The Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Commerce and Industry has been urged to influence speedy reconstruction of roads and control of traffic, to further facilitate ease of doing business in the state.
The Group Executive Director of Chivita Group of Companies, Jerome Shogbon, made the plea when the House Committee led by its Chairman, Jude Idimogu, visited the company on Friday on oversight function.
Shogbon told the lawmakers that the deplorable state of some roads had been a challenge, not only to business activities, but also commuters plying the areas.
The businessman said that Chivita Avenue in Oshodi Isolo area needed government attention to boost commercial activities in the area.
“The main challenge confronting the company’s commerce is the deplorable state of the main road which connects it (the company) to other routes in the area.
“We plead with you to use your good office to facilitate the total overhaul of this road.
“A visit to this axis in the peak period will help you assess the challenge better; everywhere will be locked down coupled with the waste of time.
“At times, our staff park as far as Ejigbo Junction in the morning while coming to work.
“We need support from the government in respect of the road, if there is an emergency, such that needs quick medical attention, the gridlock here might debar such person the needed attention.
“We don’t mind paying money; accessing our place of commerce must be made easy, we have even offered to bear the cost of the materials for the repair,” he said.
According to him, the issue of traffic in Lagos is hellish, and it is time the assembly discusses with the executive arm on the need to have coastal roads, so as to take care of the traffic since there is no light rail.
He said that the company had not defaulted in the payment of taxes and its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the state.
Shogbon said that the road which ought to be the state government’s responsibility was left unattended to.
According to him, after the completion of a bridge close to the company, several efforts have been made to call the attention of government to address the problem of reconstructing the road.
He said that the company had written several letters and reminders, all to no avail.
Shogbon, who decried motorists’ indiscipline and disregard for traffic rules, urged Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode to pay unscheduled visit to flash points of traffic in the state like his predecessor, Mr Babatunde Fashola.
“Indiscipline in Lagos State should be dealt with; it was not like this in time past.
“Fashola drove around at night to assess the situation and deal with the issue, you must not sit in your comfort zone all the time.
“Once they know you can visit at anytime, they will sit up. Lagos was clean in time past, but that has changed now.
“Indiscipline is back in Lagos, Okada riders’ indiscriminate conduct is back; we need to restore sanity,” Shogbon said.
He said that adjourning private estates within the area were also not helping matters during the peak periods, as they deliberately lock up their gates, blocking the motorists from having a leeway when the route is blocked.
In his response, Idimogu said that Ambode had issued an order directing the Public Works Corporation to fill the potholes and bad roads across the state.
According to the lawmaker, the committee will feed the Speaker of the House Mr Mudashiru Obasa on the challenges raised by the company.
