Epe, one the divisions in Lagos State, which had for a long time been on the wrong side of development index in the state, is gradually wearing a new look. The governor has helped many people through his various projects.
Until recently, people in the local council area were struggling to survive without basic amenities such as potable water, good roads, electricity and functional health centres.
In the last few years, the city had languished under the heavy yoke of bad roads and the twin problem of flooding and erosion. All past efforts at addressing this sore had ended in a fiasco, as most of the works were badly done by local contractors. A good number of those who hold sway as governor and public office-holders in the State during the locust era of the military, and the current civil rule, did their best to the gnawing problem of development and the rot in the town.
Top government officials had always explained the failure of the government to address the plight of the town on the premise that Epe is an ancient town whose plan is lacking in adequate implementation. They even believed that the past administration would provide them with all basic amenities but it is disheartening to note that their hopes and aspirations were dashed by those past administrations through paying lip service to their predicament.
However, the story of the ancient town is changing. At the inception of his administration on May 29, 2015, Governor Ambode promised the Epe citizenry that his administration would pay attention to the challenges of wresting Epe from infrastructural decay, flooding and erosion identified as the loudest sources of misery to the inhabitants of the town.
He restated his resolve to ensure a holistic implementation of the Epe Master Plan, reputed to be one of the most badly mauled plans in the country. He was alarmed at the magnitude of impunity with which the Epe MP was violated during his first major inspection tour of areas dilapidated by the flood and erosion, in the state.
He was shocked that the same residents of the town, who complained about the menace of flooding and erosion had constructed structures, kiosks and containers to block the natural drains constructed by the founders of the town. During one of the visits to Aiyetoro market, Ita-Opo, T-Junction, Oloja Estate, Papa, Agric and other areas of the town last year, Ambode promised that all illegal structures blocking the moth would be pulled down in the interest of the citizens, including his abode which he did in order to pave way for motorable roads.
Although not quite a number of people believed the governor then, he has commenced the process in earnest to remove the shameful scar of rot from the town. He has also taken some practical steps to fulfill his promise to recreate the exploits of Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State in Epe. He seems to be drawing his inspiration from the transforming effect of creative governance in Lagos city as shown by the conversion of Oshodi from a centre of filth and crime to a welcoming centre.
In the past fifteen months now, Epe residents have witnessed the noticeable impact of governmental presence.
The loudest indication of Ambode’s determination to fulfill his promise to make Epe town a modern metropolis in the new face of the city centre popularly referred to as Lagos Road/Aiyetoro/Ita-Opo Road, Papa, Agric and other major roads in Epe Local Government Area of the state.
The Lagos Road/Aiyetoro/Ita-Opo, which was the busy, rough and crowded areas of the town usually avoided by motorists, has been cleared of illegal structures, motor parks and shanty stalls of traders and others to create the present environment that baffles even the worst skeptics of government’s professed intentions. A new face of six-lane roads has returned to the area. For the first time in the history of the State, the usually narrow roads of the town have been stripped of the contending structures, which had made their desired expansion a tall dream.
There is also the expected building of overhead bridge and also pedestrian bridge at Aiyetoro Market and Ita-Opo for the people to avoid being knocked down while crossing the roads by motorists.
The seriousness of the exercise is underscored by the fact that the government has demolished structures that were erstwhile referred to as “untouchable.” These are structures that belong to very powerful institutions, the wealthy and the influential class in the State and Federal Government. The determination of the administration to enforce total compliance with the government’s right of way and expansion of major roads to give the town a new face lift is clearly indicated by the successful demolition of banks structures at Aiyetoro. Even Epe-Town Hall was also affected while Epe Central Mosque’s fence was demolished.
Ademola Orunbon,
Lagos.