Kwara community cries cut as erosion gully cuts off residents, businesses

From Taiwo Ogunniyi, Ilorin

Residents and business owners in Ero Omo-Kilanko-Biada community in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State have cried out over a deep erosion gully that has rendered their access road nearly impassable, disrupted commercial activities and threatened residential buildings, appealing to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for urgent intervention.

The residents lamented that the worsening condition of the road had virtually cut off parts of the community, forcing motorists to park their vehicles far from their homes, commercial motorcyclists to drop passengers midway and traders to carry goods over considerable distances because delivery vehicles could no longer reach their shops.

They warned that unless the government urgently rehabilitated the road and provided adequate drainage facilities, further rainfall could deepen the gully, endanger adjoining properties and completely sever access to the affected areas.

Speaking with Daily Sun in Ilorin, a businessman, Temitope Olayemi, said the deplorable condition of the road had crippled commercial activities and subjected residents to daily hardship.

“We are not happy with the condition of this road because it affects so many things, especially those of us who have businesses here. Vehicles and motorcycles can no longer ply the road conveniently.

“Our businesses are suffering because of this situation. We are appealing to the government to come to our assistance by rehabilitating the road,” he said.

Similarly, a businesswoman, Tosin Araoye, lamented that the erosion had disrupted the supply of essential goods to her shop, particularly sachet water, as distributors could no longer drive into the community.

According to her, suppliers now stop along the expressway, leaving traders with the burden of carrying their goods manually to their shops.

“Vehicles no longer come into the community to supply water to us. They drop the water by the expressway, and we have to go there and carry it on our heads down to our shops.

“This is affecting our businesses seriously. The road links to NTA and other places, and we are appealing to the government to come to our rescue so that our businesses can continue to thrive,” she said.

Another businessman, Segun John, said the situation had deteriorated to the extent that he could no longer drive his vehicle into the community, adding that the development had adversely affected his business and other daily activities.

He appealed to the state government to urgently address the problem before the erosion caused further damage.

Commercial motorcyclists operating in the area also expressed concern over the dangerous condition of the road, saying the deep gully had made it increasingly difficult to convey passengers and goods into the community.

One of the operators, Emmanuel Adeniyi, disclosed that motorcyclists were now compelled to drop passengers before reaching the badly affected section, a development he said had reduced their daily earnings while exposing residents to additional hardship.

Another motorcyclist, Femi Abodurin, described the road as terribly deplorable, warning that the erosion was already threatening nearby houses and could cause more serious damage if left unattended.

“The road is terribly bad and needs urgent attention. There is no way to drive into that place. Residents feel bad because of the condition of the road. When they have loads to take home on motorcycles, it is almost impossible because of the bad road and gully erosion.

“The gully erosion is affecting the house opposite it and needs urgent attention. We appreciate the state government for the ongoing rehabilitation of Kilanko Road, but this road leading to other communities is also in a very bad condition.

“If next year’s rainfall is anything like what we experienced this year, there may be no way to pass through the road. Even motorcycles cannot move through it, and pedestrians have to be extremely careful because of the erosion,” he said.

Abodurin added that several residents had resorted to parking their vehicles elsewhere because they could no longer drive to their homes, urging the government to extend its ongoing road rehabilitation efforts to the affected community.

The Secretary of the Ero Omo-Kilanko-Biada Community Association, Saka Abdulkadir, also appealed to Governor AbdulRazaq to rehabilitate the road and construct adequate drainage channels to halt the erosion and protect adjoining properties.

He explained that the road served several communities and that its deteriorating condition had compelled vehicle owners to explore alternative routes, while business owners continued to count their losses.

“We are appealing to the state government to ensure that this road is put in good condition so that our members can access their homes without difficulty.

“Those who own vehicles have had to resort to other routes because of the condition of the road. We also want businesses in the community to thrive again,” Abdulkadir said.

The residents’ appeal comes against the backdrop of an earlier assurance by the Kwara State Government that it would rehabilitate Kilanko Road in the Offa Garage area of Ilorin, alongside the Gaa Akanbi-Danialu-University of Ilorin road corridor.

The then Commissioner for Works, Qowiyu Olododo, had given the assurance during a third-quarter inter-ministerial briefing in Ilorin, explaining that engineers from the ministry had visited the affected locations to assess the extent of deterioration and develop appropriate reconstruction and drainage designs.

“Our engineers have visited the Kilanko area, and we are reviewing the design that will suit the terrain. I want to assure residents that very soon, once a decision is made, the people will be duly informed,” Olododo said.

He also disclosed that a similar assessment was being conducted on the Gaa Akanbi-Danialu-University of Ilorin road, which had equally generated concerns among residents and motorists.

Olododo had further stated that the AbdulRazaq administration had constructed more than 300 kilometres of roads across the state since assuming office in 2019, urging communities with roads requiring attention to formally approach the Ministry of Works for consideration under subsequent rehabilitation programmes.

However, residents of Ero Omo-Kilanko-Biada maintained that the deteriorating condition of their access road required immediate attention, insisting that the ongoing rehabilitation of Kilanko Road should also address the erosion threatening their community.

They warned that further delays could leave more homes inaccessible, worsen the plight of traders and commuters, and expose residential buildings to damage when the rains return.