Ogun communities set for showdown with firms over abandoned road

Residents of about 25 communities in Singer Area of Ota in Ogun State have appealed to the seven companies in the area to complete the drainage system in their communities and save them from impending flood.Residents of the communities have also threatened a showdown with the companies if they failed to complete the construction of the drainage system which according to them, was abandoned about six months ago. The affected communities are : Valley View;Araromi; Liberty Igbehin Adun, Orisun Ibukun Anu Oluwapo; Abundant Grace; Ewupe Ajasa; Ayedade, New Life, Isokan, Afuwara; Boluwatife; Destiny ,Ifesowapo Ijaliye; Itansanmole, Opeoluwa, Peaceful Evergreen; Ogo OluwaIfedayo, Ifelodun; Ibudo, Alafia Ayo, Irewolede and Divine.The communities had accused the companies, including Pure Chemical, Avon Crown CAP Nigeria Distilleries, Fine Chemical, Unique Pharmaceutical, Olympic Ink and Arvee Industry, of contributing to flood in their communitiesThe companies have, however, denied the accusation by the residents, insisting that they were only doing the construction of the road as part of their Corporate Social ResponsibilityAngry residents from the affected communities, particularly Ore Ofe community, had last year, invaded the companies and picketed them for hours, before the companies agreed to construct drainage system in the area.The Chairman of Ewupe 'Ijaliye Joint Community Development Association, Monsur Akande, while speaking with Community News, appealed to the companies to instruct their engineers to return to site and complete the job, before the rainy season got more intense.According to the chairman, the companies had agreed with the communities to construct and complete the ' three phases ' of the drainage system before the commencement of the rainy season.He, however, expressed surprise that 'after six months of the first phase '' excavation'' the companies have all gone to sleep as they appeared to have abandoned the project.' He appealed to the companies to complete the project or ' be ready for a showdown with residents of the affected communities.The chairman of Ore Ofe community who identified himself simply as Fasanya, whose community is the worst hit, accused the companies ofreleasing water from their water plants into the communities whenever it rained'They use opportunities of the rain to release the water in their plants and whenever they do this, the whole of our community is flooded and our people may be forced to stay at home for a long period of time.'The companies, however, claimed not to have abandoned the project and that they had finished the first phase and waiting for commitment from the communities involved.
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