Commuters, motorists groan as roads collapse in Ogun
By Fredrick Wright
Commuters and motorists have continued to groan under dilapidated Sango-Oju-Ore area of the Idiroko express road that lead to the commercial nerve centre of Ogun-State, Agbara Industrial Estate.
Investigations by SlyeNews showed that the international road, which also lead to neighbouring Benin Republic has been dilapidated for the past few years and have been a nightmare to industries, motorists and people living in that area as they spend hours accessing their various offices, homes and industries.
However, commuters have complained that the road is always a nightmare anytime it rain as the road collapsed completely giving room for impunity to reign as drivers ply one way to avoid big craters and pot holes on the road.
Although, the Ogun State government had earlier claimed that the Idiroko road is an international expressway under the purview of the Federal Government, residents begged the state to take over the project for the benefits of its indigenes. Besides, they lamented that other roads which are within the purview of the state also suffer neglect, thereby bringing untold hardship to the residents of Ogun State commercial nerve centre.
Residents of Obasanjo area of the state also appealed to the governor to fix the all-important Obasanjo-lafenwa-Ayobo road which is critical to commerce in the state.
The residents who spoke to SlyeNews said the Obasanjo-Lafenwa-Ayobo road will serve as alternative link road to Lagos, apart from the ever congested Ikola-Navy road, adding that it will help a lot of industries in Ota and Agbara area of the state.
Speaking, a resident, Akeem Lawal said it is always a nightmare anytime it rains saying he spends hours to navigate the Oju-Ore roundabout due to traffic gridlock.
According to him, Ogun State government should come to the rescue of residents and motorists on the axis as man-hours are wasted in the traffic daily.
He said, “The Sango-Oju-ore road is a nightmare to everyone in that axis. The road has collapsed that commuters spend hours before getting to their respective offices and homes on daily basis.
“What is needed on that route is a flyover bridge but, if that can’t be done now, let the government rehabilitate the road and mount traffic light to control the traffic,” he advised.
Also, he said the bad state of the road has led to commercial bus drivers and motorcyclists (also known as Okada riders), plying one-way leading to accident.
“Last week Friday, an Okada rider was crushed to death by an oncoming truck. The okada rider plied one-way due to the bad state of the road. He died instantly before help could come his way,” Lawal said.
Also speaking, a commercial bus operator, Sulaiman Abiodun, said accessing Sango-Oju-ore is always a tough order as the road has collapsed and needed urgent rehabilitation.
He urged the government of Ogun State to repair the road as it is important to movement of goods from factories along the road and human connecting their various homes.
“The road is affecting our business, our vehicles are breaking down on daily basis, the government should come to our rescue before our source of livelihood completely get destroyed.
