Residents lament bad roads, insecurity in Abesan Estate

For residents of Abesan Estate in Mosan-Okunola LCDA of Lagos state, insecurity, bad roads and indiscriminate operations of commercial motor cyclists, among other vices have become a daily phenomenon.

According to residents, the once peaceful and beautiful Estate, reputed to be the biggest in Lagos state, built by the administration of Late Lateef Jakande, has become a den for suspected thugs and drug peddlers who allegedly extort, rob and engage in other nefarious activities.

President of Abesan Estate Resident Association (AERA), the apex body for the estate, Elder M.A.O Kehinde, revealed that invasion and illegal operations by hoodlums and scavengers have increased the rate of armed robbery in the neighbourhood.

“Burglary, vandalisation of vehicles are now the order of the day. We’re really hapless. We’re appealing to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to our aid,” he added.

READ ALSO: Robbers lay siege on Lagos Abesan Estate, vandalizes cars, homes

Also, former President of the Estate, elder Bisola Ogunyanwo cautioned that the rate at which hoodlums foment trouble and waylay residents, if left unchecked, would affect the good morals of young ones especially pupils who run errands for them while they engage in their immoral acts.

He also lamented the poor state of all the roads in the estate which has become deplorable and an eyesore.

“On our part as residents, we are trying to fix some of the potholes. It has become so irritating that you drive around the bad roads. There are some roads that are completely gone. If you go to 4th Avenue, it is not accessible. Same thing with all the major roads, even the road leading to the Lagos State Fire Service office in the estate is completely deplorable and not motorable at all,” he said.

Also speaking, one of the residents and Chief Technical Officer of Abesan Estate,  Mr. Ola Oni, said the estate is in dire need of government attention, “The government should come to our aid to repair the road. The road needs to be reconstructed. All the roads leading into the avenues have been completely damaged and needed to be fixed.

“We’re suffering double jeopardy in the estate. On one hand, we are battling insecurity, on the other hand, the estate is plagued with bad roads and dilapidated infrastructures.”

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“We have complained to the local government and the state government on several occasions but they have not done anything to assist us. Sometimes, we apply self-help by putting stones and gravel on the road but they are easily washed away.”

READ ALSO: Abesan Estate declares state of emergency on security over incessant robbery attacks

He also called on the police authorities to intensify their efforts as the estate is gradually becoming a den of thieves and drug peddlers.

Chairman of the 5^th Avenue CDA in the Estate, Kunle Adesanya, said it was imperative that the security agencies put up a serious fight against those selling and taking hard drugs in the estate, stressing that the activities of drug peddlers portend serious threat to residents if not checked.

“While I call on the police to address this ugly menace, I also want to appeal to all residents to join hands with the leadership of the Estate towards making the estate a safer and better place to live in,” he added.

Another community leader in the estate, Sina Dare, said Mosan-Okunola LCDA has failed to provide any solution to multitude of problems confronting the estate, hence the need to appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come their aid.

“Please, note that the level of insecurity around the Estate is alarming. For over 4 to 5 months now, a group of gunmen have been terrorizing the law-abiding residents of this area with no checks on their activities.

“It’s so sad, I wish the Lagos government and our representatives can effectively address  these two issues confronting Abesan Estate. We gave the largest block of votes at the last election. I wonder why the government is treating us this way,” he lamented.