By Yusuf Adeoye
My first meeting with Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson left me overwhelmed. He is not your regular politician. This was sometime in 2014 during a scheduled interview appointment. His humility and youthfulness struck me, but what was even more fascinating about him was his finesse in articulating the projections he had for the Ikorodu Constituency if he were elected into the National Assembly. Though my skepticism about his sociability was already there due to his very calm demeanor, it was heightened after our session that day.
Nigerian politics is not for the faint-hearted, more so in Lagos State. JB, as we call him, possesses a good family name and is an accomplished legal practitioner in both the UK and the US. He served as a Non-Executive Director at the Lekki Free Trade Zone before he was appointed as the Company Secretary (Strategy, Legal & Corporate Governance) of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC), a position he held until he ventured into politics fully. All these credentials worked in his favour, but the need to open his arms to all and sundry and perform exceedingly beyond the former occupant of that seat was where I and many others entertained fears.
It is about 12 years later, with his third term almost completed, and our fears have turned to fortunes in the Ikorodu Federal Constituency. JB has facilitated and championed the rehabilitation, construction, and commissioning of over 65 networks of inner and major roads across the Ikorodu division. In the history of representation, no individual has facilitated or constructed as many roads as Hon. Benson, a feat that has earned him the nickname “the Julius Berger of Ikorodu.”
These road constructions are entirely verifiable. Go on a trip to Ikorodu in a commercial vehicle, bring up a general conversation on road networks within the city, and you will be amazed at the general affirmation and encomiums that will be showered on Hon. Benson for the numerous road infrastructures in the division.
Just to mention a few, his road interventions include the Sabo Area Network, which is a network of five link roads equipped with solar-powered streetlights, including Ayangbadejo Street, Ajeboriogbon Street, Kaz Avenue/Street, Nike Olubodun Street, and Ajoke Oduyebo Street. There is also the Erunwen Road (a 3.6 km stretch in Ikorodu North LCDA) which was transformed into a tarred surface with functional drainage and solar streetlights; the Akin Ogunlewe Road (Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA), completed with solar streetlighting integrations; and the Igbe Road (2.2 km, Igbogbo-Baiyeku LCDA), which was rehabilitated to ease inner-city transit.
Furthermore, the Offin–Oreta Road, a major 11-kilometer stretch, is undergoing infrastructural intervention, alongside the Olu Odo Road, a 3.8-kilometer project targeted at bringing relief to that axis. The Selewu Road is in a 2.5-kilometer construction phase, while the Araromi and Adamo Area Roads comprise a 1.3-kilometer inner road rehabilitation project aimed at stopping multi-year flooding and erosion issues. Finally, the Pashoku Road stands as an ongoing work-in-progress development.
JB’s work in the House of Representatives reflects his unwavering commitment to impactful governance and national development. As a seasoned legislator, he has sponsored and co-sponsored critical bills addressing key issues such as education, healthcare, security, and infrastructure. Notably, 5 of his sponsored bills have been signed into law, underscoring his ability to translate vision into actionable policy. These include the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (Amendment) Act, the Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2023, the Defence Research and Development Bureau Act, the Constitutional Amendment Act on Railways, and the Constitutional Amendment Act on Electricity. These are just 5 out of his 58 sponsored bills.
Hon. Benson has prioritized youth and community engagement. He has spearheaded projects like the Modupe Oshikoya Mini Stadium in Ita Elewa and the ongoing construction of a stadium at LASUSTECH, creating platforms for sports, recreation, and talent development. No fewer than 5,000 individuals have benefited from his initiatives, ranging from artisan empowerment to vocational skills training, as he has consistently worked to uplift individuals by providing the tools and support needed for sustainable livelihoods.
His iCare Foundation interventions for the youth, adults, and the aged in the Ikorodu Federal Constituency have remained noble, providing essential support to families in need. He established “StartUp Ikorodu,” an initiative designed to foster innovation and economic growth by equipping young entrepreneurs with resources, mentorship, and funding to turn their business ideas into reality. His “LightUp Ikorodu” initiative has illuminated hundreds of streets powered by solar energy. With a strong focus on education, Hon. Benson has built 22 classroom blocks, established ICT centers, and provided vocational training in agriculture and solar installation.
His commitment to healthcare is evident in the establishment of the 80-bed Mother and Child Hospital in Imota, four Primary Health Care Centers, and the ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art Trauma Center, ensuring accessible and quality medical services for all. One of the major flagships of his iCare program is the FoodBank (Apo-Aanu). This initiative has touched no less than 5,000 homes across Ikorodu on a monthly basis. Executives of various Community Development Associations (CDAs) identify the most affected individuals in their respective areas, allowing the iCare FoodBank to provide direct relief to the most vulnerable.
Just recently, thanks to JB, the division welcomed the approval of his request by Mr. President for the establishment of a Command Secondary School at the 174 Battalion in Ikorodu, Lagos State. This is a landmark development that will expand quality educational opportunities for the children of military personnel, their families, and adjoining communities.
Hon. Benson has indeed written his name in gold when it comes to quality and effective representation. Regardless of the dominance of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state, his popularity, and his stellar records in public service, the Chairman of the House Committee on Defense has not been complacent in pursuing his re-election bid. He has so far toured all local governments in the constituency to have grassroots, one-on-one consultations with CDA leaders to hear directly from them.
To many constituents in Ikorodu, it is only a matter of how big of a margin JB will accumulate to drown his closest rival. That will, however, be determined in about four months from now.
**Adeoye, a journalist, writes from Ikorodu, Lagos State
