Credit: Raymond Osho
ABEOKUTA – For nearly a decade, residents living in the Olokuta area in Abeokuta, Ogun State have been enduring treacherous conditions due to the deplorable state of Olokuta road, despite seeking the state government’s quick intervention.
The road, which is connecting over 40 communities, is a crucial link to the popular Wole Soyinka Train Station but despite this, successive governments have failed to address the dire situation, and this situation is leading to high discontent among the residents.
In September, 2023, residents of the area, in a display of frustration and desperation for a good road, took to the streets in protest, demanding immediate action from the state government to repair the road.
In response, the government promised to initiate repairs once the rainy season subsided. The state’s Ministry of Works did a palliative work on the road days after the protest.
However, despite the palliative measure, the situation remains as no meaningful progress has been made since then, much to the disappointment of the residents.
When our correspondent revisited the area, it was observed that the road is still damaged and inaccessible to road users despite the state government’s pledge to reconstruct it.
The consequences of this neglect have been devastating. Numerous fatal accidents have occurred on the deteriorating road, leading to loss of lives and injuries.
Once held the hope for a safer and more accessible road, having held to the state government’s promise of reconstruction, the residents now feel abandoned and disillusioned by the broken promises.
Their daily lives are marred by the constant fear of accidents and the struggle to navigate the hazardous road conditions.
Babatunde Folarin, Chairman of presidential mandate estate in the area told Fackt News “They (state government) promised us last year that when the rainy season is gone they will come and reconstruct this road. The rainy season left and the government did not respond. Now this is April 2024, we have missed that opportunity. So, that’s the challenge that we are facing.
“As I talk to you, no one can take their car to the train station. This road is less than 2 km to the train station. We have appealed to the previous government and present governor to come to our rescue. This road is posing a threat to lives and properties of over 40 communities attached to this road. It also leads to Professor Wole Soyinka Train Station.
“This road is no more motorable. People only ply this road using okada (motorcycle) and it has caused them several accidents. There is a bridge along the road, and as we speak, that bridge has collapsed. Any serious rainfall that is heavy now, the road may cut off.
“Sometimes last year, they sent officials from the Ministry of Works to come and do a palliative but that didn’t give us any respite. They came to drop stones but that didn’t stop the problem because the main problem of the road is drainage.
Folarin argued that the road needs a total reconstruction and not palliative.
His words “We are calling for total reconstruction. Palliative will not work on this road. They promised us last year and nothing has changed. We don’t have another route to the train station. Two houses have been destroyed along that part of the road. Due to flooding.
When contacted the State’s Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Ade Akinsanya, he said that the government has already programmed the road for reconstruction.
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