By Ayodele Boundirin,CPs to Executive Chairman.
Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area is awake, alive, and moving forward. In the last 12 months, the rhythm of life here has changed. Streets that were once dark now glow at night.
Roads that were impassable now connect homes to markets, schools to clinics and communities to opportunity. Classrooms have new roofs, health centers have light, women have capital to grow their businesses and young people have platforms to dream bigger.
This is the story of purposeful leadership under *Hon. Kareem Azeez Abiodun*, Executive Chairman of Oto-Awori LCDA. It is a story of 365 days spent listening, planning, and delivering.
The foundation of any growing community is access, and Oto-Awori LCDA has invested heavily in opening its roads. The new *Mosholashi-Baale Street Road with drainage in Shibiri* spans 80 meters by 7 meters and has brought relief to residents and traders.
At the riverine axis, the *reconstruction of Ese-Ofin Jetty and Road*, 362 meters by 3 meters, has restored movement and commerce for waterfront communities.
The *Jesuwame-Igbonla Road with drainage*, stretching 538 meters by 7 meters, has eased traffic and reduced travel time. Beyond these, grading works have been carried out on *Elesho Estate Road, Oke Agbo Road, Cele Road, and Abule Era Road*, while a section of *Babalola Road* was rehabilitated with interlocking stones and drainage.
Bad portions of the *Badagry Expressway at Ashiribo Bus Stop* were also fixed. Construction is ongoing on *Kareem Street*, ensuring that no part of the council is left disconnected.
Infrastructure is rising across Oto-Awori in visible and lasting forms. A *new 2-storey ultra-modern Legislative Building* now stands as a symbol of accountability and lawmaking.
In education, a brand new story building *12-classroom block with offices, toilets and store* was delivered at *Community Nursery and Primary School, Ilemba-Awori*.
Also, Community Nursery and Primary school was renovated at Ajewanwa. A new modern public toilet* was built at *Shibiri Area Office*, while the *Administrative Block and Conference Hall* were renovated and equipped with a *solar power system* to ensure uninterrupted service.
Light has replaced darkness in many neighborhoods. Solar-powered street lights have been installed on *Mosholashi-Baale, Jesuwame-Igbonla, Cele, Federal 2nd Gate, Alasia Bus Stops, and Ketu-Adaloko Road*.
Another batch of *100 solar street lights* is being installed across *Babalola Road, Baale Street Etegbin, Ilogbo Pry School, Ishagira Town, Kabiru Mumuni Street, Aro Street Babalola, Custom Checkpoint, LASUED, Shibiri Ayo, Ijanikin PHC, and Oloto Ring Road*.
Power supply was also extended through the *casting of beams and installation of high-tension poles from Ido-Oluwo Ile*, connecting *Igbode, Idoye, Ojaje and Ikotun Ase* to the National Grid. The *Vocational Center in Ijanikin* was electrified.
Community life has been strengthened with the *renovation of Adaloko Community Town Hall*, the construction of a *palliative wooden bridge linking Ketu to Adaloko*, and the *renovation and equipping of the Skill Acquisition and ICT Center in Ijanikin*.
Economic empowerment has been deliberate and direct. The council released *₦5,000,000* as cooperative support for *Women Development Initiatives*. *100 women* received *₦250,000* each to expand their businesses, while *100 widows and the aged* received *₦50,000 cash* and food palliatives.
These interventions were designed with one truth in mind: when you lift a woman, you lift a household, and when you lift a household, you lift a community.
The future is being secured through education, health and technology. *500 students* received *free JAMB forms*, with *₦500,000* awarded as a boost to top scorers.
*Free GCE forms* were presented to students across the council, and *16 primary schools* received free exercise books. To celebrate brilliance, *₦1,000,000* and *₦500,000* were donated to the winner and runner-up of the council’s *Spelling Bee Competition*, and a *One Day Chairman and Vice Chairman* were initiated to inspire the next generation of leaders.
The *ICT Center* was fully equipped with desktop computers to bridge the digital divide.
