Ogun State Residents Decry Neglect of Deplorable Roads, Demand Government Intervention

In what has been an uninspiring administration by Governor Dapo Abiodun in Ogun State in terms of infrastructure and good roads, residents of Matogun, Giwa-Oke Aro, Olambe, and Akute communities in Ifo Local Government Area have expressed their frustration over the deplorable state of the roads connecting their communities. They feel forgotten and neglected, especially with the governor's failure to complete projects left behind by his predecessor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Members of these communities revealed to Enterprise TV reporters that they have been struggling with this challenge for over 15 years. Despite efforts to maintain the roads through contributions, community development initiatives, and tolls, the desired outcomes have not been achieved. The residents have been contributing millions of naira annually in an attempt to make the roads passable. However, their efforts have not yielded the desired results. Currently, the communities of Olambe and Akute are attempting to repair the roads by digging out gutter pathways and using the sand to fill the roads, but heavy rains make the roads a total disaster and mostly unmotorable.

Speaking to Enterprise TV News, Olufemi Adegbite claimed, “Governor Dapo Abiodun has totally abandoned the projects left behind by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun and now the citizens have been left to find solutions themselves. It is really terrible and bad that all the projects that Amosun couldn't complete have been totally abandoned, not only here. Look at the bridge project in Agbado or the one here at Oju Odo or the one at Akute and Alagbole. If you look around, Ogun State is filled with abandoned projects, and it’s really sad the governor acts like he doesn’t even care or try to continue with the projects despite already spending four years in office and has completed the first year of his second tenure. Our leaders need to be responsible to the plight of us the citizens.”

In a chat with a resident named Muritala, who claimed to be a landlord, he stressed, “The community has been struggling for years to keep our roads passable. We contribute millions of naira annually to repair the roads, but it is not enough. We need assistance to fix our infrastructure.” Muritala further lamented the lack of response from government agencies, including the Ministry of Works and the local government, despite numerous meetings and letters. “We have set up several committees to arrange meetings with the Ogun State Ministry of Works and the local government, yet our needs are not met. To my surprise, agents were sent to the community to collect money from bikers and commercial motorists, rather than providing a sustainable solution.”

Mr. Tunde Alao emphasized the lack of government intervention as the primary cause of the community’s struggles. He explained, “Despite implementing monthly contributions from residents to maintain the road, it remains in poor condition, especially during the rainy season. The constant dust during dry seasons and the worsening road conditions during rainfall have forced some residents to abandon their homes and seek accommodation in Lagos for their businesses.” Mr. Tunde called on the government to intervene and improve the road infrastructure, making it habitable for all residents. “Despite the community’s continuous support through voting, the community has not witnessed any positive change or benefits from Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration. The lack of internal trade between neighboring communities due to the poor road conditions further exacerbates the community’s isolation.”

Mr Tunde also pointed out that various groups, under the guise of maintaining the road, extort the citizens and then use the proceeds for personal benefits. “We do not know the effort of the government concerning the development of this road. I plead with the Ogun commissioner of works to help us repair the road. The road is not tiled; it is in bad shape. Recently, some people in the community said they are the ones maintaining the road, so they collect money from motorists. Honestly, there have been no changes on the road. These people print tickets for the collection of motorway toll, and they also harass motorists if they refuse to pay them. Those sand dump truck drivers are always reluctant to come to this area because of the different fees charged from those at the toll and area boys. This morning, some people came again; they identified as revenue tax collectors, and they have started collecting money from motorists. We see new faces at the junction every day. Some people cannot just come and extort us by taking advantage of our communal needs,” he said.

Enterprise TV gathered that the bad state of the communities’ access roads was further worsened by the downpours associated with the rainy season. Our correspondent who visited the affected communities reported that residents were having a hectic time accessing their homes through the various routes. The situation is also said to be affecting commercial activities in the communities as motorists and commercial motorcyclists struggle to maneuver through pools of water and mud that dot their access roads from the expressway.  A motorcyclist who identified himself as David said, “The bad state of the road is affecting us seriously. We will be pleased if they fix the road. We only enjoy our road a bit during the dry season; the rainy season is terrible, and it has affected the price of transportation as we have to charge high because we spend a lot of money on repairs during this period.”

Residents are urging the government to address these issues promptly, improve the road infrastructure, and provide much-needed relief to their communities.