Bariga Community Alleges Neglect
Residents and community leaders in Bariga Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, South West Nigeria, have called on the council boss, Hon. Akeem Sulaiman, otherwise known as Oris, to channel his energy towards giving the council a face-lift.
They believe that seeking another political office in Abuja was an escape route from rendering account of over 10 years in office to them.
A community leader, Alhaji Oresanya and the youth leader, simply identified as Sowande, said Bariga LCDA is in dire need of urgent infrastructure renewal owing to the council’s neglect of such infrastructure, which could have enhanced the socio-economic status of the council, adding that the area is now a slum and haven of poverty.
“When the council is compared to its counterparts among the former old 20 local governments in the state like Surulere, Apapa, Ikeja, Yaba, Lagos Island, Ikorodu, Agege and even Oshodi, it is glaring that the LCDA remains an eyesore beside them all,†they said.
It is observed that the people of Bariga languish in acute poverty while nothing is being done to alleviate their plight. For several years, nothing seem to be working in the area as political office holders totally neglected the people.
Bariga is now home to bad roads, poor drainage facilities, and social disorder and poor infrastructure. This is as a result of the council not working to give the area a face-lift.
The houses are lined with dirty mosquito-infested gutters. A walk from Onasanya to Ayodele, Ifelodun and Bamiji Lawal streets, etc., would give a clear picture of the poor road network and drainage channel in the community.
A trip to schools within the area confirms to a first time visitor the appalling state of the learning environment; rickety tables and chairs, leaking roofs and in some cases none at all.
In spite of the huge funds allocated to the LCDA on a monthly basis by the Fashola-led administration to develop this community and improve the living standard of the people, there isn’t much to show for the huge funds the council receives.
According to them, Oris has been at the helm of affairs in the council since 2003Â when he came in as Executive Secretary, a transitional appointment.
All other roads within the Bariga community are either damaged or abandoned. It was alleged that that contracts were given to friends of the council boss who carried out shoddy jobs without being called to order.
The general decay in the communities that make up Bariga paints a picture of a council authority not sensitive to the plight of the people who voted them into office, the residents said. The people are crying and yearning for a change.
The Council boss’ phone was switched off when we called him. He also failed to respond to our text message seeking his reaction to the resdients’ complaints.
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