Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has expressed dissatisfaction over the operations of Lafarge Africa Plc’s trucks and others on the deplorable state of the Abeokuta-Ota-Lagos Expressway.
Abiodun spoke while receiving its management team, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta on Monday.
He regretted that a world class company like Lafarge Africa Plc was unmindful of the deplorable state of the Abeokuta-Ota-Lagos which serves it in many ways.
The governor lamented that the company’s trucks conveying cements and other raw materials plying the road was causing damages on it due to their heavy loads.
He said that although, Ogun State has secured the permission of the Federal Government to reconstruct the road, the cost, which was initially at about N70 billion, would be in the region of N150 billion or more due to high cost of Asphalt, diesel and cement as a result of inflation.
“I must say that I am not impress with the attitude Larfarge has shown to the state of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta road and this road serves you and other industries around that axis.
“In fact, the worst section of that road is right in front of your factory and I wonder how a world class company is so unmindful about the state of the road particularly when your trucks are part of those that contributed to the level of depreciation of that road.
“It is important we sit down and identity what portion of the expanse of that road Larfarge and the likes are going to contribute because the truth is that you are one of the biggest contributors to the condition of that road.
“Your trucks are causing damages to the road. They are carrying cement and raw materials and most of those trucks are even overcapacitating the design of the road,” the governor said.
Abiodun called on the management of Larfarge to use global best practices in disposing industrial waste in their areas of operation.
He noted that it was imperative for multi-nationals to safeguard the lives of the people while operating in their localities.
The governor who frown at the non compliance with laid down rules on waste disposal by the company at its Ewekoro plant, said their activities have negatively impacted on the lives and livelihoods of the people of the area.
He said: “In the area of Environmental Impact, I recalled that at some point in time, my Ministry of Environment has come to discuss with you because I was disturbed by some of the reports I was getting.
“When I listened to some of your laudable initiatives and compare to the reports I got, particularly the report that talked about non proper regeneration of some land that have been mined, and yet you said you have regenerated them and planted trees, we are very concerned particularly with what happened in Ibadan.
“The impact of your activities goes beyond just mining. The blasting and mining affects several kilometers of household beyond the immediate miles and I am not sure how much households are affected, what structural damages has occurred in some of these buildings.”
The governor, who cited many complains lodged at his office by residents of Ewekoro and its environs.
Comments