Follow Us on Google
Owa of Otan-Ayegbaju in Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Lukman Adesola Ojo-Fadipe, residents and transport operators have appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to urgently intervene to save the Otan-Ayegbaju–Ila-Orangun road from total collapse.
They warned that sections of the road had deteriorated badly following prolonged rainfall and flooding, leaving motorists and other road users at risk and threatening to cut off movement between communities along the route.
During a visit to the road, our correspondent observed that portions had been badly eroded, while some sections around bridges and culverts were gradually caving in.
Oba Ojo-Fadipe identified three particularly dangerous spots at Oke-Ola, Akerekete and Popogbooro, warning that further deterioration could lead to loss of lives and completely disrupt traffic on the route.
“Vehicle movement is becoming increasingly difficult. I am pleading on behalf of the people of Otan-Ayegbaju and the motorists using this road that Governor Ademola Adeleke should rescue it before it collapses entirely. We need the government to act now to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
“One critical spot is at Oke-Ola, where the bridge structure is caving in from beneath. Another is at Akerekete, which has become a death trap for commuters travelling between Ila-Orangun and Otan-Ayegbaju, Ikirun or Osogbo. The third affected point is at Popogbooro.
“I urge the Osun State Government to immediately dispatch officials of the relevant ministry to the site before the situation gets worse,” the monarch said.
The road links Otan-Ayegbaju with Ila-Orangun and serves motorists travelling through the area to other parts of Osun and neighbouring states.
Chairman of the Commercial Motorcycle Riders Union in Boluwaduro LGA, Azeez Fabunmi, attributed the worsening condition of the road to prolonged torrential rainfall.
He said the road was important to economic and commercial activities because it also served travellers heading towards Kogi, Benue and Abuja.
“We plead with the government to fix this road to protect the lives of road users from different parts of the country,” Fabunmi said.
A community leader, Amos Sasona, said the damage around the Akerekete bridge had reduced the road to a single passable lane, making it difficult for two vehicles travelling in opposite directions to pass simultaneously.
“If this section gives way completely, movement between Ila-Orangun and Osogbo will come to a halt,” Sasona warned.
“Our main fear is for drivers who are not familiar with the terrain, especially at night. Somebody could easily drive into the damaged section or plunge into the ditch.”
Transport union representative, Dauda Oyeniyi, and President of the Otan-Ayegbaju Progressive Union (OAPU), Aare Adetunji Mosebolatan, also appealed to the state government for urgent intervention.
Mosebolatan said the community had, through self-help efforts, funded repairs of some internal township roads but lacked the resources to tackle the extensive damage on the Otan-Ayegbaju–Ila-Orangun road.
He warned that delaying repairs could allow the remaining portions to fail and turn what could still be remedied into a major reconstruction project.