In health, a *Free Medical Mission* was held and *health screening* was organized for *Obas, Baales and Chiefs*.
The council’s *ambulance* was maintained for emergency response, and *solar power* was installed at *Ijanikin Primary Health Care Center* to ensure 24-hour service delivery.
A clean and safe environment has also been a priority. Heaps of refuse were cleared at *Iyana Era, Shibiri, Etegbin, Oto, Ojolowo, Alasia, Ketu, Aiyetoro* and the frontage of *Anglican Primary School*. Drainages were desilted across *11 communities* including *Farotimi, Ilogbo-Fobri, Abule, Shibiri, Iyana, Cele, Sound Foundation, LA Primary School Ilogbo-Elegba, Abule Junction and Tope Tire*.
Refuse evacuation was carried out at *Ijanikin, Cele and Mosholashi Bus Stops* along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, with silt packed into tippers for proper disposal.
An *operational vehicle* was presented to the *Environmental Task Force and a stakeholders’ forum on environment* was convened to sustain the momentum.
Security received equal attention. *Operational vehicles* were presented to *Ijanikin Police Division, Ilemba Hausa, and CP Tactical Team*.
The council initiated *joint security patrols* with local community task forces and continues to hold *regular security stakeholders’ meetings*. *Solar power* was also installed at *Ijanikin Police Station* to support night operations.
People remain at the heart of governance. Management staff undertook an *international training tour to Singapore*, while legislators and the Chief of Staff toured *Qatar* to understudy best practices.
Ten retirees received *₦250,000 and ₦300,000* each in recognition of service. New official vehicles were handed over to the *Vice Chairman, Legislators, Chief of Staff and Council Manager*, while four operational vehicles were presented to *Internal Revenue and INEC*.
Staff benefited from *leadership and managerial training in Abuja* and the council sponsored *NULGE activities*, hosted a *budget retreat for 2026* and welcomed *NULGE on a familiarization visit*.
Religious and social life were supported through the *annual Ramadan Public Lecture* and *sponsorship of Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca*.
A *staff bus and utility vehicle* were also presented to NULGE, and a *one-day training on effective leadership* was organized.
The youth are rising in Oto-Awori LCDA. The council sponsored *Damilola Ikechukwu’s 120-hour hairdressing marathon* for a Guinness World Record attempt. It supported *Ibile Youth Academy* and Oto-Awori LCDA youths for the *Lagos Market Cleanup at Ijanikin Modern International Market*.
In sports, the council backed a *boxing tournament in collaboration with Ariva Network* at the National Stadium, and *16 football teams* for the Lagos State Football Tournament and *Ojelabi Football Competition*.
A *Youth and Governance Symposium on Building the Future of Governance through Youth Participation* was held at *UNILAG*, and a *“Say No To Drug Abuse”* awareness campaign was held at Shibiri.
A *Youth Advisory Council* was created to ensure young voices shape policy. Other initiatives included a *workshop on flood risks and evacuation procedures* and a *15km “Movement is Medicine” road walk*. Culture was also celebrated with the *sponsorship of the 2025 Awori Day Cultural Festival*.
Democracy was deepened through an active legislature. The House held a *stakeholders’ meeting on the 2026 budget consultative forum*, a *3-day capacity induction training on legislative process*, a *public hearing on the review of existing bye-laws on revenue, rates and levies*, and presented the *2026 Appropriation Bill tagged “Budget of Transformation.”*
Oversight visits were carried out to *Baale-Mosholashi Road, Ilogbo Elegba Primary School, Community Nur/Pry School Ilemba-Awori, and Kareem Street* to ensure standards were met.
From tarred roads to lit streets, from new classrooms to empowered women, from healthier clinics to safer communities, the last 365 days in Oto-Awori LCDA reflect governance with empathy and action.
Under *Hon. Kareem Azeez Abiodun*, the message is clear and consistent: _We see the need. We meet the need._
*OTTO-AWORI LCDA. TOGETHER, WE BUILD
