Ogun residents disrupt railway project over deplorable road

Aggrieved residents of 10 communities hosting a railway station in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday disrupted the activities of staff of China Civil Engineering Construction Company, at the site of the construction of Lagos-Ibadan Standard gauge rail project, citing alleged neglect of their road by the contractor, for their action.

They also used their cars to block the trains conveying construction materials, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered.

The affected communities are, Liberty, Jaguna, Ori, Oloruntedo, Elefun,  Bashorun,  Ifesowapo, Agunrete , Surulere, Olorunsogo and Jangede.

Speaking during the protest, Chairman of Ori/Oshoko community, Egbeyemi Olakunle, said they blocked the railway to express their grievances.

He lamented that despite the fact that the communities were friendly towards the development, they had been neglected.

Reacting to the protest, the Public Relations Officer of the CCECC, Musa Abdullahi said, “there was a protest, no doubt, but to me, it is just a little misunderstanding between the community and the people. What they are demanding is actually their right, but the point is that nobody told us about it.

“The very moment the management got to know of it, we swung into action. As I always say, every good thing comes with a price, for me, they are only paying the price for greatness.”