Residents of Agbado, Abule Ijoko, Itoki, Ope-Ilu and other neighbouring communities in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State have decried the worsening condition of roads in the area, describing the situation as a major source of hardship, insecurity and economic losses.
The residents, who spoke during a visit to the communities on Tuesday, said the roads had remained in deplorable condition for more than 15 years despite repeated appeals to successive administrations.
A visit to the area revealed that the approximately 13-kilometre stretch linking Agbado Oja to Abule Ijoko has largely collapsed, with several sections rendered impassable by deep potholes, erosion and overgrown vegetation.
One of the residents, Waheed Sanyaolu, said the poor state of the road has isolated the communities and negatively affected residents’ daily activities.
“We are suffering and feel completely cut off from civilisation. We have made several appeals to the government without any meaningful response. The only intervention we witnessed was during the administration of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, but it did not bring lasting relief,” he said.
Motorists and commuters were seen struggling to navigate waterlogged sections of the road, while several vehicles and motorcycles broke down due to the deteriorating condition of the route.
Another resident noted that flooding during the rainy season has further worsened the situation.
“Travelling from Agbado Crossing to Abule Ijoko should take about 10 minutes, but the road has become almost unusable except by motorcycle. Even motorcyclists now resort to alternative inner routes through Gasline, Oluasho and Oyetedo before reconnecting to the main road,” he said.
Rising Insecurity
Residents also expressed concern over increasing insecurity, blaming the poor road network for frequent attacks by hoodlums, particularly at night.
According to Olatunji, a resident, commuters and commercial motorcyclists have become easy targets for criminals.
“Because of the bad roads, hoodlums regularly attack residents returning home from work. Passengers are robbed while motorcycles are often seized from riders. One victim was recently struck on the head with a hammer,” he alleged.
Residents Blame Train Station Construction
The residents attributed the rapid deterioration of the roads to the construction activities associated with the Lateef Jakande Train Station at Agbado Crossing.
They claimed that heavy-duty trucks transporting construction materials from the Sango-Ota axis caused extensive damage to the already fragile roads.
“The roads were bad before, but they were still manageable. Everything got worse when trucks began moving construction materials to the train station around 2017. After the project was completed, the roads were abandoned without repairs,” a community member said.
Transport Costs Soar
Commercial transport operators said the condition of the roads has significantly increased vehicle maintenance costs, forcing many to raise transport fares.
A motorcycle rider, Taoreed, lamented that he spends substantial amounts on repairs.
“Today alone, I spent N18,000 repairing my motorcycle. This has become a regular occurrence, and it is affecting our livelihood,” he said.
Flooding Threatens Residents
Residents also appealed for urgent intervention to clear blocked drainage channels around Bashy Bus Stop, warning that flooding poses serious risks to schoolchildren and other road users.
A female resident said heavy rainfall recently submerged parts of the area.
“The drainage under the footbridge is blocked and causing severe flooding. Students are forced to walk through floodwaters after school. The situation is dangerous and requires immediate attention,” she said.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Ogun State Commissioner for Works, Ade Akinsanya, were unsuccessful as calls and text messages sent to her were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.
