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…As deplorable situation cripples businesses, endangers lives in Owode Yewa
People in Owode, a community in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, are in pain.
They are agonising over the deplorable state of the roads linking the community to the international border with the Republic of Benin.
The failed roads have continued to cause hardship for residents, commuters, motorists and business owners, who lament the dangers and economic losses associated with the deteriorating infrastructure.
The roads, which serve communities, markets and industrial establishments in the area, have become difficult to navigate, particularly during the rainy season, when flooding, deep potholes and slippery sections make movement hazardous.
Residents said the poor condition of the roads had increased transportation costs, prolonged travel time and exposed motorists and passengers to accidents. They also claimed that businesses operating in the area had suffered losses as vehicles conveying goods struggled to access their destinations.
The situation has reportedly forced some motorists, including commercial motorcycle operators, articulated vehicle drivers and traders travelling to the Benin Republic, to use longer alternative routes through neighbouring villages to avoid the worst sections.
Some residents said heavy-duty vehicles carrying goods and finished products had occasionally fallen on the damaged roads, resulting in spilled cargo and financial losses.
When the reporter visited the area on Thursday last week, she experienced the difficulties faced by road users. Commercial motorcyclists struggled to navigate sections riddled with potholes, while some passengers were seen disembarking at different points to reduce the risk of accidents.
A middle age female trader at Sabo Market, Iya Damilola, lamented that whenever it rained, the road became almost impassable.
“The road is very bad. There is too much galloping, especially during the rainy season. Once it starts raining, everywhere becomes messed up, and there is water all over the road. The road becomes very difficult to pass through,” she said.
She added that the situation had made commuting to work uncomfortable and inconvenient, particularly for residents who rely on commercial motorcycles to reach the market and other business locations.
A commercial motorcycle operator, Gbenga Ojo, said the poor condition of the road had made his job more difficult and increased the risk of accidents involving riders and passengers.
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“We, Okada riders, are suffering because of this road, especially the road from Sabo to Owode. Whenever it rains, some areas are very slippery, and you can easily fall, especially when you are carrying something or a passenger,” he said.
Ojo added that riders sometimes resorted to adjoining streets leading to nearby villages to avoid dangerous sections of the road.
According to him, repeated complaints about the road had yet to produce any noticeable improvement.
Another commercial motorcycle operator, who identified himself simply as Adeola, said the condition of the road had increased travel time, fuel consumption and the cost of operating their motorcycles.
He explained that stagnant water on the road during the rainy season often affected motorcycle engines, forcing riders to take longer routes to avoid waterlogged areas.
“A journey that normally takes about seven to 10 minutes now takes between 20 and 25 minutes because of the bad condition of the road,” he said.
Adeola said the additional time and fuel required to navigate alternative routes had affected the earnings of commercial motorcycle operators, who depend on frequent trips to make a living.
Beyond the inconvenience to commuters, residents expressed concern that the poor roads had undermined commercial activities around the border communities and industrial estates by making the transportation of goods more difficult and expensive.
They also raised concerns about flooding and the risk of fatal accidents, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
The residents called on the Ogun State Government and relevant authorities to urgently rehabilitate the affected roads, improve drainage and provide lasting solutions to the recurring flooding.
They said rehabilitating the roads would improve safety, ease transportation, support businesses and restore smoother movement between Owode, neighbouring communities and the international border with the Benin Republic.
