Ibadan
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The people of Ore-Ofe Estate, Elewi Odo recently had cause to rejoice. After decades of their suffering in silence the local authorities have finally opened up the neighborhood to the outside world with newly paved roads.
In a country where only about 15 percent of "federal roads" are in good shape, citizens living in rural and suburban neighborhoods served by roads statutorily designated "local government roads" consider it a special favor when local authorities notice the condition of their "roads" and invest time and resources to providing them with properly constructed paved roads.
And the local government chief who condescended to do the people of Elewi Odo the special favor of "Asphaltic tarring of Elewi Odo road" did not forget to place proper signs to remind them at the next election of the fact. Now everyone knows that the privilege of access to paved roads Elewi Odo now enjoys is the special boon granted by the local government administration of Honorable Remi Adebayo.
"Asphalt tarring of Elewi Odo Road being undertaken by Hon. Remi Adebayo" The construction was completed in March, 2012.
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Ore-Ofe Estate, Elewi Odo
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New paved access road to Ore-Ofe Estate, Elewi-Odo
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Ore-Ofe Estate, Elewi Odo: New paved road
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Ore-Ofe Estate, Elewi-Odo: New paved road, courtesy, Honorable Remi Adebayo
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End or the Road: Beyond Ore-Ofe Estate dirt road takes over once again
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But perhaps the recent development in Ore-Ofe Estate may serve an illustration of the advantages of bringing government closer to the people. One wonders how many centuries the people of Ore-Ofe Estate may have had to wait for their roads to be paved had it been a "state road" or a "federal road." For the people of Ore-Ofe Estate, Honorable Remi Adebayo is far more accessible in his local government office than the high and mighty state governor in his Agodi office or the infinitely higher and mightier president of the federation ensconced in his impregnable Aso Rock fortress in Abuja.
The dirt road beyond Elewi-Odo. Note that this is a "state road" part of Basorun Estate
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Boundary gate betwen Elewi-Odo and Basorun Estate
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This neighborhood in Elewi Odo outside Ore Ofe Estate was not so lucky
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"Road" in Elewi Odo neighborhood. Note the erosion gully cutting across the road
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It is a challenging task to put together a team of local "heavy weights" with sufficient clout to lobby the local government chairman for much needed development projects, but securing access to the state governor in Agodi would require a more "high powered" delegation of "heavy weights" than most humble localities can manage to assemble. You would sooner secure access to the Almighty himself to present your needs than the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Most urban middle income Nigerian families provide water for themselves: This family has a well equipped with a water pump. Note the plastic storage tanks beside the well
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Overhead water tank delivers water to the house
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A power generator: The family generates most of the electricity it consumes
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With the public waste disposal mostly non-existent, middle class neighborhoods organize for their waste disposal
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Given that responsibility for provision of the basic amenities of modern life, electricity and water, remains mostly in "federal" hands, it is easy to understand why the greater part of Nigeria awaits "kingdom come" for the basic amenities of modern life.
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