By Olugbolahan Kuku
November 6, 2025, the entire Ward B of Agboyi-Ketu was agog in the frenzy of an imminent new road construction in their domain. Stakeholders in the area known as “Araba Zone” were gathered for one purpose: Construction of Balogun Ilawe Street. Balogun Ilawe is an arterial road off Ajiboye Road, Alapere Lagos. It links up with Araba Crescent, Adepitan Street, Alh. Oluwatoyin Street, Anuoluwapo Street, Bola Hassan Street and others.
The gathering on Balogun Ilawe Street comprised of the Chairman with her management team, the CDA (Community Development Association) members and other residents of the project area. On the side of the Local Government officials, present at the ground-breaking ceremony were:
Hon. Adetola Adunni Abubakar; Executive Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA
Hon. Yomi Ganiyu; Vice Chairman, Agboyi-Ketu LCDA
Hon. Aderoju Adelowo; Speaker of the Council Legislative House, ably represented by Hon. Amdalat Akinyemi, the Deputy Leader.
Engr. Jelili Omotunde; Council Engineer
Mr. Samson Akinbami; Council Manager
Dr. Mrs. Oshodi; Health Medical Officer
Engr. Adebola Idowu was present as representative of the Construction Company; Bleuwerks Ltd.
Prominent members in attendance on the side of the community include
Hon. Abiodun Ogungbo
Hon. Mufa Ogunse (a former Vice Chairman of the Council)
Mrs. Odegbesan Victoria
Aare Saliu Alaba
Alh. Bola Hassan; Chairman CDA Araba Zone
The community youth leaders and many more…
The Chairman was the first to address the stakeholders meeting stating that management of the LCDA came to inform the community about their readiness to commence the construction of the subject road. The meeting is also intended to get feedbacks from the residents concerning the project at hand. As they begin to see Engineers and other professionals in their neighbourhood, the latter should be allowed the freedom to carry out their job and given maximum cooperation in the course of the project execution. A major factor to the success of the project is Right of Way! The Chairman admonished all residents with any structures that may impede the construction works or get in the way of the spaces required to please remove them forthwith.
Balogun Ilawe Street is of 300 meters length and 8.5 meters width. The area for asphaltic overlay after earthworks and base courses is therefore 2,550 square meters. Drainage structures will be constructed as per designed dimensions and structural designs. This will include side drains and culvert structures.
One point that resonates in the speeches of all who spoke at the meeting from the side of the Council management is that the community members should please cooperate with the experts in the course of the roadworks. Most salient of the issues discussed by the community members apart from their profound gratitude for the roadworks is that the scope of the work should be extended into other streets.
The construction works is expected to commence within days from the meeting described in this report.
