- Rep. Tasir Olawale Raji flagged off an additional 1,000 solar-powered street lights under the Light Up Epe Project.
- Riverine communities in Wards B1, C1 and D1 are to receive special attention, with an assurance that no community will be left behind.
- Raji also pledged to restore the vandalised Shagari Estate solar-powered borehole and highlighted other development interventions across Epe Federal Constituency.
The Member of the House of Representatives representing Epe Federal Constituency, Rep. Tasir Olawale Raji, has flagged off the installation of an additional 1,000 solar-powered street lights across communities in the constituency under the Light Up Epe Project.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the flag-off ceremony, held at Shagari Estate, Epe, brought together APC leaders, community stakeholders, ward chairmen, women and youth leaders, artisans and party faithful.
Among those present were Lagos APC Welfare Secretary, Otunba Adeniyi Kehinde; Epe Local Government Vice Chairman, Hon. Sikiru Owolomoshe; Otunba Bode Alausa; former Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA Chairmen, Hon. Shamsideen Onanuga and Hon. Segun Adetola (Segun 3), as well as other political and community stakeholders.
Raji explained that the latest phase was designed to extend the reach of the Light Up Epe Project to more communities, particularly areas that have experienced infrastructure gaps.
He recalled that the first phase, initially targeted at 1,000 solar street lights, had surpassed its target, with more than 2,000 installations already completed across different parts of the constituency.
“There’s no community that the distribution will not touch and as from Tuesday, the installation will continue and there’s no ward that will be left out,” Raji said.
The lawmaker disclosed that special attention would be given to riverine communities in Wards B1, C1 and D1, assuring residents that even smaller settlements would benefit from the project.
“We are paying special attention to communities within our riverine areas from C1, B1 and D1, such that there won’t be any community from C1, B1 and D1, no matter how little, that won’t have street lights,” he stated.
According to Raji, the project is aimed at improving visibility, enhancing security and creating a safer environment for residents and businesses, particularly during nighttime.
The lawmaker also responded to a request from the Shagari Estate Community Development Association concerning the vandalised solar-powered borehole serving the estate.
He assured residents that the borehole would be restored to solar power, noting that the facility had been converted to gasoline-powered operation after the original solar system was vandalised.
“I have special interest in Shagari Estate and it has been for a long time. The Solar-powered Borehole was vandalized but was converted to gasoline-powered. But now, it will be converted back to solar but with the promise that it will not be vandalized considering the cost of the pump which has astronomically risen from 400,000 naira to over 1.5 million naira. I cannot afford to ignore your request considering the stakeholders resident in the estate,” he said.
Raji also acknowledged concerns over the condition of roads within Shagari Estate, assuring residents that their infrastructure needs would continue to receive attention.
Highlighting some of his interventions across Epe Federal Constituency, the lawmaker mentioned the establishment of seven schools in underserved and riverine communities, construction of additional classrooms, road projects and the provision of 840 shops distributed free to beneficiaries.
“We will continue to make these impacts in the lives of our people,” he stated.
The APC Chairman in Epe Local Government, Hon. Toyin Gbadamosi, commended the lawmaker for the intervention, noting that the project would extend beyond Shagari Estate to other communities across the constituency.
Residents also expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing the street-lighting project and planned restoration of the solar-powered borehole as timely interventions.
Alhaji Mukaila, Olori Ebi, said the project would improve security and economic activities within the estate.
“We are very happy with what we are seeing today because light is not just about illumination; it brings life back to a community at night. When you have proper street lighting, people can move around with greater confidence, businesses can operate for longer and the entire environment becomes more secure,” he said.
Also speaking, APC stalwart Hon. Omotayo Balina described the intervention as development that residents could directly feel.
“What we are witnessing here is development translating into something ordinary people can see and feel. Representation should be measured by what comes back to the people,” he said.
The Secretary of Shagari Estate CDA, Comrade Sheriff Tobun, also assured that residents would continue to support responsive representation.
“From the political angle, our people understand the importance of participating in the electoral process and rewarding good representation. Shagari Estate has a significant voting population,” he said.
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