SLUM communities of Itire /Mushin axis of Lagos mainland have been witnessing a new transformation, especially, in the area of infrastructure development. These include provision of drainage facilities, road rehabilitation and construction, provision of health care buildings, reconstruction of schools and water supply among others.
As at last week, 30 roads have been upgraded, while three schools have been reconstructed. The roads include Adebayo, Adeniyi, Adeola, Adetayo, Babatunde, Bankole, Baruwa Donode, Freedom and Ibidun streets. Others are Gbadamosi, Igun, Lawani Okunyemi, Olayinka and Remilekun streets among others.
School projects that are under reconstruction/renovation in Itire Ijeshatedo include: Ansar-ud-Deen Primary School, Itire (90 percent completed), renovation of Itire Primary School, Itire (90 percent completed), reconstruction of 18 classrooms at the Community Secondary School, Itire, reconstruction of another 18 classrooms, at Igbo Owu Junior High School and reconstruction of 24 classrooms in Ishaga Primary School, Ishaga
Health care projects include the Igbo Owu Primary Healthcare Centre that is already at 50 percent completion level. The Lagos Metropolitan Development and Governance Project (LMDGP) is undertaking the projects.
However, among all these projects, drainage facilities and water supply seem to be dear to the community members; amenities they said were lacking before the intervention by the organisation.
A community leader in Mushin, Chief Adeleke Adesakin, while praising the efforts of LMDGP’s intervention, noted that water supply in the area has improved. “We are very happy for all the projects, especially, water provision”, said Adesakin, who said the communities have been languishing under lack of water supply.
Similarly, Alhaja Abeni Adebayo, another resident noted that the intervention has brought relief to the entire community. “Now, we can sleep with our two eyes closed whenever it rains. Fear of flood is no longer there as before. We express our gratitude to LMDGP management for its efforts”.
The Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Mr. James Adeyemi, also commended the organisation for what he described as “timely intervention and provision of quality works”.
“The schools they built, the roads they constructed, the health care facilities they provided and water supply are a testimony of what the organisation stands for. We are equally assuring the management and Lagos Government that the community would do everything possible to sustain and maintain the projects”.
Speaking on the projects, the Communication Director, LMDGP, Mr. Michael Ilesanmi, said the objective is to increase sustainable access to basic urban services through investments in critical infrastructure.
According to him, progress towards achieving the objective of the projects are being measured through: Increase in the percentage of population with access to safe water supply, reduction in the percentage of households reporting flooding in the Local Governments where the selected drainage basins lie; increase in the percentage of generated garbage in Lagos that arrives for disposal at landfills and reduced deviation between actual expenditures and the approved budget.
“The objective of the support for infrastructure is to increase sustainable access to basic services through investments in critical basic infrastructure. This will be achieved through investments under three subcomponents”, he said, adding that through the project interventions, millions of Lagos residents that live in the project areas are benefiting from improved water supply; improved solid waste management; better sewerage facilities; improved drainage; and improved health and living conditions and above all a reduction in flooding”.
He noted that sustainability is a vital aspect of the programme and to ensure local ownership of the infrastructure investments in these areas, LMDGP is putting in place community governance structures and mechanisms by leveraging on existing, time tested and sustainable structures. Therefore, we want the community leaders to ensure that they protect the infrastructures from vandals and any form of abuse”.
It would be noted that the projects are taking advantage of the energy of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs), as well as other recognised groups such as women groups, youth groups, artisans and others. This has helped to build commitment on the part of the community to long-term conservation of constructed facilities so that the investments do not need to be repeated every few years.
At the institutional level, the project is strengthening state and local government institutions as well facilitating linkages between different institutions where needed.
The Project includes provisions for the continued participation of beneficiaries and community groups in implementation. It is generally recognised that such grassroots participation is vital to the sustainability of the investment.
Ilesanmi also said that there are ongoing and continuous series of consultative workshops with organised private sector, staff, and civil society as well as participation from LGs, state agencies, traditional leaders, CDAs, academics, and urban practitioners to further define the roles and functional mechanisms for participation for a much-needed broad debate on policy issues that affect all stakeholders in the metropolitan area.
“Such forums are targeted to policy and academic audiences and are positive steps in the State Government’s effort to engage citizens in developmental dialogue. The services developed are what people want and which they are willing to pay for; and the primary approach used in the upgrading include providing basic infrastructure and facilities without demolishing existing settlements or relocating the people”.
The Project also ensured that the gender issues are incorporated in the planning and implementation and that women are involved in decision making, to ensure that their interests and that of their children would be guaranteed in project implementations.
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