our correspondent, who visited the area, observed that the road was not motorable.

A motorcycle rider, Nwonga Christopher, told newsmen that there was no evidence of government’s presence in the community.

He said, “I experience a lot of hardship during the rainy season. Sometimes, when I carry passengers, we fall because the road is bad. Government acts as if we don’t exist here. Imagine, Igando General Hospital is opposite this place and the government left us alone.

“Sometimes, Okada riders and some residents gather stones and sand and pour on the road to make it passable. They should do something.”

Another resident, Mary Olasupo, said, “They don’t care about us; they always come to get votes during elections. It is people who live here that do everything for themselves without help from the government.”

The Alimosho Local Government Area Chairman, Jelili Sulaimon, did not take his calls, which rang out.

A text message sent to him was also not replied to as of press time.The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, urged the residents to write a proposal to the government on the situation.

He said, “There are over 9,600 roads in Lagos and the government is doing a lot in fixing and maintaining them. Road construction is not what can just be done in a day; it takes time.

“Communities that have issues of road and other

amenities should write proposals and send them to the appropriate ministry for action.”