OGUN COMMUNITIES LAMENT 15 YEARS OF NEGLECT AS BAD ROADS, FLOODING WORSEN LIVING CONDITIONS
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Agency Report
Residents of Agbado, Abule Ijoko, Itoki, Ope-Ilu and adjoining communities in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State have decried the poor state of roads in the area, saying the situation has subjected them to severe hardship for over 15 years.
The residents spoke during a visit on Tuesday, where it was observed that the 13-kilometre stretch connecting Agbado Oja to Abule Ijoko has largely collapsed, with several sections completely impassable and others overtaken by weeds.
Motorists and pedestrians were seen struggling to navigate deep potholes, waterlogged sections and eroded gullies, while several vehicles and tricycles broke down along the route.
A resident, Waheed Sanyaolu, described the situation as unbearable, saying the communities feel abandoned by successive administrations.
“We are suffering, and we feel like we have been totally cut off from civilisation. We have made repeated calls to the government, but there has been no response,” he said.
Another resident noted that the rainy season has further worsened the situation, making movement almost impossible and forcing commuters to rely on alternative inner routes.
Transport operators also lamented the high cost of vehicle repairs, saying they spend significant amounts daily maintaining damaged motorcycles and tricycles due to the road conditions.
A rider, Taoreed, said he spent about N18,000 on repairs in a single day, describing the situation as unsustainable.
Residents also raised security concerns, alleging that hoodlums take advantage of the bad roads to attack commuters at night, especially motorcycle riders and returning workers.
They said victims are often robbed of valuables, while motorcycles are sometimes stolen during such incidents.
Some residents attributed the worsening condition of the roads to heavy-duty trucks used during the construction of the Lateef Jakande train station around 2017, saying the infrastructure was left unattended after the project.
They also appealed to the government to urgently clear blocked drainage channels, particularly around Bashy Bus Stop, to reduce flooding in the area.
Efforts to reach the Ogun State Commissioner for Works, Ade Akinsanya, were unsuccessful as calls and messages sent were not returned as of press time.
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