Lekki Atlantic Gardens CDA Holds AGM with Pomp and Ceremony

By Okosun Dennis

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Lekki Atlantic Gardens Residents Association (LAGRA), Alabeko CDA was held on Saturday at its Secretariat, Road 1, Alabeko, Ajah.

The AGM presents the opportunity to x-rays its achievements in the last year, the challenges, and areas that needs improvement in subsequent years.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of Lekki Atlantic Gardens Residents Association (LAGRA), Engr Adewale Gbajobi while welcoming all to 2021 AGM, thanked members for their invaluable support, encouragement, and belief in the project to develop the estate to an enviable height.

While x-raying his two years of stewardship, he emphasized the need to cohere with the EXCO that would be succeeding them as it is said, “in unity lies tremendous strength.”

On income and revenue generation, Gbajobi noted that “We met an empty treasury and resorted to tasking members of the EXCO to pay security men.” In that regard, we had to embark on aggressive revenue drive to generate more money considering we were finding it difficult to carry out some laudable programmes.”

“Some of the drastic measures we took included denying some residents access thereby compelling them to pay their dues and levies; disconnecting them from the power supply. Other strategies we evolved worked for us hence we were able to embark on infrastructural developments.”

“Also, we excavated the drainages and got some rubbles to fill bad spots. In addition, we carried out street light projects and as of today, we have electrified the entire streets at Lekki Atlantic Gardens, Alabeko.”

In our external relationship, “We had a communal relationship with other estates around us galvanising into Atlantic Layout Estate (ALE). We decided to rejig the security architecture we met on the ground by retraining and re-orientating the security personnel. Due to some shortcomings, we had to engage a corporate security organisation with an alarming motorbike to carry out the internal patrol.”

“As a backup, we have Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and members of the Nigerian Legion. However, during the #EndSARS protest which was hijacked by hoodlums, some proactive security steps helped in dousing off miscreants and street urchins from cashing on the security slump to penetrate the estate to commit heinous crimes.”

He acknowledged the paucity of electricity supply in recent times but noted that they are doing everything possible to address it. However, we are already meeting with EKEDC in that regard. We have done a lot in finding solutions to flood within and around us with a view to having a flood-free ambiance.

“We have enjoyed the conviviality of peaceful estate despite the counter carious situation that played out during meetings. But with the cooperation of all and sundry, we have been able to achieve a lot; bringing harmony and peaceful coexistence to the estate.”

He appreciated the fact that the residents allowed them to manage the estate on their behalf and those who called us or private chat us; my family for standing beside me to be absent at home most times attending to estate matters. We were able to generate a lot of funds that helped us achieve a lot within the given time of our tenure.

On his part, the Project Committee Chairman, Mr. Chidike Ndidum enumerated the records of achievements despite all the daunting challenges adding that “we have collectively contributed in no small measure to the building of our estate better than we met it.”

He observed that criticism brings about “humility and endurance” adding that such criticism has made him better than he was before he took over the office.

He applauded residents for their enormous support and their financial support despite the Covid-19 that almost brought the economic activities to its knees.

“Within the last two years, we have done the little we can to make the estate better. We constructed nine converts to check flood within the estate. Also, we built two new security posts and installed a gate to limit the porousness of the estate to the vagaries of intruders. We have also installed CCTV at the main gate to deal with human and physical shortcomings and boost surveillance.

Beyond that Chidike further explained that “We have also done a 150-meter extension of interlocking tiles, acquired a generator to power the street light due to poor electricity supply to the estate at the moment. We have covered over 300 meters of fencing and have installed over 35 poles in the estate. We have street lights with the estate.

“We also took the responsibility to make the Secretariat more conducive during our meetings by acquiring chairs in addition to the acquisition of fibre ladder to assist in the connection of people to electricity supply rather than resorting to renting. He thanked all for the mandate given them and the tolerance to persevere.

In his remarks, the Financial Secretary, Mr. Abiodun Akinyemi appreciated everyone for his or her financial contributions; constructive criticism and for their wonderful presence during meetings without which they wouldn’t have been able to go thus far. Collectively, he added, “these assisted us to get to the point we got to culminating into the AGM.”

Highlights of the AGM were the rendering of the breakdown of annual accounts; income and expenditures in the last two years.

For their outstanding and invaluable to the development of the estate, some members of the estate were singled out for recognition and award. Chief among them was Mrs. Emilia Ohia who was recognized for his financial and moral contributions to the development of the estate.

The award which was collected on her behalf by Miss Nkechi thanked the EXCO for the recognition.

Other awardees included Lt Col Olayiwola, the Chief Security Officer of Atlantic Layout Estate (ALE); Alhaji Kawu Ali, the former financial Secretary; Pastor Rotimi Ojo, the former pioneer Secretary for their unrelenting support and contributions to the activities of the Estate.