A youth group in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, the Voice of the Youths of Agege, on Monday applauded Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for promising to complete the abandoned Pen-Cinema Bridge.
The group, in a peaceful rally at Pen-Cinema area of Agege, however, pleaded with Sanwo-Olu to mobilise the contractor so that he could accelerate the construction of the project.
They said this was because of the hardships the delay in completing the bridge had brought to residents of the areas, motorists and other citizens of the state utilising the area.
The group hoisted placards with various inscriptions such as: “Socio-economy and security of Agege is dying, Give us Pen-Cinema Bridge.’’
Others are: “Please, give us the good roads as promised’’, “Pen-Cinema Bridge is our pride in Agege’’ among others.
The president of the group, Mr Olajide Adebayo, said that delay in completing the construction of the bridge had affected businesses in the area.
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Adebayo added that it has also worsened the security and sanitation within the environs.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that youths from the area were excited that the governor inspected the project on Sunday and expressed his commitment to remobilise contractor to site soon.
The president said: “This is a peaceful protest and we are doing this just to acknowledge the presence of the governor at the site of Pen–Cinema Bridge in Agege.
“The latest update is that the governor had promised to start work immediate at the end of this month, but we had made arrangements to protest this morning even before hearing the news.’’
Adebayo said that the youth members were appreciative of the governor’s inspection to the site and for his promise.
“We are doing this just to ensure he fulfills his promise.”
On the pains the construction had brought to the residents and commuters in the area, Adebayo said that people doing business around had been badly affected.
“We have security issues as a result of the abandonment. We have some boys who had been taken advantage of the construction work to rob innocent citizens at nights and early in the mornings.
“We believe once this bridge is completed, such issues will be solved and security personnel will be able to comb the area,’’ he said.
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He urged the youth to be vigilant and remain law abiding in the area.
NAN reports that the rally, which took off from Agunbiade Street, Agege, saw the youth walking across Iju road, Oba Ogunji road and other adjoining streets.
NAN reports that Sanwo-Olu assured Lagos motorists plying Agege-Pen Cinema axis of an accelerated completion of the abandoned Pen-Cinema Bridge when he visited the area on Sunday after attending the APC victory party in Agege.
NAN also reports that the immediate past governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, had kicked off the 1.4km flyover in December 2017 and promised that it would be delivered in November 2018.
However, the project was stalled and could not be completed until Ambode left office on May 29. (NAN)
