Aboru as Metaphor for Rural Lagos
Being the commercial nerve centre of the West African sub-region, the metropolitan outlook of Lagos has often been mistaken to be devoid of rural/local settlements. This notion of a no rural Lagos is a gross misconception as approximately 12 per cent of the people in Lagos State dwell and earn their living in non-urban neighbourhoods, country sides and remote villages!
Despite the fact that tourism, health, infrastructure, education, environment, transportation and security have consistently topped its priority list, the Akinwunmi Ambode administration in Lagos State is not resting on its oars in transforming local communities in Lagos.
One major index of social change and development today is indeed rural/community development. No nation can boast of having achieved development if a large percentage of her rural inhabitants are still wal- lowing in abject poverty, want and a depth in socio-economic penury.
It is, therefore, in an effort to ensure even and accelerated development in all parts of the state that the Ambode administration anchors its development drive in the state on what it terms ‘all inclusive governance’. According to the state governor, the administration’s idea of an all-inclusive government is one in which “no one or segment of the society, irrespective of colour, race, faith, status, ability or disability is left behind”. It is in furtherance of this philosophy that the state government has put in place a systematic strategy of accelerating development in rural Lagos. Aboru, a rustic community in the old Alimosho Local Government Area of the state, represents, perhaps, the most suitable example of ongoing efforts to improve infrastructure in local communities in the state. Recently, residents of the pastoral community understandably heaved a sigh of relief as the newly constructed Aboru Link Bridge, aimed at easing the perennial traffic gridlock along the ever busy Lagos-Abeokuta Road, was officially launched for public use.
Considering the importance being accorded rural development in the state, the bridge which could have taken about three or four years to complete was constructed within nine months. The 500 - metre bridge, which was designed to last for over 100 years, serves as a major link road to Iyana-Ipaja from Abule-Egba, Abesan Housing Estate, Ayobo-Ipaja, LASU-Iba and Okokomaiko. It will particularly have huge positive socio-economic effects on eight communities along the axis. These are Agbelekale, Aboru, Abesan, Iyana-Ipaja, Ayobo, Ipaja and the neighbouring Ogun State.
The coming of the link bridge also came with the construction of major roads along the axis such as Aboru road, Ogunfisayo Street as well as Kasumu Street. An icing on the cake was the construction of a Primary
Tayo Ogunbiyi, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Lagos