By John Omachonu
Some residents of Legit Estate, located within the larger Praise Hill Estate, can correctly be said to be experiencing the dark side of ‘growth’ ocassioned by cluster of businesses in the area.
As strategic as Arepo is, the feelings among most residents, according nwws From The Street (FTS) is that government is still very far from them.
Very far in the areas of amenities, security, regulation of environmental pullution and degradation as well as monitoring building and other construction work going on in the area.
In fact, many of the residents, living at the western end of Legit Estate were of the opinion that neither the impact of the Obafemi Owode local government, that is supposed to be the grassroots administration nor the state government with its headquarters in faraway, Abeokuta, is being felt.
In deed, Arepo, and particularly the Legit axis is beginning to wear the posture and colour of a disorganized area bearing some marks of the Hobbesian state of nature.
This is because, in these areas, some citizens have taken laws into their hands and doing all manner of things like indiscriminate construction of buildings, parking of trailers, among others because of the seemingly absence of governance.
For instance around the popular indomie side, beside and behind the new NIPCO filling station, a pseudo, Central Business District, (CBD) where different companies and individuals operate with the attendant pollution of the environment with no government to challenge them, has gradually emerged.
Currently, what looks like ‘Tank Farm’ is being constructed in the area with an existing gas plant among the residents, while building constructions are going on without regulation and supervision.
The implication is that residents are being unduly exposed to dangers ocassioned by various emissions from the companies operating within the environment and possible outbreak of fire.
Heavy construction work are currently going on with sources claiming that two or more companies might be ready before the year ends.
Ironically the business progress has engendered environmental degradation, pollution, nightmares due to emission of repulsive and dangerous odours at nights.
Unfortunately, some residents of Legit estate, who are cut off from connecting to the main estate road leading to the.express due to lack of accessible road and.drainage system within the estate are cut up in the hardship,, using the road that links from NIPCO filling station,alongside the other residents living outside the estate either leaving or coming into the area.
Apart from the terrible condition of the road, building constructions, without recourse to the the desired regulatiory authorities sre ongoing.
Few ocassions that the staff of the local government, Obafemi Owode, have had to come out, were to put some markings of disapproval on the buildings under construction, but in almost all the cases, they had continued and completed without enforcements.
Despite efforts of some of the companies operating in the area through some palliatibes on the road, the condition has not improved much due to lack of basically, drainage system, for which its absence has continued to make the fences and even some of the buildings vulnerable to the devastating effects oferosion ocassioned by the channeled water from the express road and the fuel station and its environs, during rainy season.
This is aside from the indiscriminate parking of trailers, resulting in inconviniences to other road users.
The impression generally by the residents is that the development amounts to complete abdication of responsibilities by both the local and state governments.
More worrisome, according to them, is the fact that the presence of government seems completely absent, in the areas of infrastructure and security.
Besides, they are complaining of exposures to dangers, such as fire, armed robbery attacks, wondering, whether some of the promoters of the companies obtained valid approvals from the relevant agencies of government.
The Arepo and tank farm issue, for instance, revolves around the location and operations of petroleum product storage facilities, known as tank farms, in residential areas and their impact on the surrounding communities.
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This includes concerns about safety, environmental impact, and infrastructure disruptions.
“In a state like Lagos, for instance, building constructions follow the due process and are equally monitored as the construction progresses. Some of us are at a loss as to what is actually happening in the state where some sections hardly feel the impact of government and governance, not to talk of the grassroots administration. Agreed that government at the state level is far from us, what are the agencies and ministries and particularly local units doing? I think the state government should be blamed for the lack of responsibility and accountability, or else, how can one explain the total absence of impact of government in this area,? laments one of the residents.
According to another resident, who, also preferred to be anonymous, “even the estates should be monitored. A situation where some owners leave the residents to be suffering without infrastructure even, after the payment of development levies should be discouraged and promoters dwalth with according to the provisions of the law. The fact that they acquired the land before selling to stakeholders should not be seen as an end in itself. We live under a legitimate government with the primary responsibility of protecting lives and property. Besides, some of us pay our taxes and therfore the government owes us the responsibility of providing basic things that would further our peaceful loving in the state. We have surrendered some of our rights to the government, and in return, protect us from shylock landlords and shrewed and wicked owners of some of the estates”
Relevance Of Business Cluster
Thete is no doubt that the AREPO business cluster has the potential of bringing, and in some cases, brought about significant economic benefits. But as it is today, some residents are now facing severe challenges.
The concentration of businesses, including tank farms, waste conversion companies, cashew nut production, and table water factories, has led to, among others, the
environmental Pollution, typified by repulsive odors at nights, likely due to poor waste management and industrial emissions;
There are also infrastructure challenges, ocassioned by lack of drainage system as well as vehicular movements at nights, which have continued to put pressure on the only untarred road, which is in deplorable condition, and safety concerns, as most of the residents feel life has become unsafe and scary.
Failed Expectations
Residents and business owners expect the government of Ogun State to address these issues. However, lack of its Presence has brought about a perceived abdication of responsibility and lack of monitoring by both Obafemi Owode local government and Ogun State Government.
The government hasn’t provided sufficient infrastructure, such as proper roads and utilities, to support businesses and residents, as such the residents are of the opinion that the government needs to enforce environmental regulations to prevent pollution and ensure businesses operate sustainably.
Potential Solutions
The residents who spoke with metrobusinessnews.com say government can address these challenges through more investment in infrastructure, Provision of proper roads, utilities, and services to support businesses and residents, as well as the enforcement of environmental regulations and the regular monitoring and enforcement of environmental standards to prevent pollution.
They also challenge the government to take advantage of the situation to engage with stakeholders, collaborate with business owners, residents, and other stakeholders to develop solutions that could benefit everyone.
Precedents For Action
It is on record that Ogun State Government has taken steps to address environmental concerns in the past.
Specifically, the government had embarked on shutdown of Polluting Industries, typified by the 2025 shut down of four industries for environmental infractions, demonstrating its commitment to environmental protection.
Also,they further argue that the government has a system in place for monitoring and enforcing environmental regulations, which can be leveraged to address concerns in AREPO.