Residents of 16 communities under the Itesiwaju Omu Arogun Area Community Development Council in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have decried the lack of basic amenities that could ease their daily struggles and multiple taxation by the LGA officials.
Speaking with our correspondent at the combined Annual General Meeting of the communities on Sunday, the Chairman of the ACDC, Yemi Adebisi, disclosed that the communities had resorted to self-help for basic amenities such as motorable roads, public schools, and hospitals among others.
He further lamented that the LG officials had further compounded the woes of the residents through multiple levies and taxes which made life difficult for traders in the area.
Adebisi noted that the communities had contributed over N2m to fix some damaged portions of the linked road to the community.
He said, “We are faced with multiple taxations by agents of the Obafemi Owode Local Government who parade the shops and residences to demand various taxes. We want the LG chairman to look into this menace to ensure peace and tranquillity.
“We also implore both the state and local governments to remember our community by giving us the required infrastructure like schools, markets, good roads, and functional health centres.
“The ACDC was able to coordinate the palliative grading of the perennial waterlogged portion of the Mowe-Ofada Road (from AROGUN junction through Unity Estate, Omu Arire to Daluwon Gate), through the collective efforts of all the adjoining CDAs, donations from churches, establishments and individuals. The project cost about N2,600,000.”
Also speaking in an interview with our correspondent, the Secretary of the ACDC, Bamidele Famofo, noted that the waste management system in the communities has not been at par with global standards.
He decried the absence of a waste management system that could oversee the collection and disposal of waste generated in the communities which he stressed often contributes to flooding in the area.
When contacted, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, appealed to the communities to exercise patience stressing that “development is a process.”
He stressed that once the 2025 budget was approved, more communities would benefit from infrastructure development
“These communities should exercise patience with the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun because the government is a process and we cannot do everything at a time. We have recently commenced asphalt laying on Adesan Road within the same local government.
“There were previous administrations before us and if they had done enough, we wouldn’t be at this level, so we urged them to exercise patience. Once the 2025 budget is operationalised, more communities will enjoy infrastructure development,” Akinmade said.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area, Lanre Ogunsola, did not respond to calls made to his line by our correspondent for a reaction to the allegation of multiple taxation at the time of filing this report.
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