OSOGBO MOTORISTS, COMMUTERS DECRY RISING TRAFFIC CONGESTION OVER ILLEGAL PARKING

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By: Hammad Fasasi

Motorists and commuters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have expressed concern over worsening traffic congestion linked to illegal parking, roadside trading and indiscriminate passenger loading along major roads in the metropolis.

The activities, particularly during evening rush hours, have continued to disrupt traffic flow, with motorists lamenting that roads previously expanded and rehabilitated by the state government are gradually becoming inadequate to accommodate vehicular movement.

Findings by DAILY POST showed that at Olonkoro, Ayetoro, Igbona, Odi-Olowo, Ota-Efun and Ajegunle along the Osogbo-Ikirun Road, commercial buses frequently stop on the highways to pick up passengers. Illegally parked vehicles and double parking also force motorists to make sudden lane changes.

The situation has reportedly made some short journeys considerably longer, with commuters spending over an hour navigating busy routes during peak periods.

A regular commuter, Anthony Alo, described the situation as frustrating, despite improvements in road infrastructure across the state capital.

“The situation is frustrating because the roads are no longer as constrained as they once were,” Alo said.

He noted that motorists heading towards Igbona, Ayetoro and Orisunbare now spend more time on the affected routes, particularly in the evenings when workers return home.

Alo urged the government to provide designated bus stops at Old Garage Junction and other strategic locations to prevent commercial vehicles from obstructing traffic and ensure safer separation of pedestrian and vehicular movements.

Traders have also complained that indiscriminate parking is affecting their businesses.

A spare parts dealer, Pelumi Tijani, accused motorists of using the frontage of his business premises as parking spaces for several hours, thereby obstructing access to his shop.

“Vehicle owners from nowhere will just bring their cars and park in front of my office from morning till evening, blocking customers from seeing my goods,” Tijani said.

Similarly, a point-of-sale merchant, Ojo Dolapo, identified indiscriminate passenger loading by commercial transport operators as a major cause of recurring congestion around Igbona and Ajegunle.

The situation has also raised road safety concerns, as illegal parking, roadside trading and sudden vehicle movements increase the risk of accidents. Prolonged traffic delays have further been linked to fuel wastage, lost working hours and additional costs for businesses.

Responding to the complaints, the Osun State Commissioner for Transportation, Sesan Oyedele, said providing designated parking spaces would help address the situation. He also warned car dealers against displaying vehicles for sale on public roads.

“If parking spaces are provided, people will stop parking on the roads,” Oyedele said.

Speaking on vehicles displayed for sale along highways, the commissioner said, “I will send Directors to check them in those affected areas.”

Oyedele further disclosed that plans to construct designated bus stops in Osogbo were included in the state’s 2025 and 2026 budgets but had been affected by funding challenges arising from the non-release of local government allocations.

“There was a plan for construction of bus stops in Osogbo in the 2025 budget and also in the 2026 budget, but the non-release of local government allocations has affected implementation. The state is short of funds,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the funding challenges would be resolved before 2027, allowing the government to begin constructing bus stops across the capital city.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has identified roadside trading, illegal parking and indiscriminate passenger loading as major causes of traffic congestion and double parking.

The Sector Commander, Sunday Adebayo, said the Corps would engage the car dealers’ association, the National Union of Road Transport Workers and other relevant stakeholders before commencing enforcement operations.

“Roadside trading, illegal parking and indiscriminate passenger loading are major contributors to traffic jams and double parking,” Adebayo said.

He added, “We are working with the state government to proffer a lasting solution to roadside trading in the state.”