LSPWC, Stakeholders Strategise On Imota Asphalt Plant

The Lagos State Public Works Corporation has engaged stakeholders on its plan to establish an asphalt production plant at Imota as directed by the State Executive Council. At a meeting with the owners of the land and members of the community where the plant is to be located on Thursday, the Executive Chairman, LSPWC, Mr. Gbenga Akintola, addressed the concerns of the indigenous land owners, who said they had not been treated well by the government over the acquisition of the two-hectare land and its allocation to the corporation for the purpose of establishment of the asphalt plant. Akintola, according to a statement by the Head of Public Relations, LSPWC, Mr. Samuel Ayetutu, explained that the state government had only demonstrated its commitment to developing Imota by locating the plant in the area, given that many other communities were clamouring for it. He said the corporation had always approached issues with utmost professionalism and would, therefore, not engage in any dispute with any group of persons in the course of discharging its statutory responsibility.

He said when established, the plant would enable the corporation maintain over 400 roads within the Ikorodu-Epe axis this year, while Imota, being the host community, would directly reap the gains of a regenerated environment, job opportunities for the youth, boost in commercial activities in the area, as well as other multiplier benefits. While persuading his subjects to embrace the project by making necessary sacrifices for the progress and development of the community, the traditional ruler of Imota Land, Oba Ajibade Bakare-Agoro, appealed to the state government to look into issues raised by the land owners concerning the project, as they appeared not to have been carried along when the land was being acquired.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, Imota Local Council Development Authority, Mr. Ibikunle Adebogun, advised the concerned land owners not to let a project with such developmental impact elude the community, noting that the rice mill established by state government was the only thing that the community was known for outside the country. A concerned stakeholder, Mr. Folami Kehinde, said even though the people were willing to support the project, the way and manner the land was acquired suggested that the indigenes were not adequately carried along.

Others who spoke at the meeting included the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria in Imota, Primate O. A. Odu, Mr. Bola Idowu, and Mrs. Rashidat Akinyemi, who all called for another meeting of the stakeholders in order to iron out all issues connected with the land.

At the end of the meeting, the management of LSPWC and the stakeholders agreed to hold more meetings on the project in order to ensure a smooth take-off since there was no controversy about the location of the project in Imota.