By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State stands today as one of the most economically vibrant industrial corridors in Nigeria. From factories and manufacturing clusters to bustling markets and commercial activities, the area contributes enormously to the internally generated revenue of the state and the economic vitality of the country.
Yet, in the midst of such contribution, the people of Ado-Odo/Ota are forced to grapple with roads that do not reflect their importance in the national economy.
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The ongoing construction of the ECOWAS Road, expected to bring relief and open up economic opportunities, has unfortunately raised serious questions about quality, planning, and long-term sustainability. What should have been a landmark infrastructure project risks becoming another disappointing chapter in the history of road development in the local government.
During a recent inspection across several communities in Ado-Odo/Ota, DDNewsonline observed troubling realities. In some sections, drainage structures appear inadequate, road finishing raises concerns, and residents fear that the road may begin to deteriorate even before it fully settles.
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The project, reportedly handled by Laralek Ultimate Construction Company, has been praised in some quarters as a major intervention. However, infrastructure must be judged not by press releases or political celebrations but by engineering standards, durability, and the value it ultimately delivers to the people.
If the ECOWAS Road is meant to serve as a major economic artery linking communities and supporting industrial movement, then it must meet the highest standards of road construction.
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Sadly, the current state of many roads within Ado-Odo/Ota already tells a painful story. Take Ilogbo Road, for example, a critical local government road that has remained in deplorable condition for years despite serving thousands of residents daily. The neglect of such roads has already slowed economic activity and increased transportation costs for residents.
If federal projects like the ECOWAS Road also begin to mirror the same shortcomings, then the people of Ado-Odo/Ota may once again be left with infrastructure that fails to serve its intended purpose.
The contrast becomes even more glaring when compared to projects such as the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, where clearer structural planning and stronger construction standards are evident. It raises a legitimate question: why should communities that contribute significantly to the nation’s economic productivity receive infrastructure that appears inferior?
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Infrastructure development should not be about politics or optics. It should be about fairness, accountability, and the responsible use of public funds. Beyond construction quality, there is also the troubling concern raised by residents regarding the limited involvement of local skilled workers in the project. A community whose land hosts such a major development should naturally benefit from employment opportunities created by it. Excluding local talent only deepens the feeling of marginalization among residents.
This editorial therefore calls on the sons and daughters of Awori land traditional rulers, chiefs, Baales, political leaders, youth organizations, and community stakeholders to rise above partisan divisions and demand accountability in the interest of future generations.
Silence in the face of questionable development is not loyalty; it is complicity. We also urge the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, alongside relevant federal and state authorities, to urgently review the ECOWAS Road project within Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government.
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Any aspect of the construction that falls short of acceptable engineering standards must be corrected immediately. Public infrastructure must never become a monument to waste or poor planning.
Ado-Odo/Ota deserves roads that match its economic strength, not projects that may become another burden for the people within a few rainy seasons.
Development must not merely exist on paper or in political speeches; it must be visible, durable, and beneficial to the people whose lives it is meant to improve.
The people of Ado-Odo/Ota have done their part in contributing to the growth of Ogun State and Nigeria.
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Now it is time for government and contractors to do theirs.
The whistle has not yet blown-but the people are watching.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
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