Examining the hardship inflicted on residents of some Ogun State communities bordering Lagos State due to the neglect. VICTOR AYENI writes

For many residents of communities such as Alagbole, Akute, Lambe, Giwa, Agbado and Oke-Aro, in Ogun State, bad road is one challenge they have had to contend with for years, despite the successive governments in the state. The hardship it has foisted on them is easily imagined.

However, one thing central to these communities is that they border Lagos State.That the Ogun State Government had in 2013 commenced the construction of the road linking the Ogun-Lagos border communities in the Ifo Local Government Area, from Ojodu to Oke-Aro.

To this end, many properties were demolished to pave the way for the dualisation of the road despite resistance from several property owners.

In spite of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s lofty promise to complete the road in 24 months, after a decade, the road project has been abandoned leading to a series of road accidents and loss of lives.

When our correspondent visited Alagbole and Lambe communities during the week, it was observed that the road remained in bad shape as only one lane of it was being used by motorists, while the abandoned lane had been filled with deposits of mud.

A resident of Alagbole, Wale Ayanbisi, told newsmen that the abandoned lane that the government did not fix had made many motorists to resort to one-way traffic, which has caused accidents.

He said, “The condition of this road is very bad. From Ojodu down to this place is a double lane, but only one of the lanes was fixed by the government, the other was not. So, most of the vehicles avoid taking the abandoned lane and this has led to a series of accidents that have resulted in the loss of lives.

“I have lived here for over four years and there have been cases of pedestrians crossing the road being knocked down because they were not expecting oncoming vehicles. I have seen people’s blood splashed on these roads due to accidents.

“This past month, I was told someone was crushed to death by a car, and afterwards, the task force came around and began to arrest vehicle owners who took one-way traffic and fined them huge sums of money. It was baffling that they didn’t seem so bothered about the state of the road that prompted vehicle owners to resort to taking one-way traffic.”

Ayanbisi added that about a week ago, a commercial motorcyclist told him how he witnessed a collision between a vehicle taking one-way traffic and an oncoming motorcycle.

“This road is actually taking lives and causing much damage to vehicles. My neighbour has complained numerous times about the frequent damage to his car by the bad roads, which had continued to cost him a lot of money to fix.”

A resident of Lambe, Bolaji Gbolahan, recalled that when Amosun was the governor, he embarked on demolition from Akute to Lambe to expand the road but that he reconstructed only one lane out of a two-lane road.

He added, “The project was abandoned. Not only were the owners of the demolished structures not duly compensated, the road was abandoned.

“There was also a bridge that the governor constructed that had even made things rather worse because whenever there is a downpour, the water flowing around it doesn’t move due to the blockage of the water channels. In fact, most drivers prefer to bypass it.

“Prior to the 2023 election when people complained, only a lane of the road was fixed. Since then, vehicles can pass through the road, but whenever it rains there is traffic because the road is not motorable and cars are unable to pass through it due to potholes. A lot of vehicles frequently break down there.”

Another resident of Lambe, Dayo Agbede, told our correspondent that oftentimes he avoided taking the road unless the outing was compulsory, because the road poses risks to commuters.

He added, “It has been like this for as long as I can recall and it seems to be getting worse. The road has big potholes and vehicles have no choice but to pass through them.

“The alternative is for commuters to pass through Abule Egba, Ijaiye going towards Sango side instead of passing through Agbado. I have seen motorcycles having accidents, especially during the rainy season because of the deep, thick mud that fills the road. There are times when tricycles spin and haul occupants into the flood. It’s so traumatic.

“In 2013, they constructed flyovers in Alagbole, Akute, Giwa and another at Agbado. Up till now, only the one at Alagbole has been completed. The rest of these bridges have been abandoned.”

On his part, a commercial driver in the area, Ibrahim Bada, accused the Governor Dapo Abiodun of being non-responsive to the discomfort that residents experience on the road.

He added, “Our governor has not been responsive to our persistent cries about the problems we are facing on this road. During the dry season, the dust here is terrible and during the rainy season, it is flooded.

“During the rainy season, there is heavy traffic and you would see people trekking from Ojodu Berger to Alagbole. The governor should please help us and do something. Our vehicles are getting spoilt on this road.

“This is why the transport fare on this route is higher than it is supposed to be. Commercial drivers and motorcyclists have to add the expenses of fixing their vehicles and bikes due to the bad state of the road to the fares levied on passengers.”

A landlord in Akute, Mr Bayo Okelola, bemoaned how the road had disrupted economic activities in the area and caused people to relocate out of the community.

He said, “The bad road is really affecting economic activities because business owners are also badly affected. Every one of us is affected; even tenants have relocated and refuse to rent houses here knowing the ordeal they will be subjected to.

“The road project has been stalled several times since 2013 and we are tired of talking because we have done everything we know we could do to see things change, but will the government listen?”

However, the governor in a tweet via his official Twitter handle @dabiodunMFR on Monday, said in line with the current realities in the country and as part of efforts to ameliorate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on residents of the state, his administration had approved several measures for immediate implementation.

It partly read, “Immediate road infrastructure intervention, with all the local governments working with Community Development Associations and community leaders to submit three roads that require immediate intervention as part of the palliative programmes and support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises through special schemes to boost production capacity and employment generation.”

When contacted, the Chairman of Ifo Local Government, Moji Tawa, told Sunday PUNCH she would not comment on the telephone.

She stated, “Sorry, I won’t give any comment on the phone. I have been quoted a number of times. When I talk like this, I will be quoted and I don’t want to be quoted again, please. When we see, I can talk.”

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, said the road construction was ongoing and would be done in phases.

“The construction is ongoing from Sango-Ijoko and also from the Akute area. Construction is being done in phases. You can visit the ongoing work along Sango-Ijoko,” he told our correspondent.

of crucial roads under construction

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