Ogun State has never had it so bad in recent years, going by the current state of the roads and what many see as the indifference of the state government to the plight of the residents.
From Ifo to Sango, Owode to Akute, Mowe to Ijebu, Itele to Lusada and other parts of the state, it’s been tales of woe as the state of the roads has practically made life difficult for residents, motorists and other road users.
Though the state government abandoned a good number of these roads like the ever-busy Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, which has become a death trap, on the excuse that they are Federal Government roads, concerned residents claimed that even roads that fall under the jurisdiction of the state government have been left to suffer the same fate.
For many months now, the hues and cries of the residents, especially those living at the border communities – Ibafo, Mowe, Magboro, Akute, Alagbole, Sango, Igbesa and many more, have been loud enough even for the deaf to hear, but there was no response from the state government yet. While many had the impression that the government was concentrating its efforts on roads in Abeokuta, the seat of power, it was actually an erroneous notion as investigations indicated otherwise.
The Guardian observed during a visit to the state capital that roads in popular areas like Adigbe-Opako, More-Obantoko, Ojere-Alagada, Ago-Odo-Itaka, Rounder-Soyoye-Lafenwa, among others, have become dilapidated. The Adigbe-Opako, Ojere-Alagada, Ago-Odo and More-Obantoko roads have also degenerated as a result of rainfall. However, the Rounder-Soyoye-Lafenwa axis was the worst hit, considering its location and the vehicular traffic on the route on a daily basis.
It was learnt that the road, popularly known as Sokoto/Badagry Expressroad, a major artery that connects Abeokuta to Ilaro, Ibese, Badagry, Igboora, Lanlate and other areas faster than travelling through the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway was also in a bad shape; just as the stretch at the Soyoye area, after the Authentic Hotel, spanning about 50 metres was an eyesore. The ditch at the middle of the road is about six feet deep, expanding across the two lanes, while the entire axis was dotted with craters, potholes and ditches of different sizes and shapes.
The Guardian learnt that whenever it rains along the axis, it’s always a difficult task for vehicles to maneuver their way. Although lorries and buses manage to navigate through, cars, tricycles, motorcycles and also pedestrians always find it difficult to “swim” through.
But for self-help, the road would have become inaccessible. Occasionally, trucks get stuck in the bad sections, forcing road users to seek alternative routes that are usually longer. Even school children find it difficult to make it down to their schools whenever it rains.
The visit exposed to The Guardian the dilemma of the residents and other road users who have been praying for a miracle that would cause the roads to be fixed within the shortest possible time.
The Overall Chairman, Ire Akari Community Development Association (CDA), Soyoye, Elder Etu Olayiwola, said for the past two weeks, the residents have experienced serious nightmare as the road had become near-impassable due to the level of degeneration occasioned by this year’s downpour.
“We were forced to resort to self-help by taxing ourselves. Landlords and members of the CDA, plus individuals have been contributing money to provide palliative for this road. Motorists dodging the bad section have destroyed all our electricity poles, throwing the whole area into darkness.
“But for God, no resident of this area would have had the opportunity to use this road, until we were able to raise the money to procure stones to make this road passable. This road has been like this in the last six months. We have been expecting the state government to assist us, but no help till now.
“We always find it difficult to get a taxi back home, especially at night because none of the taxi drivers want to come to this area and whenever they come, they always over charge us. We need Governor Dapo Abiodun to assist us urgently to fix this road before it claims lives,” he said.
A former CDA Chairman and the Otun Baale of the community, Mr. Kafu Olayinka Abdulateef, said the community had tried severally to draw the attention of the state government to the state of the road to no avail.
“We procured up to 10 lorries of stones to make this road motorable around June, before the commencement of the rain. The sad side of it is that there are Permanent Secretaries and other top government officials who are living around this area, but never care about the state of the road. The governor passed through here during his re-election campaign; now he has forgotten us; we don’t deserve anything here.
“The pain is much on a daily basis, but for self help, no one will be able to pass through this road. At one time, we used a pumping machine to extract the water from the road. We are just appealing to the governor to help us fix this road urgently,” Abdulateef said.
A taxi driver, Mr. Oparinmade Adebanjo, who plies Rounder/Mile 2/Soyoye axis, said the plight of motorists on the axis has been worrisome.
“Majority of our colleagues have abandoned this route because of the havoc wreaked on their vehicles.
“We are appealing to the state government to make this road motorable. This is our only source of income. Governor Dapo Abiodun should assist us on this Soyoye road,” he appealed.
Even the stretch of the road from the Lafenwa end towards the Crescent University campus, from the Ogun Radio bus stop, was also in a mess. The uncompleted portion of the tarred road was forcing road users to drive against traffic, a development that exposed pedestrians to danger.
Just like the Soyoye road, the Ojere road, the only link road to the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) has been left to degenerate further. It was a similar case for the Bode-Olude area. From Surudara off Bode Olude, through Brown College to Alubarka down Ajegunle Road, the axis has become a death trap and now beyond the capacity of the CDA to repair.
The More, Apete and Oloruntedo roads, all in Obantoko were also begging for attention.
When contacted, the state government said it was aware of the state of the roads, noting that the identified roads, along with others, would receive adequate attention immediatel